Skid Steer Compact in Size Without Compromising Power

skidsteer background The skid steer, a powerful piece of machinery, is widely used to lift and transport, and move heavy items and materials. With its powerful internal engine, this piece of equipment has been in use for more than half of a century. Its popularity has been attributed to its capability to take apart the walls of buildings, excavate areas, transport payloads within large building sites and warehouses, as well as to carry out other jobs that are typically associated with heavy-duty vehicles. However because of its compact size, it can easily navigate in spaces that other large machines cannot.

What Is It?

A skid steer is a heavy-duty tractor with a front-mounted, articulated bucket or attachment operated by a steerable front axle. The bucket can be positioned for digging, loading, or unloading. It has been used for off-road work in construction, mining, forestry, and agriculture. Skid steers resemble small bulldozers. 

Change the attachment and you can also have it as:

  • Forestry Mulcher
  • Brush Cutter
  • Hammer – Crusher
  • Landscape Rake
  • Sweeper

These are just a few of the optional attachments. The skid steer is similar to crawler tractors in that they have two wheels on either side of the frame and rely on tracks or rollers to move forward over rough terrain.

How Is It Compact Yet So Powerful?

It is because of the frame, that the skid steer is so compact. The front of the machine is made up of the front axle, the steering system, and steering linkages. All these components are connected by hydraulic cylinders, which can be adjusted to suit the terrain and make it easier for you to steer your machine.

The Skid Steer is powerful because it has a motor capable of delivering more torque than any other similar machine on the market. This means that it will have no problem working with big loads or heavy objects which you may need moved around.

Small, Medium, and Large Skid Steer

First, consider the type of job that you need to be done. This will easily determine the best application and also the best size skid steer to choose. As a quick perspective, each size will naturally have its specific advantage.

Small – Great for interior demolitions and also underground construction spaces. Fantastic to work within those really neat spaces, with limited wiggle room. This also means that they are good for precision jobs and are easier at maneuvering. Smaller skid steers will tend to be lighter and this makes them easier to transport from site to site.

Medium – This offers the advantage of a bit more power and capacity, while still being able to operate in some of the limited spaces. With suitable attachments, they are good for digging and trenching in places that need a bit more power but that the larger machinery like a backhoe cannot fit.

Large – The large skid steer is a great option for those heavy-duty applications. Whether it is to do some demolition or even a major excavation project. Even though we say large, this skid steer will still be smaller in size than several other pieces of construction machinery.

Tasks For The Skid Steer 

skid steers for constructionThe list of tasks that the skid steer can help with is simply expansive. Here is a bit more detail about some of the aspects of the skid steer functionality.

Digging, Excavating, and Trenching

The skid steer is probably widely known for completing these types of earthmoving tasks. Naturally, the type of attachment which is used will depend on your specific project need. These attachments can include a backhoe, an auger, or a trencher. There is even a wheel saw attachment for the skid steer. Already you can go from digging narrow portholes to a whole foundation for a property.

Landscaping, Regrading, and Backfilling

When a project has been finished or the surface of the property is uneven, you can use the skid steer to fill in any holes as well as to level out the ground and even aerate the soil. This is where the buck or rake attachment comes in handy. There are other attachments such as the grading bar which can work when leveling the surface. Here, the skid steer can also scoop up rocks without leaving any trenches. Change the attachment to the tiller and the skid steer can help mix in any compost material or fertilizer into the soil. As mentioned before, the skid steer can be used in grinding stumps and chipping wood as part of the landscaping process.

The skid can be used with a rotary brush cutter and converted into a mower, with the ability to cut down grasses and shrubs and lend to clearing the area. The skid steer is zero-turn and this will give you the precision needed in mowing.

In Warehouse Facilities

Place the fork attachment onto the skid steer and you can move pallets and other forms of material around. In this instance, the vertical lift comes into play as the skid steer can act to load goods onto a waiting delivery truck. Similarly, the repositioning of products from one point in the warehouse can be done with ease. A bucket attachment may also be used depending on the type of equipment and materials being moved around or loaded. The vertical lift can also lift heavier loads and also have a relatively high reach.

Power Packed Into A Smaller Size Equipment

This is one of the more useful pieces of machinery to have on your next project. Giving the best of a compact size but with a phenomenal power punch. The ability to operate on various types of terrain as well as across various industries lends to the advantage of the skid steer. Just ask any of our representatives on the other types of projects that you can use a skid steer.