If you had to pick one piece of heavy equipment to have with you on the job site, undoubtedly it would be a skid steer loader. Invented in 1957, this piece of earth moving equipment can do a lot of jobs efficiently and easily, and with the number of Cat attachments available, this heavy machine easily becomes the jack-of-all-trades on your job site.
A skid steer loader is one of the most versatile machines in the world of heavy construction equipment. Despite their diminutive frame, these contraptions possess incredibly powerful lift arms that can be employed for a variety of labor-saving tasks. With a plethora of attachments and directional liberty enabled by differential steering, the skid loader is a fascinating piece of machinery to behold. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most practical and labor-efficient ways to use a skid steer.
Wagner Used Equipment offers the best used construction equipment for your needs. From skid steers to bulldozers, backhoes, gen sets, and more, we've got your needs covered. Visit us today at one of our Colorado, New Mexico, or west Texas locations to learn more. For more immediate information on heavy machinery, Caterpillar equipment, servicing, parts, and more, please reach out to Wagner Used Equipment today!
How Skid Steer Loaders Work
The design of the skid steer loader was initially criticized because it was believed to be less safe than its predecessor: the conventional front loader. While it’s true that the early models of skid-loaders were designed in such a way that the operator was more susceptible to the dangers of moving booms, modern innovations and safety precautions have eliminated these concerns. Indeed, skid steers work in a way that is not only physically secure and reliable, but mechanically innovative and impressive. When operating a skid steer, the driver turns the machine through a process called differential steering.This means that the left and right wheels rotate and pivot independently of one another, so you can make an acute turn on one side or the other without the risk of tipping over or compromising the load of the lift arms. The lift-arm assembly itself can be modified with different attachments to accommodate various jobs and weight loads. Hydraulic couplers are usually found at this attachment point. Skid steers come with either four wheels or two tracks. The front and back axles of each are locked so they move at the same time; however, they can be operated separately. The name "skid steer" comes from the fact that to turn this piece of heavy equipment, you have to increase the speed of the wheels on the opposite side of the direction you want to go, which causes the skid steer to skid as it turns. The inside wheels anchor the turn. Once the heavy machine is turned, you can return to your operating speed. Wagner Used Equipment Co recommends that if you watch skid steers on job sites, it can seem like the machine jerks on turns.What Skid Steers Are Used For
When it comes to skid steer loaders, the question is not so much what they can be used to do, but what they can’t accomplish. Indeed, this compact but hefty machinery can be used for a variety of tasks and efficiency-improving maneuvers, including: Farming Skid steers were invented by a pair of brothers who were asked by a local turkey farmer for a piece of heavy equipment that could clean out hit growing turkey farm's barns quickly and efficiently. Thus, skid steers began as a farming tool, but since their use has grown to be more commonly used in construction, demolition, landscaping, and more. In farming, skid steers can be used for loading and moving dirt, snow, and other materials. With Cat attachments, you can use this piece of heavy machinery as a mower, or with a rotary broom as a sweeper. You can trim hedges and bushes with the brush cutter and tree shear Cat attachments. You can attach a rotary tiller to your skid steer to till the land for a garden. You can use them to remove tree stumps. Wagner Used Equipment notes that an auger attachment, which drills holes, can be used to plant trees or build a fence. Around the farm, you can use the skid steer loader to move items, such as hay bales, pallets, lumber, sticks, firewood, trash, and more. You may also see these used to install tanks and trench lines. The applications for a skid steer in farming is almost limitless.Demolition
Skid steer loaders are almost a must-have on a demolition job site. This is because their small size allows them to get into tight corners to remove debris. Skid steers are also light enough to be lifted to different floors of high rises, which is done when demolition contractors are removing one floor level at a time. On a demolition job site, skid steer loaders can be seen breaking up concrete, hauling away debris to be dumped into a nearby truck, or moving materials around. Wagner Used Equipment notes that it's crucial to have the right skid steer attachments for your demolition job to not only make the work go faster, but also to drastically improve the lifespan of your skid steer loader. A demolition job site can be quite dangerous with exposed rebar, scrap metal, and splintered wood all around. Thus, when you invest in the best used heavy equipment from Wagner Used Equipment Co, you can rest assured that your Caterpillar machine has been taken care of.Snow removal
For large parking lots and bigger areas, a piece of used heavy equipment is almost mandatory in order to clear snow efficiently and quickly. Depending on the size of the area, you will most definitely see some type of loader, be it a front end loader or a skid steer loader. These pieces of machinery have no problem pushing snow off parking lots, and, unlike pickup trucks, they can lift and load snow to be transported away to a dump site if need be. They have great traction in the snow, and with comfortable heated cabs, it can be quite fun to use these guys as a snow plow. Wagner Used Equipment sells Cat attachment shovels and buckets for the skid steer to make removing snow even easier.Road cleanup and maintenance
When you're driving down a highway that is undergoing construction, odds are, you see a lot of different Cat heavy equipment. To build roads that are straight, flat, and smooth it takes a lot of effort and precision, which different used heavy equipment provide. For road construction, a skid steer will be absolutely essential. It can perform road grading, and it can move dirt around and load into trucks to be hauled away. It can perform demolition work of an existing road, and it can dig out holes as well. After you are done, with a Cat broom attachment, you can clean up the road dirt and debris left behind. In essence, the object of building a road is to make it as smooth as possible to drive on and as straight. This entails a lot of ground preparation work that a skid steer loader can perform. From removing materials to pushing materials, this heavy piece of equipment will be indispensable for road cleanup and maintenance. Wagner Used Equipment offers many used skid steers and attachments for your road building and maintenance needs. Call us today to learn more!Brush clearing
Brush clearing by a skid steer is best done by a Cat attachment known as the Brushcutter. From clearing overgrowth in highway medians to helping clear a utility easement and help with initial land clearing projects, such as for building a home or office or to build a park, Caterpillar's brush clearing equipment can perform the job easily. With many different sizes to choose from depending on your needs, these Brushcutters will make your mowing and yard maintenance needs quick and painless. Reach out to one of Wagner Used Equipment Co's offices in Colorado, New Mexico, or Texas today to learn more.Excavation
Any type of construction or building project will need an excavator to do the work. Digging is hard work, and since we no longer need to do it by hand, you want the best excavating equipment to do the job. Wagner Used Equipment Co offers used excavation equipment to suit your needs, including the skid steer loader. The list of uses of a skid steer in excavating is long, and some of these include:- Digging trenches, holes, or foundations
- Helping in forestry
- Construction
- Grading and landscaping
- Material handling
- Mining
- River dredging
- Drilling
- And so much more
Construction projects
Most of the work you see going on around you has to do in some way with construction. From building roads and buildings to installing statues or building bridges, everywhere you turn, you wonder what new business or building is going up now. Undoubtedly, every middle-to-large sized construction company has a skid steer. As we've already seen, the skid steer can perform an amazing variety of tasks and can handle most parts of a construction project. If you are still unsure if a skid steer is right for you, you can invest in a used heavy equipment rental from Wagner Used Equipment Co to try one out for yourself.Skid Steer Sizes
Skid steer loaders come in three main categories of size, and each can be equipped with a number of task-specific attachments. Small Skid Steers Caterpillar's smallest skid steers are under 50 hp, and they weigh less than 1,750 lbs. These are great for smaller projects that are in tight spaces, such as residential landscaping or room additions. This piece of heavy machinery is also the preferred choice for underground work, including in coal mines and in parking structures with low clearance. Small skid steers are a great option for landscaping, interior and indoor demolition jobs, narrow-space underground work, and general construction and building. Medium Skid Steers Caterpillar's medium-sized skid steers are the most popular as they are small enough to do most smaller jobs, but big enough to play with the big boys when heavy loads are involved. Also, bigger skid steers may be too heavy for certain job sites. From demoing bricks to working on job sites or in a forest with uneven terrain, these pieces of heavy equipment get the job done. Both the small and the medium-sized skid steers are easy to transport to and from job sites, and they can both still be easily stored. A medium-sized skid steer loader weighs between 1,750 and 2,200 lbs and has up to 70 hp motors. Medium-sized skid steer loaders can support a greater range of attachments because their base weight is sturdier. These machines have stronger engine horsepower, more balance, and advanced hydraulics systems. Like its small-scale counterpart, these can also be used for confined-space jobs, but it can also take on some outdoor, larger projects because of its relatively higher heftiness. Large Skid Steers When you need heavy-duty work done, you call in the powerhouses of skid steers, Caterpillar's large-sized skid steers. Offered by Wagner Used Equipment, these huge machines weigh over 2,200 lbs and have over 70 hp. Yet, large skid steers are still smaller than large front-end loaders for example and can still be transported relatively easily. These pieces of used heavy equipment can still be used with Cat attachments as well. Lastly, large (heavy-duty) skid steer loaders are the beast of big projects. From excavation to construction to high-acreage farm jobs, the heavy lifting and weight bearing capacity of heavy-duty skid steers make otherwise cumbersome jobs into a piece of cake.Skid Steer Attachments
Skid steer loaders can be fitted with a wide range of attachments suited for a spectrum of tasks and industries, from construction to landscaping to road building. For instance, farmers may opt for a power rake or a bale spear attachment, whereas a warehouse worker may rely on a pair of pallet forks. Likewise, a professional in the construction business may love their skid steer for their massive excavator buckets, and a landscape artist might have a strong preference for a brush and hedge-cutter attachment. The purpose of a Cat attachment for heavy machinery is to be able to use your piece of used heavy equipment in more ways. They increase the job capacity immensely, saving you time and money without having to buy another piece of used heavy equipment. Below are some common Cat attachments you can use with your skid steer loader.- Manure scraper
- Manure bucket
- Bale handler
- Calf corral
- Bale spear carriage
- Cultivators
- Feed bucket
- Brush cutters
- Rotary cultivators
- Pallet forks
- Grading attachments
- Seeders
- Grapples
- Grapple buckets
- Mowers
- Livestock feed pusher
IS THERE ANYTHING SKID STEER LOADERS CAN'T DO?
While the skid steer loader can do a lot of your jobs, there are a few limitations you should be aware of. Skid steers are not designed to be used with a drawbar, which is why they are not good replacements for tractors. Nor can skid steers haul or move extremely heavy loads and tonnage. They are also best used on flat, dry ground since they don't have a lot of ground clearance and are easily damaged by debris in the undercarriage if rolled over.
WHY INVEST IN A SKID STEER LOADER FROM WAGNER USED EQUIPMENT?
What it comes down to is productivity. When you invest in a skid steer loader, you will be able to do a multitude of tasks that you couldn't do before, or that took a lot of time when compared to the time it takes a skid steer to perform the task. This piece of heavy equipment is easy to learn how to operate, is comparatively small so it can be easily stored, and it can be transported easily from site to site. Their maneuverability, compact size, power, and functionality make them a must-have piece of equipment for anyone involved in moving heavy loads or performing heavy work. With their tight turn radius, these pieces of heavy machinery are ideal to use in tight spaces. Made from the best components, Cat skid steer loaders can last for decades when properly maintained. Overall, they are one of the best buys for the money. Nowadays, almost every working farm or construction company has a skid steer loader to make their lives simpler and easier. Since 1976 Wagner Used Equipment has been focused on our customers throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and far west Texas. We operate by our core values that include teamwork, excellence, accountability, safety, integrity, and communication. We care about ensuring our work environment is safe for our employees and visitors and that we do our utmost to serve our customers. We make it easy to buy and rent from us with financing options available as well as online payments. You can shop our new and used heavy equipment inventory online as well. Our mission is to be your one-stop-shop for your new and used heavy equipment needs with not only a wide variety of heavy equipment available, but also with other tools to help you be more efficient and cost effective with your job, including machine control systems and fluids analysis. We welcome innovations in technology that make your life easier and your heavy equipment run longer and smoother. From power systems to 24-hour field service technicians who can help you when an emergency arises, we've got your used heavy equipment needs covered. Wagner Used Equipment offers the best used heavy equipment at our offices in Colorado, New Mexico, and far west Texas, including skid steers. We offer agricultural equipment, as well as pavers, compactors, dozers, forestry equipment, motor graders, and more. We offer gen sets and light towers for your night work, as well as towable heaters for the winter. We offer pumps and water equipment as well. Wagner has over 40 years in the new, used, and rental market for heavy equipment. However, the best part about doing business with Wagner is our unparalleled customer service and our support network to ensure you have the parts you need and the service you need when you need them the most. Give one of our Cat dealers a call today to get started! As we’ve seen in this article, there are many uses for skid steer loaders, and their versatility makes them an essential piece of heavy equipment for a number of industries and tasks. From construction to landscaping to home renovation and beyond, these compact machines pack a whopping punch of power inside a small frame.To explore the expansive possibilities of skid steer loaders and dozens of useful attachments, take a look at Wagner Used Equipment. Our prices are competitive and our quality is unparalleled. It’s never been easier to find the construction equipment, heavy machinery, parts, and service you need to get all of your tasks done efficiently and effectively.