eh john, how goes it?
i look at the vts system vs the systems used by all the main manufacturers and ask myself if the vts is so good then why do the suppliers bother to re-engineer their machines substantially to fit tracks? put another way, i figure they employ enough engineers with some idea to be able to work out the pros and cons of converting a wheeled vs a redesign.
i know my tracked bobcats have proven durable in the hire fleet with no problems to date. i know the drive motors fitted by bobcat to their tracked machines are substantially different, there has to be a reason for that.
the only reason i would contemplate the vts system is if i was using it ocassionally but then ott would probably be just as good.
other point to consider is the complication of the track system (and vts looks complicated to me) and thus the maintenance costs.
one further point is that vts may be a bit of an orphan product in this country ie not well supported. I do not know if this is so but i would want to ascertain the answer before purchase.
my 2c - i'd go with the ctl as i suspect your whole of life costs might be substantially better... just dont use the thing for working on concrete or tar on a regular basis...
oh, and on the ride issue, i prefer my tracked machines to have fixed undercarriages, if the quality of ride is an issue then you are probably using it in the wrong application.
i find the fixed tracked machines brilliant in use whereas i find the sprung machines tend to re-introduce the bad point of wheeled machines - getting thrown around the cabin.
