What You Need To Know About The Caterpillar 257D | Best First Skid Loader Tracks VS Tires

[@plumberjoe80]

We own 2 of the 257’s, and 2 247’s. Great machines. Perfect size for landscaping contractors. We are based out of Inver Grove. Really enjoying the videos.

[@anthonyd5884]

How's the reliability?

[@plumberjoe80]

@@anthonyd5884 pretty good. Keep up on greasing and oil and fuel system maintenance and you’ll be happy.

[@anthonyd5884]

@@plumberjoe80 Thank you.

[@hereholdthiswillya]

Thanks kid!!. This has been very helpful. One of these is for sale in my area and you've given me the pro tips i need for analyzing the machine and whether it will suit my needs.

[@poopyman12cj]

If you get zigzag patterned tracks you don't slide at all in the snow we run them on a t650 with an 8ft pusher and it plows great

[@CarsonSchifsky]

They are a little bit better but cat and bobcat have a little bit of a suspension undercarriage and our Takeuchi doesn’t so it’s still not very good in snow

[@brycec2162]

I am a cat fan I was around them since I was little my dads company(went out of business)had a couple 277 with mowers that worked fine and had many other cat equipment and the dealer was great

[@CarsonSchifsky]

That's really good to hear i'm glad to see they worked well for you guys. Maybe its just the newer ones? i hear a lot of complaints about emissions stuff going bad but i've never personally experienced it, since we've never owned a cat.

[@Goatalicious]

I got 7.5k trouble free hrs out of my 242b wheel cat before I traded it on a D series. Have 3.5k hrs on the 242D and no probs. Working in the heat and dust in Australia. Best dealer service too.

[@anthonyd5884]

@@Goatalicious Same. I loved my 242b

[@79xlch]

I have a new 259 D and with a set of forks on and a half pallet of sod the Bucket roll function bleeds down 3 inches in one minute with the machine running. Cat checked the function as prescribed with a empty bucket and said it was in specs

[@earthscapeslandscaping]

You have the best vids man. Love the work

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Thanks Nick really appreciate hearing that! 👍👍

[@andrewstratton806]

Asv s are phenomenal machines. Not cheaply made at all and come with kubota or cummins engines.

[@cole257dcat4]

The company I work for has the same machine it's a great I love it it's tight it's fast and we've never had any problems good on fuel

[@CarsonSchifsky]

I’ve heard mixed review a lot of people don’t like the reliability standpoint of them

[@cole257dcat4]

@@CarsonSchifsky we've had ours for three years and we haven't had a problem yet besides the hydraulic coupler they should have made better rocks gets stuck in it and then the solenoids don't work

[@rhysshelley9277]

The idlers can be run down to metal so im told. Rubber coating is to help preserve the track. All makes have their downfalls id go with the brand that has the best aftersales service in your area

[@Teegrey]

The 5mph setting on the display is when ride control is activated. This machine didn't have it installed though. Also I believe this ASV track system has been discontinued. Maybe try a CTL with the bar style tracks!

[@CarsonSchifsky]

You sure? I can't imagine they would discontinue this track system. Personally I think it's one of the only things they have going for them...

[@Teegrey]

Yes I work in Cat dealer sales. The market share on those units had been dropping significantly due to the limited applications you could use that system in. I've been selling 289/299s with bar tracks and customers see similar performance to the 287/297. Sweet videos btw!

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Thanks and thats kind of unfortunate to hear i guess i really like these MTL undercarriages.

[@anthonyd5884]

@@CarsonSchifsky the tracks seem to have been licensed from ASV. Cat doesn't own them.

[@mikemaiz8728]

Question: What is less nosier a 259d or a 257d ? Please advise if you know! Because I heard 259d is less noisier !! Is that true??

[@capitalstumps3487]

I've been looking at Cat 239, 259. If you don't like cat, who would you go with for a CTL?

[@capitalstumps3487]

@carsonschifsky

[@CarsonSchifsky]

I’m a huge fan of case John Deere and Takeuchi to be honest. There hands down my go to’s but it would depend on the type of work your doing to be honest.

[@capitalstumps3487]

I’m leaning toward the Deere 317. Thanks for the reply bro. Keep up the good work

[@justjacked8189]

Bobcat they make the most reliable machine.

[@BCRailman96]

Where are you getting these brand new for 50-60k? They are over 100k on the lot here. But I'm looking at a used 2016 with 3600 hours for 40k

[@Ryan-zt1gb]

That is the same track design from asv and terex they are both the same company but terex bought asv out the asv came back long story, but you will find it hard to get stuck they have a low ground presure design so they float more then other machines.

[@772777777777777]

What antitheft feature does this unit have

[@dansutherland6815]

I'm not sure if wheels or track is better🤔in mud??? please help me

[@dchapps5045]

Dan Sutherland tracks are better all round

[@andrewl1269]

We went to all ctl’s for snow plowing it has more to do with the track design than the undercarriage. We run case tv380 and like them better than the wheeled machines for snow removal.

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Will they get good traction for plowing? I've heard and seen track machines just spin out of control when plowing though?

[@andrewl1269]

Carson Schifsky they get great traction and they push better that’s why we switched to them. I do parking lots and associations and don’t have any problems.

[@CarsonSchifsky]

We might have to demo one this year! We literally only bought a wheeled skid because of plowing. Do you like the 16" wide tracks or narrower tracks better for plowing?

[@andrewl1269]

Carson Schifsky try one or hit me up this winter we do most of our plowing in the white Bear lake Vadnais Heights area. I like the 16” tracks.

[@CarsonSchifsky]

That's where 80% of the stuff we plow is I might have to take you up on that! Would be a cool video and I'd love to see one of those in action!

[@jacobwortman916]

Notice how the cats tracks were off the ground in the push off

[@Trapaholic721]

What makes you say the Asv is junk? I have a Asv PT-60 and I like it haven’t had a whole lot of issues.....

[@CarsonSchifsky]

I just think there very cheaply made. Never heard anything good about them. Track system= phenomenal rest of the machine is mediocre at best in my opinion

[@Trapaholic721]

Yea I mean I would have bought a Cat I’ve operated a lot of them and love the way they are, but the price point was a little out of my range at the time they are top notch though but I think ASV stands right up there with them just my opinion though

[@jeffscheule9067]

You’re missing out with your “opinion” of an ASV. I own a Cat with this ASV track system, it could only get better, and does with the Cummins engine in the ASV.. you need to test one and quit with your “opinion”

[@kenward5678]

I love A ASV we run a PT-80 at work the only problem I have with it is visibility the visibility sucks in a ASV.

[@zram4x4]

Phone camera does pretty good

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Haha ya I was impressed, this new camera I got in still trying to learn which settings work the best. And the problem with the phone is I can only get about 5 minutes of video!

[@brucebartlett1950]

Not many hours and looks like alot of wear on rubber bogies seems high maintenance but way better traction and ride they say. I'll stick with tires. (Good video)

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Thanks bruce!

[@CarsonSchifsky]

A lot more skid loader videos on the channel check it out!

[@tstonge4982]

You're young so you probably haven't had much experience yet... ASV's are not Junk. When you say that Cat bought them for the track and the rest is junk, well that's a silly statement. Cat did buy a portion of them, so did Terex (licensing agreement for Terex). Cat bought part of them to get access to the track system, and ASV got access to Cat's controls for their machines. ASV has bought most of their company back and are running strong again. (I've owned/run Track machines from Cat, ASV, Tak, Kubota, Bobcat... and other equip from Massey, JD, Komatsu, etc). Currently have Cat 239 & 249 machines because dealer support here is excellent. The ASV machines are much more balanced and much better ground clearance. They excel in soft conditions and 'off-road'. Their biggest weakness is dealer support (lack of), and their cabs are some of the worst on the market. Not trying to dig on you here... just cleaning up your statement a bit.

[@megaartd]

first time I heard that cat bought asv I thought terex owned them got 3k hours on mine before I sold my asv never had any problems I bought a 2001 peterbilt never had issues 1.3 mill miles now I spent 140k on a 2014 t680 kenworth and have nothing but problems even with warranty everything breaking isnt covered for the amount of money I put in new truck could have bought another one so who knows others have same truck no problems and paccar owns both brands dam ghosts lol

[@CarsonSchifsky]

It’s all really strange who owns who. I might be wrong maybe they bought rights to the MTL track design? Idk I know cats MTL track design comes from ASV though

[@whalerlife53]

Good luck maintaining those tracks. They will rip you a new one.

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Haha ya thank god she was just a demo

[@chriss7930]

Really ? They are very low maintenance if you have the right machine for the right application I'm 3500 hrs in on one of my tracked 257 d and haven't spent a bean apart from new tracks, and you also have to be an operator not just a driver !

[@michaelbrigham5564]

Tun it in gravel and you will have issues snow and top soil great machines but in gravel they blow track system cant run with gravel

[@anthonyd5884]

@@chriss7930 facts!

[@chriss7930]

@@anthonyd5884 I have 3 of them and a 287 and the tracks last well, had no problems with them at all in the last 7 years

[@sheldoncampbell7146]

Rejen system with the noise

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Yep 👍

[@benzun9600]

Can a common non contractor rent this CAT and learn how to use it for their own property?

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Yes! Call your local cat dealer! If your from the Minnesota area like us call Ziegler cat there great guys and will take care of ya

[@megaartd]

try a asv

[@CarsonSchifsky]

I’ve heard. Good and bad about them and would like to see for myself some day

[@High-Flow-Drainage-Solutions]

I believe the newer ones are really good . The certainly have the best performing track system , just had some durability issues on the earlier models . They have a really nice cab too .

[@cole257dcat4]

And that noise you hear is it burning the extra fuel

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Yep that’s the regen mode

[@kalelissy9612]

You probably want wheels for snow removal considering that you guy travel a ways with it

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Ya I agree 100% I think we should have a wheel loader not a skid. However our local Cat dealer reached out to us and asked if we'd like to demo one so we figured why not!

[@gumby511]

Not at all. A track kid with snow treads can out perform all day long.

[@shutyoassup8377]

Bobcats are better they have better torsion axles and are more faster and quieter Cat is absolute trash it does not work for demolition it does not have enough high flow for big attachments. But either way i still love your videos man

[@mikesmith8687]

Buy America made

[@dansutherland6815]

I don't know dude,,, I like wheels

[@kujob6442]

Bobcat is better.

[@miket9101]

Phenomenal??!?? This is the worst undercarriage they made ...

[@CarsonSchifsky]

I would strongly disagree. That undercarriage is the only reason we have ever even looked at a cat skid loader. Its the most versatile undercarriage on the market and i love it for that. I could bang out landscaping jobs all summer long with it and have the best ride comfort and lowest ground pressure then transition into snow plowing all winter with it because it gets the best traction on snow and has the fastest ground speed out of any track loader. Downfall yes the do break stuff often and the boggies get pretty beat up.

[@chriss7930]

I have 3 of these and are epic. But you do have to have good operators and I mean operators not drivers.

[@josephmontenegro8392]

Trash Machine . Get kubota

[@CarsonSchifsky]

I’d agree! Haha

[@Nothingtoya]

1 thing I've learned over the past 20 years operating machines, the more "tech" they put into them, the more problems you have. Theres a company down here in Florida that I work with some times. All they use to buy was Cat equipment. Now, I've only got 1000 hours on my Kubota SVL75-2, it's not had any problems though and that surprised them due to all the problems they had with these cats. Having guys get stuck in them during a Florida summer, when the machine shuts off, is also a problem. They got rid of the Skid Steers and picked up 4 Kubota's. Down here, skid steers with Tires are all but useless.

[@kenward5678]

@@Nothingtoya yeah I love kubotas how do you like your SVl 75-2 we have a I use a 95 before and loved the power it gave out and the space In the cab does the 75 have similar powered and space?

[@Nothingtoya]

@@kenward5678 it definitely doesn't have the power of a 75 but you definitely have a lot of room in the cab. Its been such a reliable machine too.

[@kenward5678]

@@Nothingtoya I like the 75 more bc its a little smaller and has no def fluid. And the 75 seems more like a middle to large size size skit steer and not as heavy as the 95

[@johnmurray3816]

money PIT!!!

[@CarsonSchifsky]

Ya agreed 100%

[@chriss7930]

I dont agree, I own 3 of these. Never really have any problems apart from primer pump

[@dchapps5045]

Buy kubota