Skid Steer Quick Attach SSQA vs. John Deere Quick Attach JDQA for (sub)compact Tractors! MythBusters 

One advantage of having the JDQA is you don't have neighbors trying to borrow your attachments...:)

While it is true that there are a lot of attachments available for the JDQA system, it's still fair to say that Skid Steer is still probably more common. Your choices in the used market are way more with Skid Steer. Just look at Craigslist. There are Skid Steer attachments listed by the boatload. BUT... you have to be mindful of what tractor you are talking about. The majority of off-the-shelf Skid Steer attachments out there are much too heavy for a sub-compact tractor (even too heavy for some Compact tractors). So if truly comparing JDQA and Skid Steer in this sense you have to only compare the Skid Steer attachments that are more recently being built specifically for the sub-compact market. In that regard the choices are much more limited.

If you have one tractor maybe its not a big deal. But if you have several tractors [not all JD] sharing attachments the SSQA is a better option.

I have a New Holland TC29D built in 2004 with the standard (back then) pin-on front loader bucket. I have been planning to upgrade to the skid steer quick attach but just haven't gotten around to doing it. After watching this video I am no longer sold on that standard. Now I have to explore the JDQA. Thanks for making more work for me!

One of the reasons I stayed with JD when choosing my next tractor was the JDQA. I like it. However, it's great that we have so many choices available to us in a veritable rainbow of colors. There's no need for people to be condescending or scornful about the choices of other people. Instead, we should celebrate that we're fortunate enough to have time to argue about what color tractor and attachment type. There's more important things.

Those are very good points. The one big difference is that your local rental yard most likely does. It carry attachments for the JD where as they do have the skid steer QA. That makes it so you don’t have to buy those once in a while atrachments

Glad to see somebody else that likes the John Deere QA.

I came from a 2700lb lift tractor and 4000lb lift skid loader, and both mine used SSQA and I routinely move attachments between the two. When I looked at sub-compacts, Kubota had the SSQA and JD had their proprietary setup which I briefly considered. When I thought about it I realized that ZERO of my heavier skid loader attachments would be able to be shared anyway, so it wasn't a huge advantage. Now that I have it, I find it is more reliable than my SSQA's which get frozen up and hard to operate and connect at times, stuff get stuck in the top plate, snow/ice freezes up and makes connection difficult, etc... it is simpler and MUCH less to go wrong. On a larger machine I wouldn't hesitate to say SSQA is the way to go, but I am very happy I went the JDQA route on the 1025r and I definitely think of it as a positive over the more expensive and complex SSQA on the Kubota. While SSQA is a standard, I will also say it's not quite perfect as a standard either. My Kioti (NX6010)'s SSQA didn't fit common pallet forks sold by a local dealer that they swear has fit every skid loader they've ever tried them on. When I measure Kioti's plate is towards the large end of the spec but well within the spec, and the pallet forks were made slightly smaller than the spec.

Great points Tim but I'll take the ssqa over the jdqa every time if given the choice.

Hi Tim! I love your channel and thoroughly enjoy your videos. One point you missed in this debate is the availability of used implements on the market. A quick Craigslist or classified ad search will show the SSQA system is by far widely more available. For those with a smaller budget, used implements are a great option and SSQA will be much more available at better costs bought used. Food for thought. Great videos, keep em coming!

We have snow up in New Hampshire it started a couple weeks ago and it's been snowing every little while and we are expecting 3 inches of snow tonight! I like that type of plow it is very handy! Like always great job Tim

Hello Tim this is Wayne; I have a Palatine 4 in 1 bucket on my JD 1070 / 440 loader with hydraulic diverter valve along with push button control on my loader joystick that controls the opening & closing of bucket clamping. Very handy bucket, downside is my bucket is a pin-on though. Just thought I would mention it. Thanks, enjoy your videos - great information!

It's neat to see people use HLA attachments in the US. Didn't know HLA was that big. Their plant is very close to my place, got a couple friends who work for them here in Ontario. HLA also makes Horst running gears, which are what Onelonelyfarmer uses to haul bales. I'm pretty sure they're the same company, anyway.

a bit late to the debate here, but Deere also sells adapter plates to convert from Deere to skidloader quick attach.......

I didn’t look through all 300+ comments to see if someone already said this but there is at least 1 company that makes a skid steer adapter for all the John Deere tractors. So if you want one so you can use skid steer attachments you can.

the JD quick attach is not as proprietary as it once used to be. so many attachment manufactures have accepted it and build attachments to fit it. on a small tractor (sub 1000lb lift capacity) i would agree it is the best quick attach for that size machine. anything over 1000lb capacity i would argue the SSQA is better fit.

Nice job Tim. I met you at the show. You asked me if I ever commented , I said no, so I am commenting. Your back pull works nice. I do that with my Polaris Ranger 5ft with a steel edge but cannot get a clean swipe like that on the concrete drive. Looks good.

I love the JDQA. 2 simple pins and your done!

Options keep suppliers honest. As does great competition. The better one becomes, the more the rest must work to stay competitive. Beauty of a free market. A snow pusher will be my next purchase, but probably for next year. My only concern with the bank drag option, is having the cylinders fully extended in order for the back drag to work. They're at their weakest position and vulnerable to damage. I have an L2501 and at first thought I bought too big, but after this winter and getting used to the tractor, I'm glad I went with it. These tractor's beauty is their versatility. Great video, and God bless from Wisconsin where the snow just keeps on coming.

Hi Tim. I've used a 2001 JD 4700 compact tractor for 18 years and can say it's been bullet proof. The quick attach bucket and pallet forks are great. It take no time to switch from one to the other. I also use a JD 8 ft. brush hog that has been no trouble at all cutting 100 acres twice a month 3 months out of the year for 18 yrs.. I'm sold on JD equipment and the attachments.

Can't argue with your logic Tim, so I won't! I have a slightly different John Deere q/a on my 245 loader, but came to the same conclusion. It gives me more lift than a skid steer setup would. Max lift is something like 3800 lbs which seems a lot, however with an 84" large capacity bucket it's just enough at times.

Enjoyed the Myth Busters video. Thanks for taking the time to produce them. Y'all take care and God bless.

Had both. John Deere all the way. Skid steer type can easily get fouled by dirt and rocks when doing bucket work. Deere is much more durable just from simplfication.

Not totally sold on the snow pusher, mostly due to having gravel type conditions here. I do totally agree that JD's attachment system is great for their compact tractors, plus as mentioned prior there is no maintenance per say. Thanks TTWT...

Hi Tim, Great explanation! My JD dealer said that with the 1025r size tractor the ssqa might entice folks to attach implements that are larger than they should. Good salesman, sold me on the 2018 1025r filbmmm2048rc as opposed to the Kubota ssqa Thanks

Great video Tim. I have the JDQA on my SCUT. So far there's no lack of options for any attachment I've looked for. For me one of the big selling points, and something I'm surprised you didn't mention, is the number of moving parts on the SSQA. No wonder it weighs so much. One SSQA video I saw offered the tip of greasing the latch pin every time you remove so it doesn't get rusted in if you don't change attachments often. Not to mention the other hinge points on the levers that need to stay lubricated. The only moving part on the JDQA is the linchpin.

Amen Tim. And that opening in the top of the quick attach allows me to feed in a sling to pick up the 345lb. mower deck for my 3320 and carry it into the back of the barn at the end of the mowing season.

There's also the Eurohitch, (more similar to JDQA), like my tractors have - so there's three 'standards' to pick from. I guess the JDQA locks you into the JD ecosystem; you're unlikely to change brands now you have so many JD-specific attachments. Whereas the SSQA or Eurohitch is independent of manufacturer and allows more flexibility. I can swap implements between any Eurohitch machine. You make a great point about weight and capacities, but otherwise it's just a 'system' and all do a good job :)

They also make addaptors to change it to skid steer attachments. But you would abviously loose lift capacity.

I used to think there was no reason NOT to get the skid steer coupler. You convinced me otherwise. The only part of I see where you can get more attachments is going with used. But, I don't think I've ever bought a front attachment used either... Borrowing is easier if you have the same system, but that goes both ways. I don't get to see Tim get this excited often! :) Great video, thanks!

Good info on a good QA system Tim! John Deere has been in this business a loooong time and usually have a good idea how to make things useful !

The problem isn't whether you can get attachments, it's that you are limited in how many and where to get them, and cost.

I think that you do very well comparing these 2 different kinds of attachment systems. Great Job! I personally believe that there are great things from both sides. However you can not use all the same attachments on a tractor as you do on a skid steer just because it hooks up to the front of the machine. Most of the time, the heavy duty attachments do not pair with a tractor of that hoarse power range and size. (1025R/ around 30 Hp ranged tractors) Just my 2 cents... Keep up the good work Tim!!

This channel is the reason we bought a subcompact tractor, so a big fan. However I found this video to be a bit bias/silly. SSQA or JDQA......it's all the same result I don't care what anyone says. We lift 650lb rounds with our Kubota w/SSQA, no issues. The factory listed lift capacity is a bit underrated in our experience. IMO of course!

I could be incorrect in saying this and if anyone has any information to correct me please let me know. IIRC John Deere was the first manufacturer in the US to have a quick attach system for loader attachments on compact and subcompact tractors. I know the 400 series loaders for the 4100-4600 tractors in the late 90s had the current system and I believe it was also an option on the preceding 70A loader that was found on the 655-955 tractors in the early 90s. With the JDQA if someone had an earlier tractor and traded for a newer or larger machine their current attachments still fit without having to replace or modify. In my opinion it is hard to argue over a design that is approximately 25 years old. If John Deere was all about making money on their attachments I believe they could change their design after several years so their customers would have to buy new attachments. Instead of having compatibility between older and newer machines.

It's an elegant engineering solution and I like it. No problems finding attachments.

Great video with vital QA considerations...

Only real downfall to it is the used attachment market. At least in our area hard to find used JD attachments

Exactly! I studied this a lot when shopping and concluded that if an attachment wasn't available for the JDQA it probably doesn't belong on the front of a sub compact tractor. As far as being proprietary, it's not like JD is saying, "don't copy or use any part of our system." Maybe companies that make attachments have to pay a small royalty, but I don't see that reflected in the price of the attachments. Can't ague with math, and you pointed out what matters.

It was nice to meet both of yall at the nfms yesterday!thanks for taking time out of your day to talk to me

I absolutely agree with you Tim! Plus as time goes by.... we'll see more and more attachments being designed and offered for the John Deere system. I looked very close to the lift capacity when I was looking for my sub compact and the John Deere design with less weight was a major factor. Most implements that people look for, are more for the cat 1 hitch system verses the JD attachment system anyways

Best Video Ever! About time the Weight was brought to "bear" on these "QA's !

Well said Tim! I've had a lot of people tell me I messed up buying my 1025R because of the JDQA.

I have had a bad experience with skid steer quick attach. Left my bucket on over winter poking out of the shelter. Went to take it off in spring and had to get the blow torch to loosen it up.

If they just stop making the pin on attachment implements, then anybody with an older tractor must know that the disadvantage is that they cannot get parts for their tractor anymore. This is a major concern for tractors that can last for decades.

Never thought of it that way I guess we have a 4720 and took those attachments off when we got it and went with skid steer just for the convience I guess already had attachments for that. Nice video

I have to admit Tim, hearing all that scraping when you were taking off that layer of ice was like nails on a chalkboard. Perhaps you can convince the Finance Committee to get you one of those quieter rotary brooms. =) Sorry Christy, just trying to help Tim get some new toys. And, excellent video, as always.

Good point!! Thanks Tim.

Great points.

Very interesting video. Thank you for a different view of the quick attachment debate. I saw that lifting compactly drop in the Kubota brochure. A factory was to quick attach is great is that out weigh the loss in lifting capacity. The great debate continues.

Did you also consider the cost of the after market bucket compared to the JD bucket?

I'm looking at a bx 2380 and john deere 1025r. I like kabotas front loader lift and tilt. But not a fan of rocker petal or brake location. John deere I like everything but the raising and tilting at same time. Thank you for your videos and God bless your family.

Tim I saw your dad riding around on his Scooter Thursday at the farm show. Glad to see he’s doing well and out and about. I saw Randall as well he looked deep in thought. I like the points you make here. I always thought the JD system was easier because the pins can’t freeze up like the skid steer style does

Hi Tim ,thx for sharing great weekend you Guys ❤️❤️❤️👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Deere engineering Tim is usually superior you have an awesome little machine great video

I agree there is nothing "wrong" with the JDQA system mechanically. However JD chose to make there own so you are more likely to buy their products. The real disadvantage will always be sourcing or selling attachments on the open market. Eventually all the manufacturers will all use the SSQA, and it will weigh similar to the JD You didn't bust any myths.... because you didn't address the advantages over the JDQA.

Thank you

Great video. I have another brand tlb that I like and it isn't offered with a quick attach loader just because of capacities, and it's rated at 900+ lb. Or at least that's what they say. I really appreciate your videos. They have been a great help to me.

Great video - get the truth out there. Thanks from all the JD owners. Michael from Canada

U say that there is no attachment that isn’t built for the John Deere couplers but almost all of the second hand market uses skid steer couplers and when buying new you will have more options with a skid steer coupler. Not to mention skid steer couplers are more popular and stronger

Tim just an FYI regarding pin on style with JD, they do still offer the pin on style system with the D120 loader, it's a price fighter loader, with parking stands similar to other brands and a pin on bucket.

One thing you'll find when you sell the jd proprietary attachments is your options are to sell to jd owners only

Great video and information!!

I've yet to hear someone comment on what skidsteer attachment they use with their ssqa.

Jd is starting to grow on me. I have looked at many lately. I keep going vack to Green.

Tim... I suggest you do a retained value comparison of Deere vs other tractors after 3 yrs, maybe 5 years, and 1maybe 10 years. (This would have to be with similar hours, condition, and horse power, and options.) Thanks

Let's see. The snow pusher doesn't need to lift anything but itself, so weight isn't an issue. But. You have a forklift base attachment quick attached to the tractor and the snow pusher apparently bolted to that. Sounds like a little overkill there?

I have 2 points to make. First, lift capacity can be rectified easily in house by engineering a bigger hydraulic pump to your machine. JD could use the SSQA and keep their lift specs by increasing hydro pump capacity and cylinders. Secondly, the lunch pin system is more prone to being a headache from misplacing pins and losing them. Who hasn't put a pin on the floor board in a mindless moment, only to kick them off while mounting the tractor.

Hey hey Tim , maybe John Deere should offer a JDQA for other brands of tractors then folks could see for themselves. If weight is an issue a lot of folks might choose the JDQA. Just a thought.

Personally, I would like to have the SSQA. While I don't dislike the JDQA, the push button release of the SSQA is very nice and my next machine will have that. The ability to switch attachments without leaving the seat is truly awesome, even available with auto connect hydraulics on some machines. Granted, these are all much larger than the 1 series.

Thx. for the explanation. Just saw Deere's vid. on the Frontier Skid Steer quick attach adapter and that seems like a viable solution. Agree on a 1025R probably not using skid steer attachments anyway but maybe on a 2038R.

totally agree.. while there are many awesome attachments for skid steers i would say most can't even be lifted with a sub compact tractor anyway...

You got a push box nice!!

One downside to the JD quick attach is being able to save money buy purchasing used attachments. There are tons of used attachments for the SSQA, but not nearly so many for the John Deere type attachment. If you can afford to buy all new attachments then I think the JD attachment system is better.

One thing I hated on the jdqa was sometimes they would freeze, rust or get full of frozen mud sometimes. Other than that it was great.

(old video but new to me...) One set of attachments that are not available for my JDQA are ALL of the attachments my brother in law owns and would be happy to loan to me... (He has a Kubota with an SSQA system)

Now I’m gonna have to find the video in this attachment you are using.

I hope for the 2019/2020 season you will have loaded wheels and wheel weights , it's weight that's not carried by the tractor ,and if you get lots of ice then chains are very effective if you don't mind a bit of marking on pavements and or use the dif lock .

I haven't found any attachments I need or want that are not available in JDQA. I've also never had a JDQA come off during operation but I have seen SSQA come loose at the bottom or fail to properly engage.

Great points!!!! Regarding the snow pusher, have you got a chance to run it on deeper snow yet?? Do you leave the backhoe on for weight or just not needing to take it off for that little of snow and hasn’t sacrificed front traction?

Tim, well you sure got everyone fired up with this video lol. As I mentioned in a post several videos ago, I prefer ssqa. But I will say I'm not running sub compact tractors so for those I would agree 86 pounds does make a difference. But to those who say the maintenance is an issue on the ssqa I'm confused, don't you guys do maintenance on the rest of your machine? If you do then a couple more squirts of grease shouldn't be a big deal, at least it isn't for me. Tim, have you thought any more about a Massey Ferguson for a larger tractor? Thought you liked that one you demo'd in that video a while back.

Nice attachment ,lol them Kubota tractors are $ 30000 here. Ty for sharing

Love the Scripture Christy !! Thank you all for caring and sharing !! God bless !!!!! Eddy

Very nice !

Another great video, I have just started watching your videos in the last two weeks or so but I have watched a bunch of them. You, your wife and your daughter all such nice people. An idea for a future is how Johnny makes you money.........more the business side of it. How do you price a job and come up with a price for a customer. I am hooked on your productions.

You know this is a really interesting video for me. I am looking to buy a new subcompact tractor-loader-backhoe to maintain my home orchard and one of the things that I have been focusing on intently is the skid-steer quick attach. I hate the idea of vendor lock-in and it certainly did feel like there might be some of that going on with the jdqa. But after seeing your video I am not so sure anymore. I already own a John Deere D155 riding lawn mower but I want something larger so that I can use it to spread large amounts of mulch around my trees, or move spoil generated by planting so many trees in my home orchard. I was gravitating toward a Kubota BX23s but recently started giving the 1025r from John Deere a second look. I also considered the New Holland Workmaster 25s but there aren't many new holland or kubota dealers around where I live in East Central Florida. By contrast there a bunch of John Deere dealers all over this state! The polymer composite vs metal hood is another one of those comparison points between Kubota and John Deere. It doesn't bother me at all though because I know engineered thermoplastics (I took materials science in college) can easily outperform steel in a strength to weight metric. In fact my 2005 Toyota Tacoma crew cab has a thermoplastic engineered bed and fuel tank and neither has ever given me any problem at all! When done right polymer composite body panels are fine. They might also help with the fuel economy of the vehicle!

also JDQA is usual 50 dollars more when buy attachments then the skid steer

Hi Tim, are you going to load the rear tires on this tractor too? i have no problem with the JDQA system. i whole heartedly agree there is nothing wrong with it and there are many compatible attachments for it.

10" of snow here in Iowa this morning. Got to get the ol Owatana fired up..

What was that piece that fell off your tractor while you were pulling snow back away from your house

All too familiar with loading weights working in the forklift industry. In a standard 5000 lb lift truck moving the load center 3 inches forward reduces the capacity over 300 lbs. the Hydraulics can still handle the weight but the stability is what is seriously affected. So I understand what you are saying about the center pin distance. Not to mention the increase in the forces the loader arms and cylinders face.

Great job and explanation Tim.

Tim, just wanted to let you know that the older skid steers don't have the quick attach

The weak point on all farm tractor loaders and the area where most failures occur is not even the loader but the front tractor axle and hubs. 90% of the time the loader lift capacity is greater than the capacity of those tires and rims. Usually the tires will mash flat before the loader reaches capacity.

Everything Attachments, Artillian and a lot more companies all offer both style QA's. JD doesn't try to keep all money for implements in-house as many claim, I did a lot of research when buying my first tractor, I was only looking at Kubota until I saw the massive draw backs to user friendliness, they don't have it, everything is a struggle to get on and off especially belly mowers that we were going to do the most of. JD made everything simple and not back breaking to install, However, for the easy of use system, JD does cost more for the attachments than other companies, but I will spend the extra money not to hurt myself working the equipment instead of just doing the work.

Tim great videos keep up the good work well I have had time to sit and read all the comments before mine I do believe at the end of the day that what it boils down to is what the owner is doing with the machine in general up until a year ago I had never owned a John Deere I had always been a Kubota fan I love my kubota's I do own five of them two l3010 Kubota 2 B 7800 kubota's and a M7060 the newest addition to my fleet was a JD 5075E and just recently as a WEEK ago a JD 8 SERIES. Most of you will probably say well who cares but at the end of the day being a business owner almost all of my tractors are equipped with skid steer quick attach. The reason for this is I have multiple projects going on at multiple times and I'm able to Interchange buckets and attachments for my loaders easier with the skid steer quick attach versus the John Deere Global quick attach that you're talkin about. Tim likes jdqa, Paul likes ssqa. Everybody has a flavor and everybody's got a different taste some things work better for others then do you or me. Keep up the good work I believe you're doing a fine job I enjoy the videos and enjoy reading all the comments listed above or below.

Just go with the industry standards and use SSQA. you already are paying for jd name

I like the JD attachment nothing to wear out or kepp grease

I wouldn't buy the ssqa. I'd buy the older style quick attach like those found on the 60 and 70 series machines. Less weight. I do like the new backhoe on your machine. But can you really get a cab to fit correctly on it? I'd need warmth in the winter cause warfarin can make you subjected to being cold, not to mention being old. 😎😎🤔🤔 Another fine video and informative video made by RU-vid stars.

The jdqa is just plain easier to use than a ssqa. There is never any binding and struggling to force the levers. This even goes for the skid steers with hydraulic quick attach.