How do the aftermarket rubber tracks hold up to OME Bobcat tracks? Looking at prices the aftermarket ones are considerably cheaper, but will they hold up as good?
This is a great question and it's not related to just tracks but to almost any aftermarket part. We produce rubber
tracks and cushioned solid
tires for both OEM and Aftermarket, and yes, there are different. Also, for the aftermarket, we have premium and economy lines, and yes, higher price, usually means higher quality. It just costs more to make something better.
Different OEMs have different requirements - track/ tire stiffness, the way it rides with the OEM specific undercarriage, tread design, noise and vibration, rubber color (even smell!), etc., etc. in addition to the more traditional concerns about durability. Thus, most OEM tracks (and some tires) are made specifically for the machine in question and before they are put on the market there are months, sometimes years, of testing. This does not mean that all OEM products are always perfect - even the most vigorous OEM testing cannot cover all possible real field conditions and challenges; also, not all manufacturers can keep the production consistency at over 95%. But, the risk of an OEM approved product to underperform is greatly reduced; in addition, the warranties claims are much easily enforceable, as behind it stands the OEM.
Certainly, there are many great aftermarket tracks and tires as well. The key is to know which are the good ones and are they consistently good or occasionally good. To answer, you to do your own testing - same as the OEMs do - and if you find a good supplier, stick to it. It's risky, but if you are good in your research, you can save money as the aftermarket parts are usually quite cheaper.
I'll give you just one example of poorly made aftermarket tracks that are not made in accordance with the OEM design - I've seen many aftermarket tracks for Bobcat, CAT and JD CTLs where the rollers run over metal plates in the track with gaps between them (you can imagine how this feels and how it affect the machine); the original track design for the Bobcat, CAT and JD CTLs has an elevated continuous rubber belt, reinforced internally by steel, and the rollers run over it - a much smoother and softer ride. My suggestion is to do your homework and when you decide to buy aftermarket, know what you buy.