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In construction, choosing the right size machine is essential to completing a range of projects quickly and efficiently, and mini track loaders have you covered when an ultra-compact solution is needed.
Mini track loaders - sometimes referred to as compact utility loaders or stand-on loaders - are a compact and versatile addition to any contractor’s fleet, due to their ability to use a wide range of attachments and fit into tight work spaces.
This market segment has expanded a great deal over the past decade, with many manufacturers offering a wide range of models and sizes to choose from, and the list keeps growing. This roundup includes an assortment of models but is not meant to be an exhaustive list.
Case enters market with TL100
The Case TL100 will be available to dealers later this year
Case Construction Equipment entered the mini track loader market with its introduction of the TL100, available to North American dealers later this year.
“We talk a lot about doing more with less, and this MTL offers big performance packed into an extremely portable and versatile machine,” said Brad Stemper, head of construction equipment product management North America for Case. “These machines are extremely nimble and easy to operate in confined spaces. You have unobstructed, 360-degree visibility and the machine operates and feels much like a traditional skid steer or compact track loader.”
He continued, “It operates with a full range of attachments and gives operators a rated operating capacity of 1,400 pounds, if you’re going by the 50% tipping load metric, or 1,000 pounds if you use the 35% tipping load metric. Suitcase weights can also be added to increase tipping load and rated operating capacity.”
Stemper said the 25-hp TL100 features hydraulic pilot controls (ISO pattern) and a standard auxiliary hydraulic setup (13 GPM, 2,700 psi) that delivers optimal attachment performance. Attachments connect through a Common Industry Interface (CII) compatible with most major manufacturers of MTL attachments.
Optional equipment on the TL100 will be a 14-pin front electric connector that includes a hydraulic case drain circuit, as well as multiple track widths, additional counterweights, environmentally friendly hydraulic oil and multiple bucket options.
Wacker Neuson adds two new utility loaders to lineup
Wacker Neuson launched two new utility track loaders - the SM 60 and SM120 - at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas in March. The new machines join the SM100, the
company’s first introduction to the category in late 2021.
“We’ve added to our range of stand-up skid steers, which was one of our most exciting launches,” said Gert Reichetseder, president and CEO of Wacker Neuson America Corporation, referring to the introduction of the SM100 a year and a half ago. “We have built to date more than 1,000 [SM100] units in not even one year, and we are ramping up because the demand has been very positive.”
The smallest in the series is the new SM60 designed for rental and homeowner applications. Powered by a 26.5-horsepower Kohler Command Pro EFI gasoline engine, the SM60 has 7.1-inch wide tracks and an overall machine width of 35.5 inches.
It has a rated operating capacity at 35% of 600 lbs., travel speed up to 3.9 miles per hour and hinge pin height of 75.6 inches to reach into truck beds and dumpsters. Weighing in at 2,760 lbs., this machine is easy to tow.
The largest in the series is the SM120, designed for the professional who needs to lift, move and place more during their landscape, tree service and site work. Powered by a 24.7-horsepower Yanmar diesel engine, the SM120 has a rated operating capacity at 35% of 1,226 lbs. and a travel speed up to 5.2 miles per hour, providing fast cycle times.
The 41-inch wide machine is equipped with class-leading, 11-inch wide tracks providing ultra-low ground pressure to reduce turf and soft ground disturbance, while also enhancing traction and stability for hill operation.
Wacker Neuson’s first utility track loader, the 24.7-hp SM100, has a rated operating capacity of 1,000 lbs. and measures 35.5 in. wide.
Bobcat MT100 offers same attachment versatility as its bigger brothers
The Bobcat MT100 has a rated operating capacity of 1,000 lbs. and is compatible with the Common Industry Interface (CII), giving it the same attachment versatility as its larger siblings, Bobcat’s line of skid-steer and compact-track loaders.
All Bobcat loaders use the exclusive Bob-Tach mounting system which allows for rapid attachment changes and improved attachment fit.
The 24.8-hp MT100’s 35.6-in. width makes it easy to travel through gates, doorways or other narrow spaces with a choice of walk-behind or ride-on style.
With high-flotation tracks that reduce ground pressure, the MT100 minimizes damage to surfaces, making it suitable for use in residential landscaping applications and on other sensitive surfaces.
Boxer 700HDX expands and contracts to suit the needs of the site
The Boxer 700HDX features a unique hydraulically expandable undercarriage — from 35 to 43.5 in. — allowing the operator to fit between passages as narrow as 36 in., and then expand for increased stability while in operation, simply by pulling or pushing a control lever.
With a 24.8-hp diesel engine and 11.3-gpm hydraulic auxiliary flow, the 700HDX has a rated operating capacity of 700 lbs. and is designed for power while offering the versatility to work a variety of jobs – big or small.
The machine has a universal compact utility loader mounting plate and quick-attach system, allowing the operator to quickly and easily switch between any standard attachments.
Ditch Witch SK3000 is biggest of the bunch
The largest mini track loader on the market, the Ditch Witch SK3000 is hardly a mini loader. It boasts 3,100 lbs. rated operating capacity to accommodate larger loads and a higher amount of material for increased productivity.
According to Ditch Witch, the machine’s 58.9-hp diesel engine is the most powerful engine in its class, and can deliver up to 51-hp to attachments.
With patent-pending SmartThrottle combined with an operator presence sensor, the SK3000 matches engine speed to load demand for greater fuel efficiency and productivity.
It is a big machine, measuring 57.5 in. in width.
Toro Dingo TXL 2000 features telescoping arm for more forward reach
Toro Dingo TXL2000 features 44 in. of telescoping reach, giving it the capability of loading a flat-bed truck from one side
The Toro Dingo TXL 2000 features a Toro-exclusive telescoping arm design that increases machine versatility with the ability to reach farther and dig below grade without changing position.
According to Toro, the 49.6-hp TXL 2000’s 2,000-lb. rated operating capacity makes the machine comparable in capacity to full-size compact-track and skid-steer loaders.
Meanwhile, a 123-in. telescoped hinge pin height easily clears the side of a standard dump truck and 44 in. of telescoping reach offers the capability of loading a flat-bed truck from one side.
A 54-in. wide frame allows the machine to access smaller spaces that machines of this weight are usually not able to.
Vermeer CTX160 has a compact frame with high reach
The Vermeer CTX160 is able to fit into small spaces and is lightweight, relative to its lifting capacity.
With a wide variety of attachments available – and a universal mounting plate for quick hookup – the machine is designed to be versatile and adaptable.
The 88.75-in. hinge pin height allows the machine to push loads far enough to adequately dump into a truck, while 9-in. tracks offer high traction with minimal ground pressure.
The 42-in. wide, 40-hp CTX160 has a rated operating capacity of 1,600 lbs.
Kubota SCL 1000 is engineered for ease of use
Kubota’s SCL1000 features a 9.8-in. track that comes standard on a 36-in. machine, allowing it to glide over terrain with minimal disturbance, thanks to 4.0 psi of ground pressure.
Powered by a 24.8-hp turbo-charged Kubota diesel engine, this machine was engineered with cushioned loader boom cylinders and an adjustable platform suspension system to increase operator comfort for maximum productivity.
With a rated operating capacity of 1,000 lbs. combined with 15 gpm auxiliary hydraulic flow, the SCL 1000 is built for productivity.
The SCL 1000 travels at 4.9 mph.
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