Track or wheel? NEIL DOWLING looks at two skid-steer loaders from New Holland and analyses their pros and cons
Despite their parentage, the New Holland C227 and L218 are different animals made for similar tasks. Both are highly rated for their performance, ownership simplicity and neither looks out of place on a construction site.
They are two of seven skid-steer loaders introduced by New Holland under the 200 series banner, a range that took five years to research, design and develop.
C227 compact track loader
The C227 is a compact track loader (CTL) for the general construction contractor though it also has applications in other fields, such as agriculture, hence making it a versatile machine with a good resale value.
The C227 has a bucket capacity of 0.79 cubic metres and an operating weight of 3.7 tonnes.
It has a radial-lift boom geometry with the boom connected directly to the frame to make it better suited for pushing and excavating.
Maximum reach is at the same level as the operator’s eye line during operation, making it ideal for loading and unloading flatbed trucks and trailers.
“The C227 is the most popular of the track machines in the range,” said Kye Keenan, sales rep for Mcintosh & Son that distributes New Holland machinery in Western Australia.
The C227 has a 3.2-litre four cylinder engine producing 74hp and 315Nm of torque at 1400rpm.
Keenan said the engine has been designed by Case New Holland’s (CNH) subsidiary, FPT-Iveco, specifically for skid-steer applications.
L218 skid steer loader
The L series - including the bigger L220 - performs against the C series but appeals to a different user.
The L218 - and others in the L series family - feature New Holland’s patented vertical lift “Super Boom” design that can load material to the centre of a truck. The 53-degree dump angle means the bucket empties faster, which increases cycle times and productivity.
The bucket is self-levelling to allow attachments - such as pallet forks - to maintain the preset location throughout the lift cycle for a safe and efficient materials handling process especially in confined spaces.
New Holland also has a range of options including “Glide Ride” for a smoother ride over rough grounds.
The L218 is smaller than the C227 and features a Shibaura 2.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine offering 60hp and a torque of 189Nm at 1800rpm.
The L218 has a rated operating capacity of 818kg and a bucket volume of 0.48 cubic metres.
The machine is fractionally longer than the C227 (by 28mm) and is wider by 30mm, enough in some cases to make the C227 more adept in tighter sites.
Frequent servicing points such as radiator and cooling system are accessed through the rear-swing door. All of New Holland’s skid steer cabins can be tilted forward for access to major machine components for servicing purposes.
New Holland’s skid steers have simple mechanics on tested designs and come with operator-focused features such as highly comfortable seats in the cab, excellent 360-degree visibility of the job site from inside the cab, instruments within the forward cabin pillars, and ISO controls for smooth action.
Track vs wheel
According to Keenan, the tracked loader can do more than its wheeled counterpart.
“It suits a greater variation of terrain and work conditions and that makes it not only suitable for construction but also for agriculture,” he said.
“It is narrower than the wheel machine equivalents, too. This means for building sites with limited access, it has a better chance of getting around the site. It can fit through driveways and under carports and turn tighter too.
“There are some construction jobs which need a small and agile machine, including slab cleaning and working around scaffolding.
“To top it off, the track model can push more and climb higher.”
RELATED READ: How to choose: Compact tracked loader vs skid steer loader
Keenan said another advantage of the C227, in comparison with wheeled machines, is its low ground pressure and high traction.
“This gives it minimal ground disruption which is welcome anywhere but has particular importance in areas of high environmental fragility, for example,” he said.
“The tracks also allow it to work across slopes and inclines where it performs better than wheeled machines.”
However, tracked loaders cost more than wheeled models and are more expensive to repair and maintain.
“If you look at an approximate cost, the C227 is about $65,000 but at the same time, they attract a higher hourly rate to hire so it evens out,” Keenan said.
“We sell about five track models to one wheel model, so there has been a big change in the dynamics of the market in recent years.”
Having said that, the wheeled loader has its list of advantages. It’s less expensive, it can lift more weight to a greater height, and its vertical lift configuration makes it more suitable for work with other equipment.
“The vertical lift allows the load to be placed closer to the machine for better weight distribution and allows it to get closer to a truck, for example, to unload,” Keenan said.
“It can work at greater heights and this makes it more suitable for loading into a bin.
“The operator also has a better view of the unloading manoeuvres and can be more accurate in dumping the load.”
SEE ALSO: 10 things you didn’t know you could do with a skid steer loader
