Skid-steer loaders are small and versatile pieces of construction equipment mainly used for digging. A skid-steer loader is maneuverable and light with arms that can attach to various tools for a range of landscaping and construction jobs.
Skid-steer loaders can have two tracks or four wheels. The back and front axles of each side have synchronized lock with one another but can also be used separately from the wheels found on the other side of the skid-steer.
The wheels don’t turn and can hold fixed straight alignment. The operator of a skid-steer can turn the machine through increasing the speed of wheels on one side to make the wheels drag or skid across the ground while the machine is rotating in another direction. The steering function made the machine earn its name.
Sizes of Skid-Steer Loaders
Skid-steer loaders come in different sizes and each of them works better for every type of job.
- Small Frame – This is a lighter model that can be maneuvered in tight spaces that make it an ideal option for site development, landscaping and interior work.
- Medium Frame – Medium-sized skid-steers are commonly used with different attachments to work as a digger or backbone in places where these machines won’t fit in.
- Large Frame – Large skid-steer loaders are used for extensive excavation and demolition work.