How long can you finance a skid steer or track loader?
Up to 84 months, or seven years, on an equipment finance agreement, and up to 60 months on a lease. Here’s how long a loader lasts, what each term from 36 to 84 months does to the payment and the total, and what else can go on the same agreement.
On this page
How long does a skid steer last?
About 5,000 hours with good care, according to two John Deere dealers, and a compact track loader (CTL) can run 6,000 to 7,000 before it needs a rebuild. Here’s what dealer, maker and trade-press pages say:
| Source | Who they are | What they say |
|---|---|---|
| Koenig Equipment | John Deere dealer | Deere skid steers last around 5,000 hours with proper care. Track loaders average 6,000 to 7,000 hours before a rebuild. |
| TriGreen Equipment | John Deere dealer | A typical skid steer lasts about 5,000 hours, higher or lower depending on the brand. |
| Cleveland Brothers | Cat dealer | A full-time skid steer averages five to six hours a day. Rubber tracks average 1,200 to 1,600 hours, anywhere from 400 to 2,000. |
| Bobcat | Manufacturer | Standard warranty on skid steers and track loaders: 2 years or 2,000 hours, whichever comes first. Extended full-coverage plans run 24 to 60 months. |
| Construction Equipment | Trade magazine | In a May 2016 article, 64% of respondents reported six or more years of use from their skid steers. Only 2% kept them under three years. |
| Construction Equipment Guide | Trade newspaper | In 2011, a North Carolina landfill ordered a new loader to replace its Cat 246 after 12,000 hours. A Carolina CAT territory manager said most customers would trade in before that. |
Published figures from the pages in Sources, checked November 2, 2026. They’re general benchmarks, not a promise about any one machine.
How many years 5,000 hours lasts depends on how hard you run it. At 1,000 hours a year, that’s about five years; at 500, closer to ten. Full-time work at five to six hours a day gets there sooner, and harsh conditions shorten a loader’s life, Cleveland Brothers notes. So I’d save the full 84 months for a loader you won’t wear out before it’s paid off.
Tracks wear out much sooner. At 1,200 to 1,600 hours a set, a busy track loader can need more than one set during a long term, so I’d budget for them. Shopping used? Our guide to how many hours is too many compares hour benchmarks across machine types.
How many years can you finance a skid steer?
Up to seven. On an equipment finance agreement (EFA), a skid steer or track loader can go as long as 84 months, and the shortest term is 24. Leases run 24 to 60 months.
Loaders can go that long because they hold their value and resell well, so the machine itself backs the deal for years. Our construction equipment financing page lists them with the other earthmoving machines that can go up to 84 months.
What sets your term? The equipment, more than your credit. A new loader can go up to 84 months, and a used one is judged on its hours, records and condition. Credit and time in business decide which programs fit.
Got a slow season? Many programs can push the first payment out, or lighten or skip payments in the months you’re not working.
What does each term do to a skid steer’s monthly payment?
A longer term lowers the payment and raises the total you pay. Here’s a $45,000 skid steer and an $85,000 compact track loader at five terms:
| Example amount | 36 months | 48 months | 60 months | 72 months | 84 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $45,000 skid steer | $1,431 a month $51,516 total | $1,120 a month $53,752 total | $934 a month $56,048 total | $811 a month $58,403 total | $724 a month $60,817 total |
| $85,000 compact track loader | $2,703 a month $97,307 total | $2,115 a month $101,531 total | $1,764 a month $105,868 total | $1,532 a month $110,316 total | $1,368 a month $114,876 total |
Estimates for an established business (two or more years in business) on an equipment finance agreement, with nothing down. Example prices, not quotes. Totals are figured from the unrounded payment. Your actual payment depends on credit, the equipment and the term.
On the track loader, going from 36 months to 84 cuts the payment about in half, from $2,703 to $1,368, and adds about $17,600 to the total. That’s the trade: roughly $1,335 a month stays in the business while the loader earns.
Which term would I pick? The one that matches how long you’ll keep the loader. Keep it for years, and a longer term can fit. Trade in after a few seasons, and a term that ends near the trade helps keep you from owing more than the loader is worth.
How long can you finance a used skid steer?
Usually shorter than a new one, and how much shorter depends on the machine. There is no age limit, though older equipment can be tougher to get done. We don’t set a maximum hour reading, either. Here’s what we look at:
- Hours. They show how much of the loader’s working life is already used.
- Service records. Invoices for oil changes, filters and greasing show it was kept up. Gaps in the records can mean a shorter term.
- Condition. On a track loader, send photos of the tracks, rollers and sprockets with the listing.
- Brand and dealer support. A brand with dealers nearby to service it makes the file stronger.
Together they answer one question: how much useful life is left? The term has to end before that runs out. There’s no chart that turns hours into months, because two loaders with the same reading can be in very different shape.
Private-party and auction loaders work too, and with good credit you usually don’t need a down payment. Our used skid steer checklist covers what to inspect. On a private sale, have your attorney read the bill of sale.
Can you lease a skid steer to own, and what does it cost?
Yes. A $1 buyout lease is the lease-to-own version: you make the payments for 24 to 60 months, then buy the loader for a dollar. Here’s how each structure ends:
| Structure | Term | At the end |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment finance agreement | 24 to 84 months | You’ve owned it since day one, and the lien comes off once it’s paid. |
| $1 buyout lease | 24 to 60 months | You buy it for $1. |
| 10% option lease | 24 to 60 months | You buy it for 10% of the original cost. |
| Fair market value (FMV) lease | 24 to 60 months | Buy it at market value, extend, upgrade or hand it back. |
So how much does it cost to lease a skid steer? A $1 buyout lease usually lands close to an EFA payment over the same term, since you’re paying the loader off either way. The 10% option comes in lower, and an FMV lease usually lower still, because part of the loader’s value is left for the end.
Put your loader in the Quote Builder and switch structures to compare, with no credit pull. Renting by the day or week is a separate call; our skid steer guide runs the rent-or-finance math.
Buying before year end? On an EFA or a $1 buyout lease, a loader placed in service by December 31 is generally deducted under Section 179 like a cash purchase, while FMV lease payments are usually deducted as rent. Your CPA should confirm it.
Can you finance a track loader and attachments together?
Yes, on one agreement with one payment. Buckets, grapples, augers, a mulcher head and the trailer that hauls it all can be financed with the loader, and the attachments don’t have to match the loader’s brand. A few things to know:
- Everything counts toward the minimum. Our usual $15,000 minimum is for the whole agreement, which helps on a cheaper used loader.
- One agreement means one term. If a mulcher head is a big share of the price, I’d ask about a shorter term for the package, since mulcher teeth wear out well ahead of the loader.
- Leased and financed pieces need two agreements. The $15,000 minimum still counts on everything together.
Outfitting a whole crew? Our landscaping equipment financing guide covers the rest of the gear, and landscaping and forestry financing has the program details.
How long can you finance a mini excavator?
The same as a skid steer: up to 84 months on an EFA and up to 60 on a lease, with a used mini judged on its hours, condition and records. Koenig Equipment puts a compact excavator’s life at around 10,000 hours, about twice its skid steer figure.
For an established business with nothing down, a $65,000 mini comes to an estimated $1,349 a month over 60 months, or about $1,046 over 84. Our excavator financing guide has new and used mini prices.
How do you finance a track loader with Five West?
Send the dealer quote, listing or auction lot number with the serial and hours. That’s usually all a first response needs. Then:
- Apply. One short application and a soft credit inquiry, which doesn’t affect your score.
- Hear back. Most applications get a first response within 1 to 2 business hours.
- Get approved. Clean application-only files can be approved in as little as 30 minutes. With no tax returns or financial statements, decisions go up to $500,000 on qualifying files.
- Sign and fund. Funding can land in as little as 24 to 48 hours once documents are signed, paid straight to the dealer or seller.
Many established-business programs start around a 600 FICO, and two or more years in business opens the broadest set of programs. Our qualification guidelines have the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How long can you finance a skid steer?
Up to 84 months (7 years) on an equipment finance agreement, or up to 60 months on a lease. New loaders get the longest terms. A used loader’s term depends on its hours, condition and service records, and can’t run past its remaining useful life.
How many years can you finance a new skid steer?
Up to seven years on an equipment finance agreement, or up to five on a lease. New loaders get the longest terms because they hold their value and resell well.
How long can I finance a used skid steer?
It depends on the machine. There is no age limit, though older equipment can be tougher to get done, and there’s no set maximum hour reading. The hours, condition and service records decide the term, and a used loader usually gets a shorter term than a new one.
What’s the monthly payment on a skid steer?
For an established business with nothing down, a $45,000 skid steer is an estimated $934 a month over 60 months, or $724 over 84. An $85,000 track loader is about $1,764 a month over 60 months, or $1,368 over 84. Actual payments depend on credit, the equipment and the term.
Can I finance a track loader and attachments together?
Yes. Buckets, grapples, augers, a mulcher head and the trailer can go on one agreement with the loader, with one payment, even when the brands differ. Everything on the agreement counts toward the usual $15,000 minimum. A leased piece and a financed piece need two separate agreements.
Can you lease to own a skid steer?
Yes. A $1 buyout lease runs 24 to 60 months, and at the end you buy the loader for $1. Its payment is usually close to an equipment finance agreement’s over the same term. A fair market value lease usually has a lower payment.
Can skid steer payments be lower in the winter?
On many programs, yes. The first payment can be pushed out, and payments can be lighter or skipped in the slow months, with the difference carried by the months you’re working.
Got a loader picked out?
One short application and a soft credit inquiry get you a dedicated funding professional and a straight answer on how long the loader can run.
This article is general information about equipment financing, not tax, legal or accounting advice or a commitment to finance. Service-life figures are published benchmarks from the sources named, not a promise about any machine’s life. Example payments are estimates for an established business with no money down; actual terms and payments depend on credit approval, the equipment and the structure. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.