What is a Skid Steer Loader?

A skid steer loader is a nifty little machine with a rigid frame and a unique steering system. When you lock one side of the drive wheels, it creates a “skid” effect, allowing the machine to pivot and making it perfect for tight spaces. Skid steers are a winner in construction, demolition, landscaping, and agriculture, thanks to their sheer versatility and power. But the real magic happens when you add the right skid steer attachment to the mix. You’ll find yourself using things like bucket attachments, auger attachments and fork attachments. What’s great is that you can swap these attachments in and out really quickly, making a skid steer an absolute must-have for any job, especially when you consider broom attachments for cleanup tasks.

Compact Track Loaders: What’s the Difference?

Compact track loaders, or track loaders as some people call them, are pretty similar to skid steers – but they have one key difference. Instead of using tires, they run on rubber tracks. This changes the game when it comes to ground pressure, allowing track loaders to operate on all sorts of soft, uneven or sensitive surfaces where a skid steer might struggle. Like skid steers, track loaders can be fitted with all sorts of attachments to get the job done – making them perfect for applications that need both power and minimal disturbance, like landscaping, construction on soft soil or agricultural work.

Why Skid Steers and Track Loaders Are Different

While both skid steers and compact track loaders can do a lot of the same jobs, their differences in design and functionality make them better suited for different tasks. Skid steers, with their wheeled design, are much faster and more agile on hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete – making them perfect for jobs like parking lot work. Plus, they’re typically cheaper to buy and maintain than skid steers. Compact track loaders, on the other hand, are brilliant on soft, muddy or uneven terrain, where their rubber tracks give them a much better grip, especially when equipped with the right grapple attachments. When it comes down to it, the choice between a skid steer or compact track loader is all about what kind of job you’re doing and what kind of terrain you’ll be working on. On top of that, the attachments for skid steers and compact track loaders are basically interchangeable, so it’s really a case of choosing between mobility and ground pressure.

Full post: Types of Skid Steer Attachments

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