Why are they called skid steer loaders and what does SSL, MTL and CTL mean?
The wheels on a skid steer typically have no steering mechanism, they are in a fixed, straight line relative to the body of the machine. By turning the left and right wheel pairs at different speeds, the machine turns by skidding, or dragging its wheels across the ground. The rigid frame and strong wheel bearings prevent the torsional forces caused by this dragging motion from damaging the machine. This skidding motion tears up the ground on which the machine operates.
SSL (skid steer loader) refers to the standard wheeled machine. CTL (compact track loader) and MTL (multi-terrain loader) refer to different undercarriage designs. CTLs feature a steel embedded track and steel undercarriage components for maximum life in many applications. MTLs have a rubber track undercarriage that delivers lower ground pressure compared to an SSL and CTL so they don’t tear up the ground as badly.
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