What is a Skid Steer, and What's It Used For?

A skid steer is a highly maneuverable and compact loader, prized for its versatility. Its name comes from its unique steering mechanism: the wheels or tracks on each side operate independently, allowing the machine to "skid" and turn. This design makes it incredibly agile in tight spaces, which is perfect for urban construction sites and other confined work areas.

Skid steers come in two main types:

• Wheeled skid steers are best for solid surfaces like asphalt or concrete.
• Tracked skid steers offer superior traction and stability on muddy or loose terrain. While wheeled versions are sometimes available, tracked models usually make up most of our inventory.

Common Uses of Skid Steers

Skid steers are incredibly versatile because they can use a wide range of attachments:

• Digging Tasks: With attachments like trenchers, augers, and backhoes, skid steers are often used for digging on both residential and commercial sites.
• Landscaping Projects: They're essential for landscaping, from tilling soil with a tiller attachment to grinding stumps or clearing debris with a grapple bucket.
• Snow Removal: Fitted with snow blades or blowers, skid steers efficiently clear snow from job sites, parking lots, and roads in colder climates.
• Construction and Demolition: Skid steers can easily haul materials, level grades, and even break through tough surfaces using attachments like hydraulic breakers or cement mixers.
• Material Handling: When equipped with pallet forks, skid steers are highly effective for lifting and moving bulky materials in warehouses or on job sites.

Attachments for Skid Steers

One of the biggest advantages of skid steers is their versatility, thanks to a broad range of attachments that can be swapped out quickly.

• Buckets (standard)
• Forks
• Grapple Buckets (for oversized materials)
• Hydraulic Breakers (for tough surfaces)
• Augers (for precise hole drilling)
• Snow Blowers/Plows (for winter operations)
• Tree Spades and Stump Grinders (for landscaping)

Skid Steer vs. Mini Excavator

Although they look different, people often ask us whether a mini excavator or a skid steer would be better for their fleet. While their tasks can overlap, they have significant differences.

Skid steers are all about versatility. With quick attachment changes, they're perfect for grading, clearing debris, and handling materials, making them ideal for fast-paced, dynamic job sites. However, they're not ideal for deep digging.

Mini excavators, on the other hand, excel at precise, deep digging with 360-degree rotation. This makes them perfect for tasks like trenching and utility work in tight spaces. They're the go-to for various excavation tasks.