Skid Steer Buyer's Guide

Buy a skid steer with confidence after learning more about product sales, first! This brief guide will help the first-time skid steer buyer learn more about the considerations they'll face while shopping for - and ultimately before they buy a skid steer. Let's take it from the top:

What is a skid steer?

First of all, it's always best to review what a skid steer is, and what its functions and purpose are: skid steers (also called skid steer loaders or skid loaders) are compact heavy machinery that are available in crawler (tread) or tire (wheel) models and four wheel drive. The latter tire models can implement "over the tire tracks," which as their name suggests, allows for special tracks or treads to snugly fit over the tires, effectively converting the skid steer into a crawler type. Crawler loaders are used for multi-terrain purposes, such as forestry work - where the ground may be covered with bramble, tree limbs, stones and other thick textured material.

Think of a skid steer as your "Swiss army knife" of construction vehicles - capable of fitting dozens of incredibly handy tools, buying a skid steer will equate to owning a dozer, backhoe, forklift, excavator and tractor all in one tiny and more maneuverable package! Its impressive number of attachments lets you add nearly unlimited possibilities to your workload.

Who are skid steers beneficial for?

Skid steers are most helpful for construction companies, forestry and agricultural workers, and even landscapers. If you're looking to get your daily manual tasks, including earth moving & dumping, scooping, snow removal, digging and other related chores done, with the help of a hefty and torque-based machine - a skid steer is for you. Be sure to justify the cost of a skid steer. Will you be using it on a regular basis? You'll want to make sure that your skid steer will be put to good use. Who knows, you might even be able to use your skid steer to add more capabilities to your existing business!

How much do skid steer loaders cost? Tell me about skid steer price:

There's no doubt about it - a skid steer is an investment. A new skid steer costs in the ballpark of $30,000 - $40,000. However, the much more logical route is to find a used skid steer at a much more manageable price. It is both possible and practical to compare deals on a used skid steer thorugh an auction or 'for sale by owner' deal - as seen on the daily listings here at SkidSteerLoaders.us! By saving a large percentage of your budget on a used skid steer, you'll be able to benefit from the same long-lasting, powerful service that you would have gotten from a new skid steer at a much lower price - sometimes as low as 50% less than a new model. In fact, we've estimated the average price of a used skid steer sale to be from $7,000-$9,000.

The Best Skid Steer Brand?

Whether you choose an ASV, Caterpillar, Bobcat or any other of the fine brands of skid steers, one brand always continues to shine above the rest - Caterpillar. CAT's main competitive advantage is that it has a smart power distribution system that intelligently prevents engine stalling by modulating the flow rate within its fixed-displacement pump. In other words, pressure is high as the skid steer raises a load, and is automatically lax as the bucket dumps the load. In addition, Caterpillar skid steers use variable-displacement pumps to regulate power to the wheels, independently from the pump regulating the arms.

In summary, Caterpillar skid steers reduce displacement of their individual pumps so that the power consumed in pushing the skid steer into a pile of dirt, lifting the pile, and moving the wheels do not simultaneously result in an engine stall.

Don't let this be your sole decision, though. Without this sophisticated power displacement system, other skid steers operate at their own efficiencies and power outputs. Avoiding a stall is something that becomes second nature to a skid steer driver - much like getting used to driving a stick shift, for a new car driver. Much like that of tractors, backhoes and other heavy machinery - brand loyalty plays a prominent role in skid steer loader purchasers across the world, due to specific features and competencies.

Where to go next:

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