Skid Steer or Compact Track Loader? How to Choose When Buying Used
Skid steers cost less to buy and maintain; compact track loaders handle soft and uneven ground better. The wrong choice costs you either in tyre bills or a machine sitting idle between jobs. Here is how to decide.
The EasiMachines Editorial Desk·EasiMachines Editorial Desk·September 13, 2026 · Updated October 27, 2026 · 6 min read
Skid steers cost less to buy and maintain; compact track loaders handle soft and uneven ground better. The wrong choice costs you either in tyre bills or a machine sitting idle between jobs. Here is how to decide.
Buyers looking at a used skid steer or compact track loader (CTL) often treat the choice as a matter of brand preference or whatever is cheapest on the day. That approach works until the machine arrives on a jobsite it was never suited to — a skid steer spinning its tyres on soft clay, or a CTL with worn undercarriage eating into a budget built around tyre costs. The machine you choose changes your operating cost, your available work seasons, and what it sells for when you are done with it. The decision is worth fifteen minutes.
Ground Pressure: The Number That Defines Where Each Machine Works
Ground pressure is the machine's weight spread across the contact area of its tyres or tracks. A skid steer on rubber tyres concentrates load into four relatively small footprints. A CTL spreads its weight across the full length of both rubber tracks. In practical terms, a CTL typically exerts ground pressure in the range of 4–6 psi (pounds per square inch), while a wheeled skid steer of similar operating weight sits closer to 30–40 psi. That difference is decisive on soft, wet, or freshly graded ground — a CTL floats where a skid steer digs in and loses traction.
If your work is predominantly on compacted gravel yards, concrete slabs, paved surfaces, or dry hardpack, a skid steer loses very little to a CTL in traction terms and wins on purchase price and undercarriage simplicity. If your sites include turf, mud, sand, or slopes where surface disturbance matters (landscaping handovers, utility trenching in wet seasons, golf course work), the CTL is not a luxury — it is the machine that finishes the job without re-grading behind itself.
Maintenance Cost: Tyres vs. Undercarriage
This is the comparison that most used-equipment buyers underestimate. A skid steer's rubber tyres are its primary wear item and, on abrasive surfaces like demolition rubble, recycled concrete, or slag, they can wear through in 600–1,000 hours. A full set of skid steer tyres for a mid-frame machine commonly costs USD 1,500–3,000 depending on compound and size. A CTL's undercarriage — rubber tracks, drive sprockets, rollers, and idlers — wears more gradually on soft ground but accelerates sharply on abrasive surfaces or when operated with high side-loading. Full track replacement on a mid-frame CTL can run USD 5,000–12,000 or more, and the replacement interval is heavily condition-dependent.
When inspecting a used CTL, check track tension (the track should sag roughly 1.5–2 inches at mid-span when checked on flat ground), inspect each bottom roller for flat spots and seal leaks, and look at the sprocket teeth for hooked or shark-fin wear — that profile means the track and sprocket have been running misaligned or the track was over-tensioned. On a skid steer, check tyre sidewall cracking and tread depth, but also look at the drive chain tension and the loader arm pivot bushings, which wear faster when machines have been used heavily with the bucket curled back against the stops.
Skid steer tyres: inspect tread depth, sidewall cracks, and uneven wear (one side wearing faster indicates a bent rim or alignment issue).
CTL tracks: check for exposed cords, cracking at the track guide lugs, and missing drive lugs — any of these require imminent replacement.
CTL rollers: a roller with a flat spot causes a rhythmic vibration at operating speed and accelerates track wear; spin each one by hand if the machine is off.
Both types — hydraulic hose condition: look at hose runs near the loader arm pivot; flexing hoses here crack early and are a reliable indicator of maintenance history.
Hours vs. condition: a 2,000-hour skid steer used on a landscaping site may have less real wear than a 1,200-hour machine that spent its life on a demolition pad.
Resale Value: Which Machine Holds Better
As a category, skid steers tend to have broader used demand — more buyers can use them, and their lower entry price and simpler maintenance mean more small operators are in the market. That wider buyer pool generally supports resale liquidity: it is easier to find a buyer quickly. CTLs command a higher purchase price new and used, and they retain strong value when undercarriage condition is demonstrably good. A CTL with worn tracks and damaged rollers, however, can lose value sharply because the repair cost is visible to any informed buyer and will be discounted hard.
If you are buying used with resale in mind, a skid steer in clean mechanical condition with documented service history is generally the more predictable investment. A CTL at the right price with a recent undercarriage service or track replacement can represent strong value — the expensive work is already done — but you need to verify the work with receipts, not just the seller's word. Automated valuation tools, including EasiMachines' pricing guidance, give you a directional range based on make, model, year, and hours, but they cannot account for undercarriage condition, which is the single largest value variable in a used CTL.
Making the Decision: A Practical Path
Answer three questions before you commit to either machine. First: what surface do you spend more than 60% of your working hours on? If it is hard and abrasive, choose the skid steer. If it is soft, wet, or sloped, choose the CTL. If it is genuinely mixed, factor in tyre replacement cost against track replacement cost at your expected annual hours. Second: what is your total budget including likely first-year repair? A used CTL priced attractively may be priced that way because the tracks are due. Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic, not the seller's dealer. Third: do you need to move the machine frequently between sites on a trailer? Skid steers are narrower and lighter than equivalent-capacity CTLs, which matters if your trailer is at its rated limit.
One check that pays for itself: ask the seller for the hour meter reading and cross-reference it against the condition of the seat foam, the pedal rubber, and the wear on the loader arm contact points. Hour meters can be replaced; seat foam and pedal rubber cannot lie. If the hours look low and the cab looks like it has been through a decade, investigate further before price discussions go any further.
Where EasiMachines Helps — and Where It Does Not
EasiMachines lists both skid steers and CTLs from dealers and private sellers, and the platform's pricing tool gives you a market-range estimate based on make, model, year, and hours. That estimate helps you enter a negotiation knowing whether an asking price is at the top, middle, or bottom of what similar machines are listed at. It does not replace a physical undercarriage inspection, and it does not verify the mechanical claims in a listing — no automated tool can do that for a used machine.
There is currently no EasiMachines-specific inspection verification programme or certified used designation for skid steers and CTLs. If that changes, it will be documented on the platform. For now, use the marketplace to identify candidates and benchmark asking prices, then apply the physical inspection checks in this guide before committing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put tracks on a skid steer instead of buying a CTL?
Steel or rubber over-the-tyre (OTT) tracks are available as bolt-on accessories for most skid steers. They reduce ground pressure meaningfully and improve soft-ground traction. They are slower to install and remove, add weight, and increase stress on the drive components — the skid steer's axles and drive motors were not designed for continuous tracked operation. OTT tracks are a reasonable short-term fix for occasional soft-ground work, not a substitute for a CTL if soft ground is your primary condition.
Which machine is better for slopes?
CTLs have the advantage on slopes: the longer track contact length improves stability, and the low ground pressure reduces the risk of the machine sliding on damp grass or loose surfaces. Most manufacturers rate skid steers and CTLs for operation on slopes up to 15–20 degrees, but that rating assumes firm, dry ground. On wet slopes, a CTL's track grip is substantially better. Always check the operator's manual rated slope for the specific model you are buying — figures vary.
What hour range should I avoid on a used CTL?
There is no single cut-off, but undercarriage life on a rubber-tracked CTL is commonly quoted at 1,200–1,800 hours under moderate conditions, with harder surfaces shortening that significantly. A used CTL at 1,500 hours or above warrants close inspection of every undercarriage component before purchase. The key is condition, not the number alone: a 1,800-hour machine used exclusively on mulched topsoil may have more track life remaining than a 900-hour machine that spent its time on road base.
Do skid steers and CTLs share attachments?
Most do, within the same brand and frame size. The universal skid steer quick-attach interface (commonly called the Bob-Tach or universal skid plate standard) is widely compatible across brands and both machine types. Confirm auxiliary hydraulic flow requirements — high-flow attachments like mulchers or cold planers need a machine spec'd with high-flow hydraulics, regardless of whether it is a skid steer or CTL. Check the attachment's required flow rate against the machine's rated auxiliary flow before buying.
Is a CTL always more expensive to buy used than a skid steer of the same capacity?
Generally yes, for machines in comparable mechanical condition. The CTL carries a higher new price, and that premium partially persists in the used market. The gap narrows when a CTL has worn undercarriage (the repair cost is reflected in the asking price) or when a skid steer needs a full tyre set. Compare total-cost-to-work-ready, not just the sticker price, when the two are close on headline number.
General guidance only. Specifications, ratings and requirements vary by model and market: verify them with the manufacturer or a qualified inspector before you rely on them.
Disclaimer: The buying and selling guidance in this article is based on EasiMachines' own experience and research. It is general information, not professional, legal or financial advice. Use your own judgement and carry out your own due diligence before you buy or sell; EasiMachines is not responsible for any loss or damage arising from decisions made without that due diligence.
About the author
The EasiMachines Editorial Desk
EasiMachines Editorial Desk
The EasiMachines Editorial Desk publishes practical guidance for industrial machinery buyers, sellers, dealers, manufacturers and auction houses on sourcing, inspection, pricing and selling. It is general guidance, not a certified inspection, appraisal or legal advice: verify specifications and condition with the manufacturer or a qualified inspector. Corrections and practitioner input are welcome via the contact page.
