Skid Steer and Compact Track Loader Financing
Few machines earn their keep across as many industries as the skid steer. Landscapers, builders, farmers, tree services, snow contractors, and excavation firms all use them, and a single machine can grade, dig, lift, sweep, and clear with a quick attachment change. That versatility, plus a broad resale market, makes skid steers and compact track loaders one of the most commonly financed pieces of equipment.
Wheels or tracks?
| Wheeled skid steer | Compact track loader (CTL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best ground | Pavement, concrete, hard-packed surfaces | Soft ground, mud, slopes, finished turf |
| Speed | Faster on hard surfaces | Slower, but more stable |
| Operating cost | Tires cost less to replace | Tracks and undercarriage cost more |
| Flotation and traction | Lower | Higher |
| Common buyers | Demolition, agriculture, paved-site work, snow | Landscaping, grading, site prep |
Choose based on the ground you work on most. The choice also affects operating costs and resale value.
What affects a skid steer's value
- Hours: the most important factor. Skid steers accumulate hours quickly.
- Undercarriage or tires: track and roller condition on a CTL, or tire tread on a wheeled unit.
- Hydraulic flow: high-flow units run demanding attachments such as mulchers and cold planers and often command more.
- Cab and controls: enclosed cab with HVAC, joystick versus hand/foot controls.
- Quick-attach condition: worn couplers and pins signal hard use.
- Attachment package: buckets, forks, grapples, augers, and trenchers add value when itemized.
Attachments: where the machine earns more
The attachment package can turn one machine into several. Common financed packages include:
- Landscaping: bucket, pallet forks, soil conditioner, auger
- Tree and land clearing: grapple, forestry mulcher (high-flow)
- Construction: bucket, forks, breaker, trencher
- Snow: blade, pusher box, snow blower
- Agriculture: bale spear, bucket, grapple
Ask the dealer to list each attachment separately on the quote so it can be valued. Whether an attachment can be financed on its own for a machine you already own depends on the deal; ask us what fits.
Buying used: quick checks
- Verify hours and ask for service records.
- Check the quick-attach plate and pins for play.
- Inspect the tracks, rollers, and idlers, or the tire tread.
- Look for hydraulic leaks and test auxiliary hydraulics.
- Run it through its full range, including lift arms at full height.
Financing considerations
- Versatility helps. A machine used year-round for multiple purposes is easier to justify than one used for a single seasonal job.
- Transport: a skid steer usually needs a trailer. See trailer financing.
- Payment planning: use a payment calculator to compare an estimated payment with rental costs.
Estimates are not offers. Any payment figure shown by a calculator or example is an illustration for planning only. It is not an offer, an approval, or a commitment to provide financing. Actual rates, terms, and payments are set by the financing source after its credit review and may differ.
Hypothetical illustration
Hypothetical and simplified, for illustration only. Not a client story, typical result, or offer.
A tree service is spending hours per job dragging brush by hand. The owner finds a used compact track loader with a grapple and a high-flow mulcher at an equipment dealer. The application includes the itemized quote and a year of bank statements. The owner also notes the land-clearing jobs the mulcher would let the crew take on.
Related pages
- Landscaping equipment financing
- Construction equipment financing
- Tree service equipment financing
- New and used equipment financing
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance a used skid steer?
Yes. Used skid steers and CTLs are commonly financed. Hours and condition shape the structure.
Can attachments be financed with the machine?
Attachments on the dealer quote can generally be included in the request.
Is a CTL or a wheeled skid steer easier to finance?
Both have strong resale markets. Choose based on your work, not financing.
Can I finance a skid steer and trailer together?
Yes. List both units on the application.
Financing disclaimer: This page is general and educational. Ashford Capital Group is not a lender in connection with this information. Nothing here is an offer, a commitment to provide financing, or a guarantee of approval. Financing is provided by third-party financing sources and is subject to their credit review and approval; availability, rates, terms, and down payment vary and depend on your business, the equipment, and the full application. Commercial (business-purpose) financing only, for California businesses.
Internal links on this page
- "trailer financing" → /equipment-financing/trailer-financing
- "Landscaping equipment financing" → /equipment-financing/landscaping-equipment-financing
- "Construction equipment financing" → /construction-equipment-financing
- "Tree service equipment financing" → /equipment-financing/tree-service
- "New and used equipment financing" → /new-and-used-equipment-financing
Image alt text suggestions
- Compact track loader with pallet forks moving sod on a landscaping job
- Wheeled skid steer with a bucket loading gravel into a trailer
- Row of skid steer attachments including an auger, grapple, and trencher
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