Skid steers are versatile workhorses and can be used to do a wide range of jobs when equipped with appropriate attachments. Always check an attachment’s rated load capacity and operator safety guidelines before using.
Popular skid steer attachments include buckets, pallet forks, augers and brush cutters. Whether it’s landscaping, construction or fleet rental, these attachments will help you get the job done fast and efficiently.
Buckets
A bucket is a standard attachment for skid steers, and it excels at digging, picking up, moving and loading materials. It’s great for clearing debris and materials at construction sites, farms or for general cleanup work.
Depending on the task at hand, choosing the right size bucket is key. If a bucket is too small, the operator may have to make several trips — increasing operating costs and reducing productivity. Likewise, a bucket that is too big can cause the machine to overload and lose efficiency.
Multipurpose buckets are a popular choice because they can perform many tasks like digging and also operate as grapples. These are useful for picking up and moving larger materials like logs, steel beams or concrete chunks that wouldn’t be easily handled by a bucket. Grapples are also great for demolition and scrapping applications. They’re perfect for handling a variety of materials in heavy-duty applications like tearing down sheds and other structures.
Grapples
Grapples increase the versatility of loaders and improve productivity. They can pick up and move objects that are too large for buckets and allow operators to handle heavy materials. They are ideal for landscaping, forestry, and construction applications.
Different types of grapples are available to meet specific requirements. For instance, root grapples have spaced tines that can pass small debris while securely holding larger items like roots and branches. Rock grapples have rugged tines that can lift heavy rocks and other material. Combination root and rock grapples are also available and have serrated edges to enhance efficiency.
A forestry grapple attachment with a rotating head allows you to rake brush and other debris and are great for land clearing. An industrial grapple rake from Solesbee’s Equipment is made in the USA and offers top-notch durability and quality. Its cylinders are protected from damage when moving large debris.
Auger Drivers
Skid steers outfitted with auger drivers dig holes that make it easier for workers to complete landscaping and construction projects. These work tools are typically made of a heavy-duty steel shaft with blades that twist downward in a helix shape, much like the drill bit on an electric drill. As the operator forces it deeper into the ground, the rotating blades grab the soil and wrap it around the shaft for extraction. It then scatters when coming up, leaving a clean-cut hole behind.
Agricultural and construction crews use skid steer augers to drill precise holes for underground water, sewer, gas pipes, electrical wires and drainage systems. This helps minimize damage to the surrounding landscape and makes it safer for employees to perform maintenance on structures and pipelines.
To ensure an auger works correctly, operators should always check for underground utilities before drilling, which can be done by dialing a number in your area (like 811 in the United States). Then, they should position the auger bit so it lines up with their first marking, such as a fence post, and slowly begin to drill. You can visit this website theredbarnguy.com for more.
Brush Cutters
Keeping properties, work sites and large farms clear of brush and wood-related debris is an essential task. Skid steers equipped with brush cutter attachments efficiently manage overgrowth, cutting trees and removing fallen branches and other materials from property lines.
This type of skid steer attachment usually features one to four rotary blades under a welded frame and a drive system that converts hydraulic flow and pressure into mechanical rotational power for the blades. Some models use a direct drive system while others have gear systems that allow operators to control the blade speed.
The land plane attachment rakes stones and other debris off of conditioned soil, making it useful to farmers and landscapers. It is also used for grading dirt and gravel surfaces.