Skid-steer loaders: Since the construction until Landscaping and Snow removal services. All you need to know.

The first skid-steer was invented by the brothers Cyril and Louis Keller (Rothsay, Minnesota) in 1957 as an attempt to address a turkey producer´s need of cleaning out his barn. Thus, it came to innovate the construction equipment market until today. Its name arises from the design and the way it moves. Basically, the wheels (or treads) are placed fixed in only one direction. So, to enable the equipment to turn, the driver increases the speed of one side of the machine, generating a wheel´s skid, and in consequence, the wheel (equipment) turns. In the skid-steer market, it is usually found three sizes: small, medium, and large frame with specific rated operating capacity (ROC), horsepower (up to 70 hp), lift capacity (up to 2,200 pounds) and, a general lifespan of around 5,000 hours with proper maintenance and operation

Hence, with more than 60 years in the market, the skid-steers, sometimes called skid loaders or wheel loaders (also referred as Bobcats despite what its actual brand is) are a versatile and compact heavy equipment often used for construction applications and overall earth moving tasks like, excavating, digging, and trenching. It is widely used due to its maneuverability, its lightweight and the multipurpose behind its arms that can easily adapt and attach different tools for various jobs. The buckets are the default attachment a skid-steer has. But today, there are multiple attachments that can be easily adapted as the skid-steer usually comes standard with a pressure release coupler block mechanism that allows the attachment hydraulic hoses remotion with low effort. Some attachments available in the market are focused to drill into terrain (drill bit augers), transport oversized objects (grapple buckets) for grading landscape (box blades), for breaking up hard surfaces like concrete (hydraulic breakers), etc.

The skid steers are so versatile that as mentioned, they are also widely used in landscaping and snow removal due to their size, and the easiness to adapt and perform a variety of tasks. Here are some common uses for Bobcats in landscaping and snow removal:

  1. Landscaping: Skid-steers are great for landscaping projects due to their ability to maneuver in tight spaces and work on uneven terrain. They can be used to level land, dig trenches, transport, and place materials such as soil, gravel, or stones, as well as prepare areas for planting or installing turf.
  2. Snow removal: Bobcats might be equipped with snow removal implements such as front shovels and torches. They are especially useful in small or hard-to-reach areas, such as sidewalks, tight parking lots, or driveways. They can quickly clear accumulated snow and make it easier to clear paths.
  3. Landscape maintenance: In addition to initial landscape construction, Bobcats can also be used for regular maintenance. This includes tasks such as mowing larger areas and transporting debris or materials from one location to another within the work area.

In short, skid-steers are versatile pieces of equipment that allow landscape and snow removal professionals to perform a wide range of tasks efficiently and effectively in tight spaces and challenging conditions.