When you think of skid steers, most people are thinking of the versatile Bobcat, but there are other name brands as well. The Mustang skid steer, the Case skid steer, and the Caterpillar skid steer are also great examples of this powerful, agile machine. With the wide range of attachments that you can add to this machine, you have almost limitless possibilities. No matter what type of industry you are in, if you have the need of a skid steer, you will find the right size and model plus the right attachments for it. Skid steers are used in a number of different applications and should be considered for rental by the home owner that needs a machine for a weekend project, especially when a larger machine would be too big for the job or too hard to handle.
Skid steers are perfect for the small to medium sized contractor because they can be used in places where the larger machines would not fit, because they can fulfill a wider range of needs and because they are generally more cost effective to both purchase and maintain. Once you buy Skid Steers for your business, you can start evaluating what types of attachments that you need to have for it as well. For instance, you could need the tracks to replace the wheels for use in certain types of terrain. You can use pallet forks if you are going to be doing more lifting than digging or the bucket if you are digging more. For those who are in the right type of weather, you might need snow blowers or a snow blade attachment for your skid steer. There are a number of other applications as well, for those who are in the lumber industry or in the concrete contracting industry. Lumber related attachments include the wood chipper, tree spade, the stump grinder and others. In addition to these uses, there are trenchers, dumping hoppers, ripper tillers, augers, mowers and more. It is not likely that you will need every kind of attachment; however you can really increase the versatility of the machine with the right ones.
Whether you buy a new or used skid steer depends on the budget that you have to work with and the options that are available to you. A well maintained skid steer will have a long life but if you cannot afford a new one when you are first starting out, then you can satisfy your needs with a used model until you are able to trade this one in for a newer model. There are a number of places where you can start your search including finding a skid steer on the internet. New or used skid steers can be found at dealers, auctions and rental sites as well. No matter where you buy your machine, make sure that you thoroughly inspect it before making your final selection.
