There have been several in my area medium to larger Cat and other skid steers I have seen with steel shoes and steel rails. Someone getting tired of replacing rubber? Iron rails last longer?
Going to follow this. Have been thinking about steel tracks with rubber cleats for a couple machines around here if they even exist.
Saw a Bobcat 300 series with steel rails steel shoes and rubber bolt on cleats so they could work on pavement, then saw the Cat with steel. Must be making a comeback.
Did some digging, found this:
Not sure if you are talking CTL or excavators or both. Just did my cat 308.
Both
Cat has been offering a steel undercarriage for the 299 compact track loader for a few years now, last I heard it was a $20k option though..
OUCH! I wonder why I am seeing so many with them then? Bargained for?
I heard the tracks are supposed to go 5k hours before needing work, comparing that to around 1,200 to 1,500 hours for a set of rubber tracks I could see where it would possibly save money to run the steel tracks.