Skid steers are popular pieces of construction equipment due to their versatility and convenience. This compact machine is also referred to as a skid steer loader or a bobcat and can be operated on either wheels or tracks. Its small size makes it a versatile machine with excellent manoeuvrability that allows it to weave in and out of even the tightest locations.
Skid steers generally come with a bucket as the default attachment, but they can be fitted with many different attachments, allowing them to assist with all sorts of construction and landscaping projects. They also come in a variety of sizes to suit different applications. Even for jobs that don’t call for a lot of heavy construction equipment, a skid steer can help get the job done more efficiently.
This piece of equipment can perform a range of tasks, so let's take a look at what it can do.
1. Digging, Excavating and Trenching
Can you dig with a skid steer? You surely can, a skid steer is great for earthmoving tasks like digging, trenching and excavating. There is a range of Kubota attachments that can be used for these tasks, depending on the application. Some examples of attachments include a backhoe, auger, trencher and wheel saw. With the right attachment, a skid steer can dig anything from a whole foundation for a building to narrow portholes.
2. Demolition
Skid steers are great for both interior and exterior demolition projects. With demolition shears, a skid steer can help demolish flooring, concrete, drywall and other materials. Because of its compact size and precision, a skid steer is especially useful for demolition projects in tight spaces, such as pulling down a house in a high density neighbourhood.
3. Landscaping
Landscaping involves a pretty wide range of tasks, many of which have already been mentioned. But a skid steer can perform many more specific tasks, including grinding stumps, chipping wood and tilling. You can even use a tiller attachment to help mix compost or fertiliser into the soil. With a bucket, you can transport materials like gravel or mulch that you would otherwise have to push in a wheelbarrow.
4. Grading and Backfilling
Skid steers are great for filling in holes, levelling out the ground and aerating. You can use a bucket for these tasks, but a rake attachment or a grading bar works even better for levelling. With these attachments, you can also scoop up rocks while you level the ground, without leaving big trenches behind. For work that is low to the ground, a radial lift skid steer rather than a vertical lift is ideal.
5. Roadwork
Skid steers can perform a range of road-building and maintenance tasks. You can attach a cement mixer or pavement miller to your skid steer and use other attachments for tasks like demolition, grading, paving and patching.
6. Loading
A skid steer can help you carry equipment and other heavy materials around job sites using a bucket attachment. If you need to lift materials, you may want to consider a vertical lift rather than a radial lift skid steer, since these models can lift heavier loads and achieve a higher reach.
7. Mowing
Interestingly enough, a skid steer can even be used to mow grass and fields. With a rotary brush cutter, you can cut down tall grasses and other growth to effectively clear a large area. They can even be used to cut down small trees. Because skid steers are zero-turn, they offer the precision you need for mowing but with additional capabilities that a typical ride-on mower will lack.
8. Agricultural Work
Skid steers can also be very useful for all sorts of farm-related work. You can use them for tilling and other tasks we’ve already mentioned, plus a bucket attachment can be used to help clean out barns and stables. You can even purchase a bale attachment to move hay - a task that can otherwise be extremely labour-intensive.
9. Material Handling and Warehousing
A skid steer can be a very useful piece of equipment in a warehouse. Using a fork attachment, you can essentially turn it into a forklift for moving around pallets and other heavy materials. If you need a skid steer for this kind of warehousing application, you’ll want to opt for a vertical lift rather than a radial lift option.
Interested in a skid steer?
While this is a fairly comprehensive list of applications for skid steers, they aren't limited only to these tasks. So in answer to questions like 'can you dig with a skid steer', well yes, you absolutely can. But there is a range of configurations that can help solve just about any problem that you may encounter on a work site.
At Boya Equipment, we have a wide range of Kubota skid steers for sale. If you want to learn more about them, get in touch with us and a member of our friendly team will gladly help you.