Planning to buy skid steer equipment? Ensure you read and understand the specifications clearly. Whether you are a contractor, landscaping engineer, agriculturist, or construction site operator, you would require a skid steer with the right attachments. Understanding skid steer spec sheets may be overwhelming, yet important. Some common specs mentioned on machines include total weight, tipping load, radial lift, engine power, and so on. But once you know what each spec means, it is easy to make smart and informed decisions and get the right equipment that best suits your needs. This same aspect applies if you are renting one. This post discusses the importance of understanding skid steer specs, various attachments, how to get the numbers right, and more.
What Specs to Consider When Buying or Renting Skid Steer?
Since a skid steer has a loader and multiple attachments with different functionalities, reading through and understanding the specs can be overwhelming. There are too many terms and technical aspects one needs to understand to make an informed decision. Here’s a skid steer buying guide comprising some important specs to consider when buying a loader and attachments.
- Engine Power: This is the engine’s capacity, generally mentioned in horsepower. Most high-capacity machines feature engines of 70HP or more. Medium-capacity machines have engine capacities between 50HP and 70HP, while small ones are below 50HP. This is a crucial aspect as it determines the machine’s ability to perform demanding jobs in tough terrains. A high HP value can be correlated with high lift capacity. A higher horsepower gives the machine the power to push heavier loads and operate larger attachments with ease. Engine power directly impacts the overall performance of the skid steer, particularly for tough tasks.
- Rated Operating Capacity (ROC): The skid steer’s rated operating capacity is its maximum weight bearing capacity or the limit of load it can handle. The loader may move through coarse terrain or collect heavy stones and materials on its way. Hence, it is important that the weight of the attachment aligns with that of the skid steer as mentioned by the manufacturer.
- Tipping Load: This is the maximum load a skid steer can handle beyond a point where it can tip off and become unstable. This load gives you the upper limit to which the machine can be stretched, and hence is beyond ROC. This is a crucial factor for safety considerations, and hence, the tipping load value must be significantly higher than that of ROC.
- Hydraulic Flow: Hydraulic flow refers to the volume of fluid pumped per minute, while hydraulic pressure is the force exerted by the fluid. Higher hydraulic flow and pressure are essential for high-flow attachments such as a brush cutter or forestry mulchers. Ensure the skid steer has high hydraulic specs and can supply the necessary flow to run your attachments efficiently. This is especially essential for specialized or demanding attachments to ensure consistent and powerful performance.
- Lift Path: This may be either radial or vertical. You need to consider the nature of the job, such as digging, excavation, or material handling, vis-à-vis the skid steer design to decide on this aspect. Ensure you know the load that the machine needs to handle and match it with the rated operating capacity. Here, you need to decide on radial lift vs. vertical lift. Usually, vertical lifts are recommended for heavy loads as opposed to radial lifts, which are typically suitable for light to medium loads. Radial lifts are suitable for digging and grading jobs, while vertical lifts are suitable for material handling, lifting stones and boulders from the ground, and so on.
- Attachment Compatibility: A skid steer can have several attachments even beyond 20 or 25, and hence compatibility is an important aspect. All of these attachments have specific functionalities and are changed according to the requirement. Some of the common ones include buckets, forks, augers, brooms, and backhoes. Matching the skid steer brand is the easiest way to ensure attachment compatibility. However, most attachments are universal and can be used for multiple brands; hence, checking the machine’s compatibility in terms of connections, capacity, dimensions, and so on becomes significant. Sometimes, you can use an attachment with specific connectors to ensure compatibility and hence smooth functioning.
- Dimensions and Weight: Ensure you know the dimensions, such as the length and width of the skid steer. This critical aspect gives you an idea regarding the machine’s ability to function in compact spaces and uneven terrains. It also helps plan storage and how you maneuver the machine in a given environment. Here, you need to consider the original dimensions plus those after loading the attachment.
Common Misconceptions About Skid Steer Specs
There are some common misconceptions regarding the specs of skid steer machines and their attachments. Here are some myths or misconceptions which must be rectified.
- Myth1: A standard flow system can run high-flow attachments.
Fact: No, this is untrue. Powering high-flow attachments on standard systems will reduce efficiency and can damage both the machine and the attachment. While high-flow and standard-flow attachments are sometimes used interchangeably, they are technically different and built for specific flow requirements. It’s essential to match the attachment to the correct system specs to ensure safe and effective operation.
- Myth 2: Skid steers and track loaders are the same.
Fact: No, These two machines are not the same, although there may be some structural similarities. A skid steer has wheels, while a loader has tracks. Skid steers are far more powerful, faster, and designed for tough, heavy-duty jobs.
- Myth 3: The tipping load value is actually the safe working capacity.
Fact: While the tipping load value does indicate the upper limit, it is not the safe working capacity. Pushing the limits of the machine in regular operations could compromise safety and efficiency. It is always recommended to stay within or around ROC.
When choosing a skid steer to buy or rent, focus on the specifications that align with your specific job site needs. Aside from other factors, attachment compatibility is a crucial aspect. Hence, it is important to choose all the attachments carefully and from a reliable supplier or manufacturer. Skid Pro offers skid steer and track loader attachments. Call our team today to learn more about the types of attachments we offer and how they can suit your existing skid steers.