A skid-steer, sometimes called a skid loader or wheel loader, is a compact, multipurpose piece of construction equipment often used for digging. It’s maneuverable, lightweight and its arms can attach to different tools for various construction and landscaping jobs.
The skid-steer loader will either have four wheels or two tracks. The front and back axles automatically synchronize their movements, but drivers can operate each separately from the wheels on the other side of the machine.
The wheels remain in a straight, fixed alignment and do not turn. To turn the device, a skid-steer operator needs to increase the speed of the wheels on one side, making the wheels skid or drag across the ground as the device rotates in the opposite direction. This steering function is what gives the machine its name.
What Is a Skid-Steer Used For?
The hallmark characteristic of the skid-steer is its variety of attachment options, making it possible to perform a wide range of jobs using the same piece of equipment. The standard attachment for a skid-steer is a bucket, but teams can swap this out for any number of alternatives that make it possible for a skid-steer to perform the functions of many different types of equipment. Traditionally, operators use a skid-steer’s bucket to lift or move heavy materials.
Clearing Snow
A skid-steer’s bucket can quickly clear snow off roads or a job site, but in more severe winter conditions, operators may choose to use a snow blade or snow blower attachment.
Excavating
A skid-steer can also perform excavation tasks, thanks to attachments such as a ripper, trencher, tiller or wheel saw.
Construction
Skid-steers can help speed up work on construction and building projects, and can be outfitted with a cement mixer or pavement miller.
Landscaping
The stump grinder, wood chipper, tree spade and trench-digging attachments make a skid-steer a good choice for landscaping work, while pallet forks and bale spears are best suited for warehouse tasks and farm work.
Trenching and Digging
Finally, skid-steers offer a wide range of popular digging attachments such as the trench-digger, backhoe and auger (which operates like a corkscrew to dig a precise hole).
In almost any work site scenario, the correct attachment makes your skid-steer the best choice for any task. With this in mind, teams need to ensure that skid-steer operators stay up to date on safety and maintenance guidelines for the skid-steer itself and the attachments they use for each project.
How Much Does a Skid-Steer Weigh?
Skid-steers come in a few different sizes and weights, each of which works best for different types of jobs.
Small-frame skid-steer: <1,750 lbs., <50 horsepower
Medium-frame skid-steer: 1,750-2,200 lbs., 50-70 horsepower
Large-frame skid-steer: >2,200 lbs., >70 horsepower
Small-Frame
The small-frame model is lighter and more maneuverable in tight spaces, making it the best choice for interior work, landscaping and site development.
Medium-Frame
A medium-size skid-steer is often used with various attachments to function as a backhoe or digger in places where those machines would not fit. Since the medium-frame skid-steer is lighter than traditional demolition equipment, you can equip it with tires or tracks and drive over asphalt or concrete without damaging the surface.
Large-Frame
Operators use large skid-steers for extensive demolition and excavation work. Whereas large-scale demolition machines need to be transported by a semi-truck, a wheel loader can perform many of the same excavation tasks while maneuvering around a work site.
What’s the Difference Between a Skid-Steer and a Bobcat?
Some professionals refer to a skid-steer as a “Bobcat” or “Bobcat machine.” Bobcat is one of the construction manufacturing brands that produce skid-steers, like their competitors John Deere and Caterpillar. As a result, there isn’t any difference between a skid-steer and a Bobcat loader. Instead, Bobcat is only a brand name for skid-steer loaders. In the same way that people now say “Google” when they mean “to search,” oftentimes people will say “Bobcat” when they mean “skid-steer.”
Should You Buy or Rent a Skid-Steer?
Whether or not you should buy a skid-steer depends on the size and frequency of your projects. Keep in mind that you’ll need to make the same decision about your attachments, which can be bought or rented separately. If you won't need a skid-steer continuously over time, hiring an operator will save you the time and headache of figuring out everything you need to rent, how to get it to your property, and how to actually operate the equipment. Companies like ROCKandLAND SKIDSTEER have highly skilled operators who can complete jobs efficiently, with precision!
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