The availability of modern compact construction equipment has revolutionized many industries with its convenient size, impressive lifting capacities and improved fuel economy. If you’re shopping for compact construction and landscaping equipment, you’re probably considering a skid steer loader. Skid steers are extremely popular compact loaders designed for quick, efficient and versatile labor, making them top-selling equipment worldwide.

Skid steers range in size from small to large, and many are rated for surprisingly high load capacities. But what makes skid steers so in-demand is the numerous attachments they’re compatible with. No matter your industry or application, there’s a right skid steer attachment for you.

Not all skid steer loaders are created equal. When choosing a skid steer, there are several factors to consider so you can select the ideal model for your needs. Before  purchasing a skid steer , it’s important to understand how you’ll be using it and where you’ll be using it. Consider the type of terrain conditions you’ll be working in and the kinds of materials you deal with. You’ll also want to research what other business owners and contractors in your field have to say about compact equipment options and whether they prefer certain features over others.

To get started finding the right skid steer for you, here are the top factors to consider:

The first factor to consider when choosing a skid steer is the primary application it will be used for. Skid steers are employed across many industries, including:

There are many ways to use a skid steer, from basic hauling and lifting to specialty uses, like pallet moving, vegetation management, rock breaking, demolition, snow removal and more. Here are a few common skid steer applications across industries:

Some skid steers are better suited to the above application based on their size, capacity and horsepower, as well as their compatibility with the required attachments.

Once you’re able to define the scope of applications you’ll have, the next factor to consider is size and capacity. Generally, skid steers are sized by the frame type — small, medium or large.

Each frame size can support a rated operating capacity (ROC) within a certain range based on classifications by the Associated Equipment Manufacturers. The ROC is the amount of weight the machine can lift before tipping, which is why you’ll sometimes see manufacturers call this rating the “tipping load.” The amount of horsepower the machine has is also limited by its size.

Here’s an overview of each size of skid steer and its capacities, horsepower and applications:

It’s important to consult a construction equipment specialist who can recommend the right size of skid steer for your needs.

Size and capacity are not the only way to categorize skid steers. Many business owners and contractors shopping for skid steers also assess their options by lift style. Many skid steer manufacturers offer machines with either a radial or a vertical lift, each being useful for a specific set of applications.

Here is a comparison between vertical and radial lifts in skid steer loaders:

It’s not always clear which lift type is the better investment, especially in construction and farming, where you may need your skid steer to tackle a variety of aerial and ground jobs. In this case, either option is probably fine since you won’t be performing one type of job more often than another.

Choosing the right skid steer also requires you to consider the ground conditions you operate in. Whether you work on flat and hard ground or you operate in rugged and uneven terrain, you can select between tracks and wheels. Here’s a look at the difference between tracks vs. wheels on skid steers:

The type of controls you prefer typically determines which age range of skid steer model you should look for. Older skid steers were designed with levers and pedals, which is the conventional control method many operators are used to and feel comfortable with. Because a lever and pedal control system is more hands-on, it allows operators to intuit how much power they’re applying.

Modern skid steers across a range of manufacturers now come with joystick controls, which are typically considered safer and easier to operate. For this reason, many employers choose to purchase skid steers with joystick controls because it may reduce the risk of workplace incidents among operators. Typically, joystick controls will have the ISO control pattern, where the left joystick drives the machine, and the right joystick controls the boom and bucket.

Control type boils down to personal preference, so test-drive a few models to find the one that’s most comfortable for you.

Choosing the right model of skid steer for your application may depend on the manufacturer and whether it produces the right option for your needs. Here is a breakdown of some of the leading skid steer manufacturers and their specialties:

With the ability to rent skid steers today, you have access to a wide variety of manufacturers to test out before you commit to purchasing a skid steer. When choosing a manufacturer, always consider their level of quality assurance. Ask them about their warranty on skid steer equipment and how it applies to your purchase.

One of the reasons business owners and contractors gravitate toward skid steers of any variety or manufacturer is because of the incredible flexibility you get with their attachments. When choosing the right skid steer, consider the types of attachments you’ll want to use regularly to perform your work.

In most cases, modern skid steers are compatible with every attachment, provided they meet certain requirements. Thanks to universal coupling design, newer skid steers have very few limitations as to which attachments they can carry. If you buy a fairly old used machine, the coupling system might restrict its attachment compatibility.

Besides age, size and operating capacity are two additional factors that determine which type of attachments you can use with your skid steer. Another major consideration is the hydraulic flow. The hydraulic system of your skid steer needs to match the requirements of the attachment for the tool to function optimally.

Once you have the right skid steer picked out, it’s time to get it equipped with the right tools for your application. From material loading and handling to land management to debris and snow removal, skid steers can accomplish endless jobs when the right skid steer attachments are involved.

Below are some of the most popular skid steer attachments depending on the application you need:

Skid steers are compact material handling machines designed to help you quickly and efficiently load, haul and handle a variety of supplies and materials. With their front loader that can be outfitted with numerous specialty attachments, operators can easily carry around loose materials, large and heavy items or even palletized goods. They’re good on a construction site for hauling soil and supplies or in a warehouse for handling stock.

Stinger Attachments provides high-quality material handling attachments for your skid steer, including:

Site preparation is the very first heavy-duty job that needs to be done on construction sites. Contractors need versatile tools to help them quickly clear vegetation and remove boulders and rock. Skid steers can help you easily pop stumps, cut away thick brush and haul debris in preparation for construction.

Some of the key site prep attachments you may need for your skid steer include:

For reliable site preparation tools, choose Stinger Attachments skid steer products, like  rock grapples ,  root rock grapples  and  rock buckets.

Grading and backfilling small lots is easy with a skid steer and the right attachments. Whether you need to fill in holes, even out terrain or reinforce foundations and other structures, a variety of skid steer attachments can help you get the job done. If you just need to smooth out dirt, a bucket can help. If you need more precise leveling, a specialty raking tool is your best bet.

Here are a few of the essential grading and backfilling attachments for skid steers:

Outfit your skid steer with top grading and backfilling attachments from Stinger Attachments. Browse our  material buckets ,  tooth buckets  and  land planes.

A skid steer helps you tackle digging jobs of all types. Whether you need to dig post holes for fences and tree plantings or carve out a foundation or pool, skid steers can help you bite into hard, rocky soil. If you need to build smooth, even ditches for drainage or for laying irrigation lines or utility pipes, a skid steer is compatible with the right tools to get these tough jobs done.

Below are your must-have digging and trenching attachments for skid steers:

With  augers and trenchers  from Stinger Attachments, you can turn your skid steer into a digging and excavating machine.

Land and vegetation management requires powerful and heavy-duty tools that can withstand dense brush and strong trees. If you’re a landscape contractor, you need a variety of tools to clear away brush and maintain pristine lawns. For private property owners and farmers, you need tools that will help you maintain easements and right-of-ways and cut back overgrowth along property lines and around structures.

To get these jobs done productively, here are a few of the land management skid steer attachments you might need:

Stinger Attachments provides a heavy-duty  tree puller attachment  that powerfully grabs and removes brush, stumps and more.

Taking care of topsoil is a vital practice in farming and landscaping. To sift through old and rocky dirt or condition fallow land, you need the most efficient tools for the job. With a variety of skid steer attachments for soil conditioning, farmers, landscapers and property owners can give their soil the boost it needs in preparation for planting, seeding or sod laying. You can also use landscape attachments to help you mix compost or fertilizer into the soil, saving you hours of manual labor.

To ensure your soil is as healthy as possible, choose soil care attachments such as:

The  mini soil conditioner  attachment from Stinger Attachments is the ideal multipurpose tool. With a single attachment, you can grade, rake and pulverize, as well as remove debris ahead of planting.

If you operate your business in a winter climate with snow, you need the right seasonal tools to help you stay productive year-long. Snow removal attachments for skid steers are convenient and hard-working tools that efficiently remove and pile away snow so you can get back to work. Many snow removal attachments can also be put to use in the fall for clearing away light loads, like leaves and brush.

There are many snow attachments to choose from, including:

Snow removal attachments  from Stinger Attachments help you keep on top of winter weather. A snow bucket allows you to scoop up and remove snow completely, while a snow pusher gives you the power to pile it away.

Keeping a work site neat and tidy is essential to a productive project. Skid steer brooms and sweepers turn your workhorse machine into the cleanup tool you need. Two types of skid steer broom attachments can help you get debris, dirt and mud under control.

Angle brooms allow you to clean up dirt and dust with precision because you can angle the head along edges and in corners. They’re ideal for parking lot and private property maintenance. Pickup brooms are equipped with an attached hopper to contain the debris for easy disposal later. Use pickup brooms on construction sites or for landscaping jobs.

Stinger Attachments manufactures both  angle brooms  and  pickup brooms  for your skid steer loader.

Skid steers are a great investment for any construction and landscaping business owner, farmer or landowner. Their compact size makes them convenient to handle, and their range of compatible attachments gives them unsurpassable versatility. They’re the ideal all-in-one machine that work sites can’t afford to go without.

When you need durable and versatile attachments for your skid steer, choose Stinger Attachments. We offer superior quality and design on all our manufactured skid steer attachments for industrial, construction, landscaping and forestry applications. Find the best tools to make your job easier and more productive by browsing our line of  skid steer attachments.  Contact us online  today or call 507-273-7497 for more information on our products and prices.

The post Choosing the Right Skid Steers and Attachments for You appeared first on Stinger Attachments.