As more customers, particularly landscapers, ask for rubber track loaders, it is almost becoming a necessity for rental businesses to have these machines as part of their rental inventory.
Rubber track loaders have a low center of gravity, large ground contact areas for a stable platform and the control needed for fine grading. Added benefits are faster travel speeds and cycle times.
"We have landscapers who utilize rubber track loaders quite frequently, which has been the main growth of our rentals," says George Ghanem, president of Taylor Rental Center in Fort Myers, Fla. "Currently renters are asking for tracked machines. Our renters see the difference from rubber track loaders compared to traditional skid-steers."
Rubber track loaders, however, are not all the same. Some machines use an internal drive system with a rubber track and suspension system. Other machines utilize a rigid steel and rubber track with an external drive system.
Different manufacturers make different recommendations on the use of the machines and also make different promises on performance. With this in mind, rental managers should research a variety of rubber track loaders before buying and find the type of machine that will give their customers the most comfort, productivity and flexibility.
For example, some machines have high traction and power, but also are gentle on sensitive terrain. Rental managers also should look closely at a machine’s ground clearance as more clearance is usually better. Suspension also is critical when it comes to the machine’s ability to work over uneven surfaces. Another consideration is a machine’s width, which determines an ability to work in areas with narrow access.
Rubber track loaders can be used for earthmoving, digging, lot clearing or preparing a site. Because of the machine’s low ground pressure, rubber track loaders are often used for work in environmentally sensitive areas or for laying sod, tree work using a tree spade and brush-cutting.
Missed rental opportunities drove Ray Hoekstron, Grand Rental Station, Grand Junction, Colo., to purchase rubber track loaders for his inventory. "Our customers specifically wanted rubber track loaders for projects when turf and landscape could not be disturbed," says Hoekstron.
Because of the low ground pressure, rubber track loaders also can be used in varied weather conditions, extending the machine’s operating season. In areas that experience winter or wet seasons, some rubber-tired machines lack the traction needed to be effective and can be idle for those parts of the year. Rubber track loaders are often used year-round and offer an advantage to those customers eager to get projects underway early in the spring or hoping to wrap up projects as the snow starts to fly.
"Rubber track loaders have been a good revenue source. The machines allow our customers to start doing work early in the spring because they know they won’t get stuck," says Richard Martel, owner of Sudbury Taylor Rentals in Sudbury, Mass.
Control and stability are other aspects that draw renters toward rubber track loaders. Operators often find the machines offer a smoother ride and are easier to operate because of the greater stability provided by a lower center of gravity and the undercarriage suspension.
"Contractors especially see the benefits of these machines," says Hoekstron. "Rubber track loaders might be more expensive to rent than traditional skid-steers, but contractors are finding there are more benefits and uses with rubber track loaders."
There are three points rental managers should consider when deciding to purchase a rubber track loader:
Will you need to transport the machine or work in tight quarters? One thing to look at when considering a rubber track loader is width. If renters are working in tight areas, it’s important to be able to transport the machine with smaller trailers, so look for machinery that has a relatively narrow width. A few rubber track loaders have extremely wide widths, which can cause problems when working in tight spaces. Some are getting quite wide because skid-steer frames are sometimes used for rubber track loaders.
How is the undercarriage designed? In today’s market there are two different undercarriage technologies — rigid steel track technology on an existing skid-steer chassis or a suspended rubber track undercarriage. When researching undercarriage technology, consider the contact points. Contact points or roller wheels are what transfers the vehicle weight through the track into the ground. By having more contact points, more area of the track is transferring vehicle weight, thereby allowing much more traction. Having more contact points also reduces the amount of weight per wheel. Weight per wheel, inside the track, is what is transferred to the ground as the machine travels across it. By having less weight per wheel, there is less possibility for ground damage on turf, asphalt and other finished surfaces.
Also consider the drive. An internal drive means that the sprocket design is exactly opposite of what you would see on a conventional steel chain and sprocket, where the sprocket pokes through the track drive. Speed is not limited by an internal drive, nor are there any increases in wear associated with speed. An internal drive also has far less friction than an external drive.
Track integrity is another consideration. Since there are no holes in the track for the sprocket to mesh, the track can be made with composite materials rather than with a steel skeleton. These composite materials are more flexible, do not corrode or rust and generally allow the tracks to last longer.
Also check the suspension. A suspension offers many benefits, including more traction, longer track life, longer machine life due to less vibration and a more comfortable ride for the operator.
Is the track system part of the original design of the machine or is it added to a skid-steer frame? A good point of consideration is whether a machine has been built to be a rubber track loader. Look for a machine where the tracks and the machine chassis have been designed and built to work as a system. The benefits are better stability, higher ground clearance, lower overall machine width and better overall performance.
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