JD Skid Steer Ground Clearance Question

[ddivinia]

I am debating track vs. wheel.

I saw these ground clearance numbers on the JDs.

325 - 9"
328 - 11"
332 - 9.5"

Why the difference? Wheel/tire combination?

I am worried about burying this thing - the extra clearance is a consideration.

D.

[Digdeep]

I am debating track vs. wheel.

I saw these ground clearance numbers on the JDs.

325 - 9"
328 - 11"
332 - 9.5"

Why the difference? Wheel/tire combination?

I am worried about burying this thing - the extra clearance is a consideration.

D.

The tires will impact the ground clearance and width of a skid. Many skids that go to Europe go with narrower tires because the Europeans like narrower machines.

[bobcat_ron]

And the aren't much better in the CTL's, if you like Deere and you want ground clearance that will actually clear an ant, put OTT tracks on or the Loegering VTS, that raises the machine by like 2" on most brands.

[Tigerotor77W]

I'm actually not sure why the 332 has less ground clearance -- Deere might put larger axle groups on it to add to axle torque -- but the 325 has 12x16.5 tires while the 328 and 332 run 14s.

[ksss]

I'm actually not sure why the 332 has less ground clearance -- Deere might put larger axle groups on it to add to axle torque -- but the 325 has 12x16.5 tires while the 328 and 332 run 14s.

I would also guess that the chain case is the culprit. The larger heavier chain drives need more room.

There are a couple guys on here with a 332 and could give an opinion on the effect of the reduced clearance on this machine.

[crab]

i assume you're talking wheel machines ,witch i cant comment on,i can say I've never been stuck in a skid except for one time back filling this foundation???truthfully if you are a good operator 2 inches should not make that much of a difference ,other than what you hit up top,Ron you can always trade for Deere or case!:drinkup:

[bobcat_ron]

This is what happens to a lot of Deere's in my neck of the woods, this job the owner was driving off a 6" concrete edge and because of the poor angle of departure and low ground clearance, well he got stuck! :laugh:

[ksss]

This is what happens to a lot of Deere's in my neck of the woods, this job the owner was driving off a 6" concrete edge and because of the poor angle of departure and low ground clearance, well he got stuck! :laugh:

And if that was not enough, there you were with a camera to make matters worse, no doubt telling him that with another inch or two of (CAT) clearance he would not be stuck. Made his day I am sure.:clapping:

[bobcat_ron]

And if that was not enough, there you were with a camera to make matters worse, no doubt telling him that with another inch or two of (CAT) clearance he would not be stuck. Made his day I am sure.:clapping:

Not really, I was there only as a bystander, but they had to push it out with a much larger Deere loader though.

But ironically enough, I travelled through that same patch and over that edge with my Cat and had no problems.

[Tigerotor77W]

But ironically enough, I travelled through that same patch and over that edge with my Cat and had no problems.

You had tracks!

[bobcat_ron]

You had tracks!

And higher clearance, better angle of departure, lighter PSI, shorter machine length, better and sexier looking operator, better paint job, bigger wallet, better fuel economy, and a whole butt load of better things!

[Dirt Digger2]

you could do this and not worry about it

[bobcat_ron]

That's more like it now!

[MRBsx2]

Haha dirt digger you must have been looking at the same thing i was. The Lancaster Farmer paper, that thing is a Binkley and Hurst i think for sale.

[Dirt Digger2]

Haha dirt digger you must have been looking at the same thing i was. The Lancaster Farmer paper, that thing is a Binkley and Hurst i think for sale.

Hoobers...haha, that thing has been in there a few weeks now and i read this thread and had to post it

[Mr. Rain]

Published Specs: Ground Clearance
Deere 325 9" Cat 256C 8.8"
Deere 328 11" Cat 262C 8.8"
Deere 332 9.5" Cat 272C 8.8"

If Deere's ground clearance is bad, then Cat's is what.........REALLY BAD?
Look at a spec sheet some time. The only mid or large frame machine that Deere is not equal to or better than in ground clearance is the Cat 236 vs 317 comparison. Cat is the only major player to run 12" rubber in the 1750# class, thus the higher ground clearance. That is the only wheel machine Cat makes that beats Deere in that respect.

Deere CT322 9.6" Cat 257 10" - Less than 1/2" difference.
Deere CT332 11" Cat 297C 8.8"

Might also want to look at angle of departure. Cat is within 1 degree of Deere +/- or the same on all of their mid and large frame wheel machines.

If you want sexy, can you really beat a chrome stack? :)

[Digdeep]

Deere CT322 9.6" Cat 257 10" - Less than 1/2" difference.
Deere CT332 11" Cat 297C 8.8"

Might also want to look at angle of departure. Cat is within 1 degree of Deere +/- or the same on all of their mid and large frame wheel machines.

If you want sexy, can you really beat a chrome stack? :)

ASV PT70 15" (45 degree departure angle) Deere CT322 9.6"
ASV PT100 14" (40 degree departure angle) Deere CT332 11"

Must be X-rated

[dozerman21]

I've never had an issues with ground clearance on my CT332. Sometimes the brainwashed on here value hype over real life. I've have only been hung up a couple of times, and that was trying to backfill pure muck and one track slipped down in a freshly filled utility trench. Once you lose one side like that, you're not going anywhere by yourself.

A little more ground clearance wouldn't hurt, but like Mr. Rain showed, they are in line or above most everyone else (CT332), minus the TK which has a couple more inches. The tracks clean themself fairly well and it doesn't bogg down easily. It runs in mud with no bottom to it for 1/3 of the year, and actually pushes or carries a full bucket... unlike all these videos of machines slopping through hard clay with a couple of inches of mud on top, with an empty bucket. Mine hasn't been perfect and it drinks to much fuel, but I do push it hard and I won't complain one bit about its grunt and performance.

[bobcat_ron]

That's going to take some serious shovel work to dig out that U/C, that's where ASV/Cat has everyone nailed to a cross!

[dozerman21]

That's going to take some serious shovel work to dig out that U/C, that's where ASV/Cat has everyone nailed to a cross!

Ron, you're somewhat right. The Cat guys around me wouldn't dare take their loaders through that, and they stayed purdy and clean!:cool2:

I don't know how the C Series are for cleaning... they don't look as bad, but if you're running a 267/277 in the winter months, you better have a power washer and pole barn if you plan on using it the next day.:dizzy:

[ddivinia]

I've never had an issues with ground clearance on my CT332. Sometimes the brainwashed on here value hype over real life. I've have only been hung up a couple of times, and that was trying to backfill pure muck and one track slipped down in a freshly filled utility trench. Once you lose one side like that, you're not going anywhere by yourself.

A little more ground clearance wouldn't hurt, but like Mr. Rain showed, they are in line or above most everyone else (CT332), minus the TK which has a couple more inches. The tracks clean themself fairly well and it doesn't bogg down easily. It runs in mud with no bottom to it for 1/3 of the year, and actually pushes or carries a full bucket... unlike all these videos of machines slopping through hard clay with a couple of inches of mud on top, with an empty bucket. Mine hasn't been perfect and it drinks to much fuel, but I do push it hard and I won't complain one bit about its grunt and performance.


Nice picture - is that some welding on the inside of the right loader arm?

D.

[Digdeep]

Ron, you're somewhat right. The Cat guys around me wouldn't dare take their loaders through that, and they stayed purdy and clean!:cool2:

I don't know how the C Series are for cleaning... they don't look as bad, but if you're running a 267/277 in the winter months, you better have a power washer and pole barn if you plan on using it the next day.:dizzy:

That 267/277/287/RC100 undercarriage would be nasty to clean in mud like that! The newer ASV/CAT undercarriage is easy to clean.

[dozerman21]

Nice picture - is that some welding on the inside of the right loader arm?

D.

No, that's just a nice little grease spot that collects there daily when the arms go down.:laugh: I've given up on trying to keep those two spots clean.

[ddivinia]

OK - cool deal. Man, that machines looks awesome.

D.