Having worked on quite a few rubber tracked machines in the past, I would still rather own steel tracks. I suspect you will come out money and machine ahead doing so. Personally, I would rather invest the money in refurbishing a smaller older steel track machine. I wouldnt see strength issues with using a rubber track machine as the basis, unless you start modifying the rubber track gear. Within minutes of it happening (coincidentally alongside the road), a couple of guys with a Kubota rubber tracked mini excavator came along and simply attached a chain, backed up, and tipped it back upright without struggle. My brother tipped over his Cat 307C last summer - the first 'real' excavator Cat makes with steel tracks.
