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Ask for a bobcat in Hervey Bay and you might get a wheeled machine, a tracked machine or a puzzled look depending on who you call. Bobcat, positrack and skid steer get used interchangeably around the Fraser Coast but they are not the same thing and picking the wrong one can slow your job down or chew up your block.
This guide explains what each machine actually is, what each one costs to hire locally and which one suits the sandy, storm-prone conditions we work in every week. By the end you will know exactly what to ask for when you book.
Bobcat, positrack, skid steer: what is the difference?
Here is the short version. A skid steer is a compact loader that steers by skidding: the wheels on one side turn faster than the other so the machine pivots on the spot. A positrack is essentially the same machine body running on rubber tracks instead of wheels. The proper name is a compact track loader but Positrack (originally an ASV brand name) stuck in Australia the same way Esky stuck for coolers.
Bobcat is not a machine type at all. Bobcat is the brand that made skid steers famous, so Australians say bobcat for any compact loader the same way we say Kleenex for tissues. When someone in Hervey Bay books bobcat wet hire they are really booking whichever compact loader suits the job, wheels or tracks.
So the real question is never bobcat or not bobcat. It is wheels or tracks. That choice comes down to your ground conditions, your surface and your budget.
Skid steers: the wheeled all-rounder
Wheeled skid steers are quick, agile and cheaper to run. On firm ground they cycle faster than a tracked machine, they are easier to transport and tyres cost far less than tracks to maintain. If your job is on a hardstand, an existing gravel pad, concrete or bitumen, a wheeled machine is usually the efficient choice. Wheels also do less damage to sealed surfaces than tracks working hard on tight pivots.
The weakness is soft ground. A wheeled skid steer concentrates its weight on four small contact patches, so on soft sand or wet turf it spins, ruts and bogs. Anyone who has watched a wheeled machine dig itself into a Hervey Bay dune block understands the problem immediately. That weakness matters a lot around here, which brings us to tracks.
Positracks: tracked machines built for soft ground
A positrack spreads the same machine weight over long rubber tracks, dropping ground pressure to a fraction of what a wheeled machine exerts. That means it floats over soft sand, works through wet sites that would strand a wheeled loader and climbs slopes with far more grip. It also leaves established lawns and finished surfaces in much better shape.
Contrex Group runs an 80HP positrack as the workhorse of our compact fleet and it earns that spot. On Fraser Coast ground it simply works more days of the year than wheels can. The trade-offs are a slightly higher hire rate, slower travel on sealed roads and faster track wear if you spend all day spinning on abrasive concrete.
You can see the full fleet, including our excavators and tipper, on our machinery for hire page.
Six quick rules for choosing the right machine
- Sandy block or dune soil? Tracks every time. Wheels dig themselves in.
- Working on concrete, bitumen or hardstand? Wheels are faster and kinder to the surface.
- Wet season job or recently soaked site? Tracks keep working when wheels bog.
- Protecting established lawn or finished landscaping? Low ground pressure tracks win.
- Slopes and batters? Tracks grip where wheels slide.
- Not sure? Tell us the job and the address and we will send the right machine.
What does each machine cost to hire in Hervey Bay?
These are realistic 2026 guide rates for wet hire (machine plus experienced operator) around Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast. Every job is quoted properly because access, cartage and ground conditions all move the number.
| Machine | Best for | Wet hire hourly | Wet hire day rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skid steer (wheeled) | Hardstand, concrete, site cleanups | $95 to $125 | $760 to $1,000 |
| Positrack (80HP tracked) | Sand, slopes, wet ground, lawns | $105 to $140 | $840 to $1,120 |
| Positrack plus tipper combo | Driveways and site strips with cartage | $230 to $300 | $1,840 to $2,400 |
For context on how these machines fit into bigger job budgets, our Wide Bay earthworks cost guide breaks down real project costs from house pads to commercial site cuts.
The machine is only half the equation. An experienced operator on the right tracks will finish a sandy Hervey Bay block in half the time a wheeled machine spends digging itself out.
Matching the machine to the job
| Job type | Machine we would send | Why |
|---|---|---|
| House pad cleanup and detailing | Positrack | Finishes sand evenly without wheel ruts |
| Gravel driveway preparation | Positrack plus tipper | Spreads and levels gravel while carting spoil |
| Concrete or bitumen surrounds | Skid steer | Wheels are faster and kinder on hard surfaces |
| Turf prep on an established block | Positrack | Low ground pressure protects what stays |
| Tight-access backyard work | Positrack | Fits standard gates and works soft lawns |
Wet hire or dry hire for these machines?
Compact loaders look easy to drive and that is exactly why first-timers get into trouble with them. Skid steering is unintuitive, visibility is limited and a mistake near a house, fence or pool shell gets expensive fast. For most Hervey Bay jobs wet hire with an operator finishes sooner and costs less overall than a weekend of trial and error on dry hire.
We wrote a full comparison in our wet hire vs dry hire guide if you want the detailed numbers.
How to book the right machine
- Describe the job: what needs to move, spread or come out.
- Tell us the address. Ground conditions in Urangan are not ground conditions in Tinana.
- Mention access: gate widths, overhead wires and where a truck can park.
- We confirm the machine, the operator and a fixed quote before anything is booked.
Same job, different machine: four Hervey Bay scenarios
A block cut and cleanup in Eli Waters or Dundowran Beach means soft coastal sand. A wheeled machine ruts and bogs, so we send the positrack. It floats over the sand, levels the pad evenly and gets off the site without leaving a mess to repair.
A 50 metre gravel driveway needs material spread, levelled and compacted plus spoil carted away. The positrack and tipper combination handles both ends of that job in one visit, which is why it is our most booked pairing for rural blocks around Booral and River Heads.
The excavator does the digging but a compact loader moves the spoil and does the detail work around the shell. On most Hervey Bay pool jobs that support machine is the positrack because backyards here are lawn and sand, not hardstand.
Cleanup and material handling on an existing concrete or bitumen yard is the one local scenario where wheels beat tracks. A wheeled skid steer cycles faster on the hard surface and costs less per hour, so that is what we quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bobcat the same as a skid steer?
Mostly yes. Bobcat is a brand name that Australians use for compact loaders in general. A true skid steer is the wheeled version. If your ground is soft you probably want the tracked version, which is a positrack.
What is the difference between a positrack and a skid steer?
The body and controls are nearly identical. A skid steer runs on four wheels while a positrack runs on rubber tracks. Tracks spread the weight so the machine works on sand, mud and lawns that would bog or rut a wheeled machine.
How much does bobcat hire cost in Hervey Bay?
As a guide, wet hire with an operator runs $95 to $140 per hour depending on the machine, or roughly $760 to $1,120 for a full day. Adding a tipper for cartage takes a day to between $1,840 and $2,400. Every Contrex job is quoted up front.
Do positracks damage driveways?
Rubber tracks are gentle in normal travel but tight pivots on concrete can scuff the surface. A good operator plans turns on sealed areas to avoid marks. For jobs entirely on concrete or bitumen we usually send a wheeled machine instead.
Can a positrack work on sand?
Yes and that is exactly why we run one. The tracks spread the machine weight so it floats over soft coastal sand instead of digging in. For most Hervey Bay blocks the positrack is the machine we recommend.
Do I need wet hire or dry hire?
If you have not operated a compact loader before, wet hire. The operator comes with the machine, works faster than a first-timer and carries the insurance. Dry hire only pays off when you have real seat time and a simple open site.
Not sure which machine your job needs?
Tell us what you are building and where. The Contrex Group team will match the machine to your ground conditions and give you a fixed, honest quote before anything is booked. Local machines, local operators and no guesswork.