Skid-Steer Supplement Extra: Shop Smart

Multi-tasking monsters, skid-steer loaders can take on tasks to complete a variety of services. A hodgepodge of available attachments turns these machines into backhoes, mechanized dollies, tree diggers, land graders – the list goes on.

But, how do you know which machine will fit your niche? Doug Johnston, sales manager, skid-steer loaders, Caterpillar, Peoria, Ill., said it’s a matter of starting with the details. “We train our sales representatives to ask contractors what jobs they want to complete and what tasks they do on a regular basis,” Johnston said. “Then, we pick out work tools. Then, we match a machine to fit the tools.”

This alternative shopping technique points contractors to the best fit for their companies, Johnston pointed out. But buyers also need to do a little talking of their own. Here, some questions to ask yourself before purchasing a skid-steer loader:

• Will you be doing your own service? If so, does the machine offer easy-to-access service points, such as fuel filters?
• Will you be in the machine all day? If so, you might consider a suspension seat. If you are in and out of the machine every five minutes, a standard seat might be suitable.
• Will you be working in extreme temperatures? If so, do you want heat or air conditioning?
• What services does your company offer? For example, are you going to dig holes? If so, you need an auger. How many holes do you have to dig and how much time do you have to do it? You might consider a high-flow auger for more intense jobs.

Questions like this can direct contractors to the correct size machine and appropriate tools to complete their jobs. After all, each company targets different types of work, Johnston pointed out. “People look for the whole gamut,” he remarked. “A pool digger in Phoenix looks for something different than a contractor in New Jersey or a farmer in Minnesota.”

The author is Managing Editor – Special Projects for Lawn & Landscape magazine.