small tractor or skidloader

lookin for either a small tractor or a skidloader and wondered what would be better as both dont fit into the budget. would be used for small around the farm chores such as snow removal and to muck out the cattle yard and shed when it needs it, thinking about getting a baler and other stuff so thats a pro for the tractor and loader but the skidloader i can get cheaper, thanks for your opinions

I have both and I put more hours per year on the
skid loader than the tractor. It sounds like in
your case a tractor may be better if you have plans
down the road

Skid steer is better in tight corners, tractor if doing a lot of work in larger area.

Tractors better because you can use it for other things, way
faster if you have to travel any distance and cheaper to fix.
Skid loaders are nice if you need to get in tight spots. Usually
tractors are cheaper so look the skid loader over good before
you buy it.

I also have both.. skidloader I use in the winter months muckin stalls, loading poo, and clearing snow, when I cut wood. Tractor I use basically to mow brush and mostly hay in summer. BUT I could use tractor to clear snow and muck.. cant use skid to run my baler...

I'll say that it is hard to beat the versatility of a skid loader, especially one with some size to it.
As was said, just be careful if buying used. Concrete laborers don't know what or how to use a grease gun!

I think about this myself but what comes to mind is always what do I need it for. Both are great equipment to have and like you say what fits my pocket book. Suggestion have you found one in the price range you can afford. Two does it fit the job your want it to do. Thrid thing is can you service it and be able to afford the equipment. New or used that is up to you. I buy old stuff and restore or recondition the equipment but I know how to do that and I can aford to pay cash for it then.It might be older but it still does that job that a new one could do. Some thing to think about..

Unless you can get a skid steer super cheap a tractor will e cheaper unless your looking at a dealership. In my area most skid steers will cost a guy 2 or 3 times that of say and older Ford with loader etc.

yes i have found two or three options for both that i can afford, right now i am leaning towards the tractor and loader, can just do more with it, and can always get where i cant get in the shed with a fork lol. with that said i can service both of them as longer as they were a little older, which with my budget they will almost be guaranteed to be older, just a thought to cover all my options will a skidloader lift a round bale? safely? if so how big of one does it have to be?

Skidsteer is nice......Butttttt.......not driveable on grass, more money than a tractor and.........Parts usually cost more. A loader tractor would be cheeper.....most likely.

Simple ==> Tractor - you didn't list anything a
tractor with a front end loader couldn't do

And you listed a number of things you simply can't
do with a skid loader.

If your loading alot buy a skidloader been around one my whole
life learned on a ford better than a fork moved up to a 1840 case
nice little machine wore it out got a gehl 5635 2 speed can pick
up over a ton put dome weights on it and can pick up ton and a
half put 10000 hours on it kept it and got another skid a case
60xt! I will opt for a skid loader any day over a loader tractor!
Dad bought a case mx 120 with a loader puts it on to plow snow
in winter takes it off in spring! Half the time i plow snow with the
skid loader anyhow! Key to a skid keep good tires on it and keep
the slope cleaned up! Set of chains are nice when plowing snow
or working in mud all day!

Might want to reconsider "I can't afford both". The price of decent running Allis WD's, Farmall H's & M's is pretty low right now. Having both would do all your jobs well, otherwise go with a tractor & loader.

If you've ever had a skid steer you'll never be able to do without. They are very handy to have but any used ones I've seen are well abused. They won't replace a tractor though. If you can only have one I'd go for the tractor but save up for the skid steer.

I would say skidloader first and then save up about a $1,000 and get a farmall M for any tractor work you need done. I wish I would have done it that way.

(quoted from post at 11:08:45 03/04/14) lookin for either a small tractor or a skidloader and wondered what would be better as both dont fit into the budget. would be used for small around the farm chores such as snow removal and to muck out the cattle yard and shed when it needs it, thinking about getting a baler and other stuff so thats a pro for the tractor and loader but the skidloader i can get cheaper, thanks for your opinions

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Other than getting inside a building, the tractor wins. You can't pull a spreader with a skid steer or run a haybine or baler. Good skid steers are LOTS MORE expensive than good tractors and loaders. Slid steers get stuck pretty easy unless they are on tracks. Tracks are expensive.

Gotta figure where you're going. You can rent a skid steer by the day, that's an option.

tractor first, save for a skidloader

If I had to give up all my small equipment except one,
I'd keep a tractor......

Here is my advice after having both but not related to equipment preference. Before you get either but especially the skid loader.... Prepare your mindset & response about loaning out a skid loader. (yes, someone may ask to borrow the tractor, but for sure they will the loader) When people find out you have a skid loader and I mean anyone, neighbors friends, people you barely know but saw it and in a pinch on a weekend, etc. will ask to use it. Keep in mind NO ONE knows how to safely run a skid loader until the have for 6-10 hours minimum. I know a landscape guy who loaned his $45k cat skid loader to a neighbor and the guy backed it off a retaining wall & tipped it over. I also know a guy who could not say no to his neighbor and borrowed it and the neighbor let his 5 yr old run around outside on a small 4 wheeler. Well the guy was not aware the son started following him and backed up right into and up onto the front of the 4 wheeler dam near killing his own kid. I will tell you this. I had an IH loader. Had to sell it and tell everyone far and wide I did and just have the old tractor. I now have a Case 1845C and tell no one I work with or know around the community. I put it in my building and use it when I need it. The few times I have been cornered I tell them I will bring it over and run it and most people back away then. So, unless there is one around others have access to, any new skid loader in a community that a nice guy gets will be the most seen community device you will ever see. Be ready, I warn you. And be very careful swinging around fast near buildings or inside them until you clearly know the "size of the butt" of the machine. And get all kids in the house until you are very comfortable running it. I added a cheap boat mirror to mine to maybe see something behind you that was not there 30 secs previous. Tractors are much wider open and easier to be aware of unsafe scenarios and inherently slower to change direction or turn. That PTO shaft is the big killer and I am sure you know it.