What is a Skid Steer Loader?

There are just so many different types of machines and equipment out there being used for construction, commercial and agricultural purposes and the skid steer loader, also commonly referred to as the skid loader is but one of them. It's a mobile machine on wheels or tracts. It has a rigid frame, lift arms, and is fitted to accommodate a wide variety of tools and accessories that attach onto it.

The number and variety as well as the usage of attachments that have been developed for the skid steer loader over the years is simply amazing and virtually all of them are powered by the loaders own hydraulic system. Post hole diggers, scoops, concrete breakers, stump grinders, ditch diggers and rock breakers are typical examples of some of the most commonly used tools of this type.

One very recognizable common trait of Skid Steer Loaders is their size. They are a smaller machine that's designed for medium to light jobs in confined working conditions. In fact, one of the newer types of skid loaders to appear on the market is new mini skid loaders that don't even have seats. The operator stands on the back to operate the machine that often times is no larger than a common lawn tractor.

One very unique feature of these machines is their wheel or track operation. The four wheel versions that aren't fitted with tracks are usually four wheel drive. That’s not unusual but what is unusual is that the wheel or track systems on each side of the machine are designed to operate independently of one another. The result is that these machines can turn on a dime while standing perfectly still. The zero radius turn.

The first prototypes for what has become the modern day skid steer loader became operational in 1957. Oddly enough, these were three wheeled vehicles that had two wheels in the font with one in the back. This arrangement allowed them to do the zero radius turns by simply positioning the steering mechanism in the single back wheel.

Subsequently, in 1958 Melroe Manufacturing acquired the rights to the machine and some three years later, the first four wheeled models were being manufactured by them. Of course, since then it has been licensed out to other manufacturing firms and also has undergone many more improvements, including tracks that replace wheels in some models as well as so many of the tools and machines that are able to be added on.

The main benefits that make the skid steer loader the machine of choice in such a wide variety of applications are its low cost and versatility. It basically replaces a two to four man crew in so many of the tasks that it performs. Also due to its smaller size and simplicity of operation it's far safer machine to have and use on a job site. Also some of its tools are in turn adaptable themselves.

However; it is the newer “mini” skip steer loaders that are powered by powerful smaller economical motors that are really catching on. Contractors are finding that with the money it takes to pay a man’s wages for six months, they can buy one of these machines that effectively do the work of two men. They never need to take breaks or call in sick either.