There are five basic issues to consider when buying a skid steer loader:
- size
- lift height
- lifting capacity
- tyres
- general ease of use
Size
Skid steer loaders are compact machines but you should confirm that the model you hope to buy is suitable for its intended use. Will you, for instance, be using it in spaces accessible only through relatively narrow gates and doors? A skid steer loader's specification sheet will give you its width and height, so take note of this. The width is likely to be in the region of 0.9 m to more than 2 m (3 ft – 6 ft). The height will probably be 1.5 m - 2.4 m (5 ft - 8 ft).
Lift height
Work out in advance how high you need your skid steer loader to reach. The figure you then look for on the machine's specifications is the bucket pin height. This is the distance from the ground to the pin that lies between the skid steer loader's arms at their far end. The bucket pin height of a small skid steer loader may be around 2.4 m (8 ft). For larger models, it can be more than 3 m (10 ft).
Lifting capacity
Lifting capacity, sometimes referred to by manufacturers as operating capacity, determines the weight and type of item your skid steer loader can carry. As you might expect, there's a direct link between the lifting capacity and the size of the machine, so you may want to consider this if you're thinking of a getting a smaller, lighter model because its use in certain working conditions may be limited.
Manufacturers calculate the lifting capacity as 50% of the tipping load. This is the weight that will raise the rear wheels of a skid steer loader from the ground. The smallest machines will have a lifting capacity of around 300 kg – 450 kg (660 lb – 1,000 lb). The most popular models can lift 800 kg – 1,000 kg (1,750 lb – 2,200 lb). The biggest skid steer loaders will comfortably deal with more than 1,350 kg (3,000 lb), but at this level you may want to look at other equipment options including front end loaders (FELs). Within the industry, a "heavy-lift" skid steer loader is a machine with a lifting capacity in excess of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).
Tyres
- Air-filled. Rubber tyres filled with air are your cheapest option. They help to make work on rough ground more bearable for the driver but are susceptible to the occasional puncture.
- Foam-filled. One way of avoiding a flat tyre is to fill it with foam. The drawbacks are the additional expense and the added weight. This extra weight can take its toll on the skid steer loader's transmission system and cause problems.
- Solid rubber. Solid rubber tyres avoid the weight issue because they are usually thinner than their air or foam-filled equivalents. They don't give such a smooth ride, however.
For even surfaces such as roads, or if you have a working area full of sharp objects such as glass, solid rubber tyres will last the longest of the three options. For most other uses, you may find that the cheaper air-filled tyres are best.
Tyre alternatives
Another possibility is to use tank-like treads instead of wheels and tyres. In effect, machines with treads are the same as skid steer loaders but the industry refers to them as compact track loaders. The treads are also called crawlers or rubber tracks.
The treads give the track loader excellent weight distribution and traction on soft, muddy ground or loose areas such as shale and gravel. If you're likely to be working regularly on this type of terrain, you should consider a compact track loader as an alternative to a skid steer. You can, however, buy treads to convert a skid steer loader. Speak to the dealer about the availability of this option before you commit to a particular model and make of skid steer loader.
Ease of use
Ease of use is often the deciding factor when you've whittled down the number of potential skid steer loaders to a final few.
- The level of comfort. A driver can spend most of the working day operating a skid steer loader. Consequently, you may want to get a professional driver's opinion on matters such as access to the cab, the quality of the seat and the position of the controls.
- Servicing and maintenance. Check how easy or hard it is to reach the engine and the hydraulics. Is it difficult to access basic parts such as the oil filler cap, for instance? Also ask the dealer for an estimate of standard servicing costs.
- Vision. As with any vehicle, you want the driver to have good all-round vision. The time to really judge this is with a demo.
