Skid-Steer Supplement: Selecting Sizes

Do the best things really come in small packages? Proponents of compact utility loaders think so, highlighting the access and attachment advantages of smaller equipment. Still, many contractors stick to the idea that bigger is better, since full-size skid-steer loaders offer superior strength and lifting capabilities.

Compact utility loaders offer advantages in terms of site access, price, attachment capability and training. However, full-size skid steers can handle larger applications and offer greater lift heights and capacities. Top photo: Toro Sitework Systems.

Ultimately, compact utility loaders and full-size skid steers each have their place in the spotlight, depending on the application and the contractor’s needs. In many cases, it can be beneficial to be open to both, stated Brad Claus, competitive product coordinator, Bobcat, West Fargo, N.D.

“Sixty percent of the owners of mini skid steers also have a full-size loader,” he admitted. “They take mini skid steers into smaller areas where full-size loaders can’t perform, and this gives them the opportunity to expand their services.”

SITE SPECS. With this in mind, contractors should be aware of the key differences between compact skid steers and their full-size “big brothers.” For instance, site specifications often determine the most appropriate type of equipment, said Jim Lafferty, Tri-state Kanga, Philadelphia, Pa. “With large skid-steer loaders, one of the problems is you may go in and ‘turf up’ the area,” he pointed out. “If you’re on an existing job site – not new construction – with nice new grass, you don’t want to rip up the lawn and spend more money on maintenance.”

On the other hand, Lafferty reminded that on large, new construction sites, full-size loaders offer an advantage because of their ability to move large amounts of soil at one time. In addition, measure the entrances of a site before choosing equipment, Claus suggested. “When you’re getting through fences in back yards, you have to stay in the lower spectrum,” he said. “When you want to get into tight regions, you have to look at the physical size of the machine.”

In cases of particularly narrow access , the difference between full-size skid steers and compact utility loaders is “like the difference between night and day,” Lafferty compared. “Before contractors had mini skid-steer loaders, they had to take the fence down and then repair the lawn and the fence,” he said. “Some places you just cannot get into with a regular skid-steer loader, and then you end up going back and forth all day with wheelbarrows to pull the dirt out.”

However, when contractors have clear site access and will be tackling large installation jobs, full-size skid steers rise to the occasion, Claus noted. “Full-size skid-steer loaders offer faster cycle times, greater breakout forces as far as lift and tilt, greater lift heights, faster travel speeds and better digging performance, for example, if you’re digging a small pool,” he listed.

BUYING DECISIONS. After tackling site considerations, contractors may also want to consider financial differences. Dan Kilgas, marketing category manager, Ariens, Brillion, Wis., remarked that he has seen a trend toward compact utility loaders because of their lower price and ability to save labor costs. “The mini skid steers are very popular because they are much less expensive than the full-size unit,” he said. “They can replace the manual labor of two to three people, allowing the job to be done faster at a higher profit margin.”

Claus continued that compact utility loaders can often be purchased as a package with a variety of attachments for the same price as a full-size skid steer without attachments. The value in a variety of attachments – and the resulting expansion of services – often attracts contractors looking to diversify their businesses. “The machine is used as a tool carrier rather than just a machine to dig with,” Claus stated. “We’ve seen the demand for a smaller-sized machine with exceptional attachment performance

And, compact utility loaders can boost profit margins by cutting down on transport time and equipment, Claus added. “Because of the lighter weights and smaller sizes, compact loaders are easier to transport,” he said. “The machine weighs less and then you can fit more on the back of a trailer.”

HANDLE WITH CARE. Access and financial considerations aside, the true test of equipment occurs in the field. Lafferty identified easy maintenance as a top selling point for most compact utility loaders. “Obviously, you have to routinely maintain the machine: check the hydraulics, hoses, etc.,” he said. “This is easier to do with the mini loader because everything is right there.

Also, because the machine is smaller, you’re not using as much fluid and the filters aren’t as big, so maintenance-wise you’re saving a lot of money.” For a contractor new to the skid-steer loader, compact utility loaders may appear easier to operate, Claus identified. “A lot of people like the fact that you don’t have to get into a cab and you can walk on and walk off quickly,” he said.

Further, smaller machines offer increased visibility, especially toward the rear of the machine, so users can back up with confidence and avoid hitting or running over people or objects, Lafferty said. “With the skid-steer loader, it’s a larger machine, No. 1, so you have trouble seeing behind you,” he related. “You have to turn all the way around and you also can’t see in front of you. With the mini skid steer, you’re standing up and can see everything.”

Yet, the elimination of a cab and a seat belt poses a potential risk for the compact utility loader user, while larger skid steers incorporate these safety features, Claus continued. “We make sure contractors are well aware they don’t have a seat belt to keep them in or a cab to keep debris from coming in on top of them,” he noted. “We took time to add a reverse stop panel, so if your body comes into contact with the panel, the machine stops and the levers return to neutral.”

Also, Claus described a “lift and tilt” lockout safety feature, so if operators accidentally leave the lift arm in the up position and turn off the machine, the arm is locked into place and won’t crash down unexpectedly. Other safety considerations include keeping the restraint bar down and backing skid-steer loaders up a hill rather than driving forward, listed Kelly Moore, product manager, Gehl, West Bend, Wis.

And, be sure to take the time to read the owner’s manual before operation, he stressed. “Go through the motions of the machine with the manual in hand,” he said. “Most people can learn to operate any given skid steer machine in a couple of hours.” When it comes time for the final decision, remember that each type of equipment has its pros and cons, and one doesn’t take precedent over the other, Claus stressed. “A mini skid steer doesn’t replace a full-size skid steer,” he said. “They complement each other.”

The author is Assistant Editor – Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at kmohn@gie.net.