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By Jeremy R

A skid loader or skid steer loader is a rigid frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments. Skid-steer loaders are four-wheel drive vehicles with the left-side drive wheels independent of the right-side drive wheels. By having each side independent of the other, wheel speed and direction of rotation of the wheels determine the direction the loader will turn.

Skid steer loaders can turn in their own tracks which makes them extremely manoeuvrable and valuable for applications that require a compact, agile loader.

Unlike in a conventional front loader, the lift arms in these machines are alongside the driver with the pivot points behind the driver's shoulders. Because of the operator's proximity to moving booms, early skid loaders were not as safe as conventional front loaders, particularly during entry and exit of the operator. Modern skid loaders have fully-enclosed cabs and other features to protect the operator. Like other front loaders, it can push material from one location to another, carry material in its bucket or load material into a truck or trailer.

Operation:

A Skid Steer loader can sometimes be used in place of a large excavator by digging a hole from the inside. The skid loader first digs a ramp leading to the edge of the desired excavation. It then uses the ramp to carry material out of the hole. The skid loader reshapes the ramp making it steeper and longer as the excavation deepens. This method is particularly useful for digging under a structure where overhead clearance does not allow for the boom of a large excavator, such as digging a basement under an existing house.

The conventional bucket of many skid loaders can be replaced with a variety of specialized buckets or attachments, many powered by the loader's hydraulic system. These include backhoe, hydraulic breaker, pallet forks, angle broom, sweeper, auger, mower, snow blower, stump grinder, tree spade, trencher, dumping hopper, ripper, tillers, grapple, tilt, roller, snow blade, wheel saw, cement mixer, and wood chipper.

History:

Bobcat skid loader clearing snow with snowblower attachment

The first three-wheeled, front-end loader was invented by brothers Cyril and Louis Keller (manufacturer) in Rothsay, Minnesota, in 1957. The Kellers built the loader to help a farmer mechanize the process of cleaning turkey manure from his barn. The light and compact machine, with its rear caster wheel, was able to turn around within its own length, while performing the same tasks as a conventional front-end loader.

The Melroe brothers, whose Melroe Manufacturing Company in Gwinner, N.D., purchased the rights to the Keller loader in 1958 and hired the Kellers to continue refining their invention. As a result of this partnership, the M-200 Melroe self-propelled loader was introduced at the end of 1958. It featured two independent front-drive wheels and a rear caster wheel, a 12.9-hp engine and a 750-lb. lift capacity. Two years later they replaced the caster wheel with a rear axle and introduced the M-400, the first four-wheel, skid-steer loader. It quickly became the Melroe Bobcat. The term "Bobcat" is sometimes used as a generic term for skid-steer loaders. The M-440 was powered by a 15.5-hp engine and had an 1100-lb. rated operating capacity. Skid-steer development continued into the mid-1960s with the M600 loader.

Many manufacturers have now made their variation of the skidloader, including: John Deere, Case, JLG, JCB, New Holland, Gehl, Mustang, ASV, Caterpillar and more.

See skid steer specs at http://www.myequipment.ca

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By Jared Runcorn

If you own a skid steer, then by now you should know that the various skid steer attachments that are available on the market can increase the versatility of the machine you already have. You will be able to perform a variety of different jobs with the one piece of equipment, which in turn, will allow you to increase your business profits with more services or allow you to just perform a better version of the jobs that you already use it for.

As you already know, there are a number of different manufacturers that make skid machines therefore, you must know that each one of these companies offer attachments for their particular line of skid loaders. Skid steer attachments are available in:

• John Deere
• Case
• CAT
• Bobcat

And just for your information, if you own a mini excavator, mini excavator attachments are also available through these companies.

Skid loader attachments include attachments such as: skid machine tracks and skid machine pallet forks, among a variety of other attachments that are available for things such as fencing, snow removal, and more.

In some cases, you may not have to purchase the brand new skid loader attachments, although you most certainly could if you had the money in your budget to do so. In any case, there are a large variety of different used skid steer attachments available for all of the above mentioned machines. By purchasing one of the used skid steer attachments, you will be able to save quite a bit of money. Then, with the money that you save, you just might be able to purchase a different used skid steer attachment.

There are certainly advantages and disadvantages to purchasing both new skid machine attachments and used skid loader attachments,.therefore, you need to talk to the dealer or manufacturer of the various companies in order to determine what the best route for you to take is. Making that purchasing decision will also be determined by the budget that you have allotted for use on the attachment. In some cases, your budget will determine for you whether you should purchase a new attachment or a used attachment.

The large assortment of skid steer attachments that are available on the market, whether they are new or used attachments, can be easily found. In most cases, just a little effort on your behalf is all that it takes in order to find the right attachment for you and your machine.

Increase the versatility of your machine, increase your business by offering more services, increase the amount of work that the machine can do, and do all of this through the use of purchasing the various attachments that are available for this machine. Don't just purchase one; the more attachments that you have for your skid steer, the more you will be able to use it for. Whether you purchase tracks that will allow you to maneuver easily in more types of conditions and terrains or if you purchase landscaping or fencing attachments, the long-term viability of the machine will be increased.

Go to Skid Steer Attachments to get free information on this product. This website will give you all of the information you need on Skid Steer Attachments along with a lot of other free information. Don't miss out on this new website if you are looking for Skid Loader Attachments.

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