Compact Track Loaders for Sale in Ontario — SDLG at TerraX

For tight GTA lots with lawns, soft soil or unpaved snow, start with a compact track loader, and compare a wheeled skid steer when the work is mostly on pavement: tracks spread the machine's weight and keep traction on soft or snowy ground, tires wear more slowly on paved surfaces, and on a narrow site the access width decides which machine fits at all.

Those points come from Bobcat's buyer's guide, which says the track undercarriage spreads the machine's weight over a larger area, giving it low ground pressure, and lists minimal ground disturbance on turf or soft soil among what a compact track loader is best for. For winter work, the same guide puts soft, muddy, sandy or snowy terrain on its compact track loader list, citing excellent traction, and counts snow removal among the typical tasks of a skid-steer loader; it also lists abrasive or paved surfaces, where tires wear more slowly than tracks, among what a skid-steer loader is best for.

For access, measure the narrowest gate, laneway or side yard against both the machine and the attachment. Of the ride-in loaders compared above, the Cat 255 is published at 1,675 mm on 320 mm tracks and 1,760 mm on 400 mm tracks, the Bobcat T66-2 at 67.8 in overall, the SDLG TV1100H at 1,785 mm without bucket, and the John Deere 325G at 1.82 m without bucket on 320 mm tracks and 1.90 m on 400 mm tracks; the linked Kubota SVL75-3 brochure does not publish a width, so ask Kubota for it. For narrower access, the stand-on SDLG STR1000H measures 910 mm without bucket and has a 453 kg rated operating capacity. TerraX lists two SDLG track loaders and no wheeled skid steer, so if your work is mostly on pavement, ask the maker of any wheeled machine you are considering for its figures too.

Access width decides which loaders can reach the work at all, and rated operating capacity (ROC) decides how much each trip can carry, so filter by width first and then by ROC. In the table above, the widths on standard tracks are 1,675 mm for the Cat 255, 67.8 in overall for the Bobcat T66-2, 1,785 mm without bucket for the SDLG TV1100H and 1.82 m without bucket for the John Deere 325G; the linked Kubota SVL75-3 brochure does not publish a width, so ask for the figure before you measure a gate. ROC is 1,129 kg for the Kubota, 1,133 kg for the Cat, 1,176 kg for the John Deere and 1,180 kg for the SDLG, and 2,350 lb or 2,400 lb for the Bobcat depending on undercarriage.

Measure the bucket or attachment as well as the machine. SDLG lists a 1,880 mm bucket for the TV1100H against a 1,785 mm machine width. Wider tracks add width too: Cat lists 1,760 mm for the 255 on 400 mm tracks against 1,675 mm on 320 mm tracks.

ROC is the load the loader is rated to carry. SDLG, Cat, Kubota and John Deere state it at 35% of tipping load; Bobcat's T66-2 page lists separate figures for its torsion and solid undercarriages. Compare ROC with the heaviest load you move regularly, using the attachment you plan to run, and remember that a heavier loader is also a heavier trailer load: the operating weights above are 8,560 lb for the Bobcat, 4,169 kg (open cab) for the Kubota, 4,313 kg for the John Deere, 4,345 kg for the Cat and 4,600 kg for the SDLG.

If no ride-in loader fits your access, look at a stand-on mini track loader, which trades capacity for width: the SDLG STR1000H is 910 mm wide without bucket and has a 453 kg ROC.

Skid steer and track loader are often searched together, so start with what is on this page. SDLG's brochures name the STR1000H a stand-on track loader and the TV1100H a compact track loader; both run on tracks, and neither is a wheeled machine. Whichever term you searched for, the useful questions are about the job: what surface the machine will work on most days, how soft the ground gets, and how narrow the access is.

On a stand-on track loader the operator stands at the controls instead of sitting in a cab. SDLG says the STR1000H's compact body design allows it to excel at handling various tough tasks in tight working environments. The TV1100H is a ride-in compact track loader with a one-piece sealed cab.

If most of your work is on pavement and you had a wheeled skid steer in mind, say so in your enquiry so the working surface is part of the discussion.

Two numbers do most of the sorting. Operating weight is what the machine weighs ready to work; it drives your trailer, towing vehicle and ground conditions. Rated operating capacity (ROC) is the load the loader is rated to carry. SDLG's brochures state ROC as 35% of tipping load: the STR1000H has a 1,295 kg tipping load and a 453 kg ROC.

Start from the heaviest thing you handle regularly, such as a pallet of pavers, a bucket of wet soil or a load of gravel, and confirm it sits inside the ROC with the attachment you plan to use. Then check the machine against your narrowest gate or access route. The STR1000H measures 910 mm wide without bucket and the TV1100H 1,785 mm; SDLG lists bucket widths of 914 mm and 1,880 mm, so measure the attachment as well as the machine.

Ground pressure matters on lawns, wet sites and finished surfaces. SDLG lists 27.2 kPa for the STR1000H and 33 kPa for the TV1100H. Use those figures to compare the two machines with each other; the actual effect on a lawn or a soft site depends on the conditions on the day.

A skid steer runs on wheels; a compact track loader runs on tracks. Bobcat, which builds both types, compares them in its buyer's guide, and the general points below on how each type behaves come from that guide. TerraX lists two SDLG track loaders and no wheeled skid steer, so the figures below are SDLG's for its tracked machines; there is no SDLG wheeled-machine figure on this page to set beside them.

Ground pressure: Bobcat's guide says the track undercarriage spreads the machine's weight over a larger area, giving it low ground pressure, and lists minimal ground disturbance on turf or soft soil among what a compact track loader is best for. On the wheeled side, the guide says skid steers use conventional tires, so they are lighter and faster on firm surfaces, and lists hard, flat surfaces such as roads, concrete and gravel among what a skid-steer loader is best for. SDLG publishes 27.2 kPa on 250 mm tracks for the STR1000H and 33 kPa on 400 mm tracks for the TV1100H, whose brochure lists 1,435 mm of track on the ground. To compare a specific wheeled skid steer, ask its maker for the ground pressure on the tires you would run.

Wet and soft ground: the same guide says that low ground pressure lets a track loader travel over mud, sand or snow without getting stuck, and that tracks also provide continuous traction. In its quick comparison, soft, muddy and sandy terrain sits on the compact track loader list, while the skid-steer list starts with hard, flat surfaces; if your site is often wet or soft, that points to tracks, and if it is mostly firm and level, a wheeled skid steer is worth comparing. Read ground pressure together with operating weight: SDLG lists 1,580 kg for the STR1000H and 4,600 kg for the TV1100H, and 225 mm of ground clearance for the TV1100H. These are published figures, not a field test; how a given site holds up depends on the soil and the weather on the day, so describe the site when you contact us.

Snow: Bobcat's guide puts soft, muddy, sandy or snowy terrain on its list for compact track loaders, citing excellent traction. It also counts snow removal among the typical tasks of a skid-steer loader, and lists abrasive or paved surfaces, where tires wear more slowly than tracks, among what a skid-steer loader is best for. So if your routes are mostly paved lots and sidewalks, compare a wheeled skid steer; if you clear snow on unpaved, soft or uneven ground, look at tracks first, and tell us which surfaces you clear when you ask for a quote. SDLG lists two-speed travel and cruise control among the TV1100H's standard features. The stand-on STR1000H measures 910 mm wide without bucket; compare that, and the attachment width, with the narrowest path you clear, and check the snow attachment maker's carrier requirements.

For a brand comparison that includes the STR1000H, see SDLG vs Bobcat.

Landscaping and residential work usually comes down to the gate. For backyard grading, sod or paver jobs, check the access, the load and the attachment the job needs before you pick the machine. SDLG says the STR1000H can be equipped with a lawn mower, auger, pallet fork, bucket and other attachments. Check the gate width against the attachment, not just the machine.

Municipal and property maintenance often means a full day in the seat, travel between sites on a trailer and a mix of tools. The TV1100H's cab has an air suspension seat with heat and ventilation, a 7-inch touch screen and an integrated rearview camera; at its weight, the trailer plan below matters more.

For snow on sidewalks, pathways and smaller lots, compare the machine and attachment width with the narrowest area you clear, and check the attachment maker's carrier requirements. If you are deciding between a track loader and a larger wheel loader for bigger lots, read our wheel loader snow-removal sizing guide.

On foundation, utility and pipeline jobs, if the loader will backfill, grade and move material while an excavator digs, plan both machines together. The TV1100H comes with high-flow hydraulics as standard, which is relevant if you plan to run high-flow tools. On farms, compare ground pressure if you work on soft ground, and the cab if the machine will work through the winter.

Plan the trailer before you buy the machine. Ontario's official driver's handbook says a trailer with a gross trailer weight, vehicle and load of 1,360 kg or more must have brakes strong enough to stop and hold the trailer. The STR1000H alone has an operating weight of 1,580 kg, so any trailer carrying it is over that line.

The same handbook describes a Class G licence as covering a vehicle and towed vehicle combination up to 11,000 kg, provided the vehicle towed is not over 4,600 kg. The TV1100H's brochure operating weight is 4,600 kg before the trailer itself is counted, so check the licence class and your towing vehicle's ratings against the official handbook before planning to tow it yourself.

Ontario's guide to oversize/overweight vehicles and loads lists 2.6 m as the normal maximum width for a vehicle including load. Measure the complete combination of trailer, machine and attachment, secure the load, and ask your hauler when you are unsure.

The STR1000H uses the CII (Common Industry Interface) attachment mounting system, and SDLG lists its auxiliary hydraulic flow at 55 L/min. The TV1100H has a standard flow of 75 L/min and a high flow of 113 L/min; SDLG says the operator can adjust pressure and flow on the touchscreen to suit a wide range of attachments. Match each tool's coupler and flow requirement to the machine before you order it.

Browse ArcPath's attachment directory for material-handling and land-clearing tools. ArcPath states that every attachment it lists is specified against the mini track loader carrier family, and that other carriers, including SDLG equipment, are matched through a fitment review before ordering. Send us the model, coupler type and hydraulic needs and ask for that review rather than judging fit from a photo.

TerraX is at 189 Milner Ave in Toronto. Our Service & Parts page lists Preventive Maintenance, Hydraulic System Service and Engine Diagnostics & Repair, offers field service across the GTA, and says we use genuine OEM replacement parts from SDLG, ArcPath, AODES and Benda.

Bring the model and serial number when you ask about parts or service, and ask how service will work for your job location before you choose a machine.