Skid steer loaders are renowned for their versatility and compact design, making them ideal for various tasks, especially on hard, paved surfaces. However, in challenging terrains such as marshy, muddy, or sandy environments, these machines often face traction issues, leading to potential immobilization. To address these challenges, Trident has developed Over Tire Tracks (OTTs) that significantly enhance the operational capabilities of skid steer loaders across diverse terrains.
Challenges Faced by Skid Steer Loaders in certain Terrains:
While skid steer loaders perform efficiently on solid surfaces, they encounter difficulties in:
- Soft or Loose Soil: In conditions like un-compacted surfaces or loose soil, especially in wet weather, skid steers can lose traction, making the job site slippery and unsafe. This often forces operators to halt work until conditions improve
- Marshy or Sandy Areas: In such environments, all tired equipment, including skid steer loaders, may lose traction, experience wheel spin, and ultimately get bogged down. In extreme cases, external assistance like cranes might be required to extricate the stranded machinery
One can only imagine the consequences of punctures to human life & machine safety when working at heights or the difficulties of repairing punctures in challenging environments such construction sites, scrap yards, waste transfer stations, underground mines, or the impact of downtime due to punctures on machine productivity, project costs & schedules….
A solution to augment the capabilities of skid steer loaders in challenging conditions, Trident has introduced Over Tire Tracks (OTTs).
Enhanced Traction and Flotation:
OTTs significantly increase traction and flotation, enabling skid steer loaders to operate effectively in virtually any service environment
Robust Construction:
Comprising pivotally interconnected steel segments, these tracks are looped over the tires, with open ends fastened to create an endless track chain or belt. This design provides tracked mobility with high flotation, usually installable within an hour
Adjustable and Durable Design:
The OTTs are made using a hardened, abrasion resistant steel, that is specially shaped to form a high-flotation profile that ensures no damage when operating on paved surfaces. Additionally, the adjustable track length accommodates machines of different wheelbase lengths, and the easy mounting and demounting can be performed on-site
Benefits of Implementing Trident's OTTs
- Extended Operational Range: OTTs bridge the gap between wheeled and tracked mobility, effectively converting a wheeled skid loader into a tracked loader, thus expanding the range of terrains navigable by the machine Increased Efficiency and Productivity: Even in dry conditions, tracked machines equipped with OTTs can move more material in less time, enhancing overall job site efficiency
- Cost-Effectiveness: OTTs offer a modest investment that yields significant returns by increasing the machine’s versatility and reducing downtime caused by adverse terrain conditions
- Optional Accessories: To further enhance functionality, Trident offers optional accessories such as wheel spacers, mounting assistance toolkits, and bolt-on rubber pads, providing additional customization and utility based on specific operational needs.