Skid steers these days have become close to or similar to excavators from a functional perspective although their mechanics are different with regards to their mobility. Skid steers just as excavators are, are classified as heavy construction machines and come in handy for numerous purposes when it involves construction, forestry, agriculture, dredging or mining.
Skid steer loaders from a general perspective are used for digging, excavating and moving earth, debris or materials around project sites. What makes the skid steer more favourable comparatively to the excavator is the greater manoeuvrability that it affords to the operator and as well as its lightweight.
This makes the skid steer more manageable in tight or confined project areas such as home improvement projects in the suburbs where space is never a luxury.
The more recent skid steers also come with hydraulic coupling systems that excavators have which allow most new generation skid steers able to accommodate a range of different attachment tools which in essence make these machines a ‘one stop’ heavy industry tool. The extended tools are basically an assortment of attachment options that are fitted to the hydraulic coupling system of the machine which simply extends the range of tasks that these machines are able to perform.
Much like the capabilities of the excavator, skid steers are able to perform the same thing, but perhaps with a higher level of agility given their ability to manoeuvre efficiently within tight spaces. Apart from the standard bucket that come with standard skid steers, the bucket may be swapped for an array of tools such as augers for drilling deep, or clamps if the machine is required to remove debris or even cutters to cut through steel reinforced concrete and blades to clear heavy snow from roads and highways.
The more recent skid steers are equipped with 2D technology with display panels that allow these machines to even excavate and grade as effectively and as efficiently as excavators. So what is the big difference between the excavator and the skid steer? In terms of task management, not much, however in terms of manoeuvrability it is an entirely different story. Excavators on wheels behave basically like a car does where you use the front wheels to control the direction of the machine.
However, a wheeled skid steer behaves like it is on tracks and each side is powered by different engines and the wheels do not turn and are fixed (just like tracks). Hence, in order to direct the machine, operators speed up one side of the tires (for example the left side) which causes the machine to skid to the left and vice versa. This comes in very handy when the machine is in tight spaces which are usually the case in urban development projects.
Skid steers also come with tracks and most are applied for forestry work as these machines are also able to accommodate wood chippers, stump grinders, tree spades and of course the standard digging tools which are crucial in forestry work. The skid steer is also popular for agricultural work as most are able to move larger amounts of material or harvest compared to excavators that do not have loading capacity. Skid steers are also well suited for urban landscaping projects due to their lightweight and compactness that make them go easy on the soft ground without causing too much damage.
Skid steer bobcats for hire are really affordable and are highly cost effective given the fact that a single skid steer would replace half a dozen workers if digging and moving earth was involved. A skid steer would get the same job done in less than half the time at half the cost minus the mess.