31 Skid Steer Attachment Types, Ranging From Backhoes to Bale Spears

From humble beginnings as a simple three-wheeled loader, the skid steer has evolved into a powerhouse of modern construction and agriculture. This evolution is largely thanks to the development of diverse and specialized attachments.

Check out this list of essential skid steer attachment types:

• Buckets: Versatile for scooping, moving, digging, and grading materials.
• Grapples: Ideal for heavy-duty material handling.
• Excavation: Backhoes, trenchers, augers, and soil conditioners for digging and earthmoving.
• Concrete: Cement mixers, concrete buckets, and hydraulic hammers.
• Landscaping: Landscape rakes, tillers, bale spears, and tree spades.
• Snow Removal: Snow pushers, snow buckets, and angle plows.
• Brush Clearing: Brushcutters, mulchers, tree pullers, and stump grinders.
• Other: Pallet forks, brooms, post hole diggers.

Buckets and grapples are great, but have you ever seen a forestry mulcher chew through a thicket or a high-capacity snow blower devour a blizzard?

Let’s ditch the ordinary and explore the specialized attachments that are revolutionizing niche industries…

Understanding Skid Steer Attachments

Skid steer attachments are key tools that make these machines more powerful. They attach to the hydraulic arm, turning the loader into a tool for many tasks. With many types of attachments available, operators can handle a variety of jobs well.

What is a skid steer attachment?

A skid steer attachment is a special tool for a skid steer loader’s hydraulic arm. You can find attachments like buckets, grapples, augers, and snow pushers. Each one has a specific job, making it easy to switch tasks quickly.

Benefits of using attachments

Attachments make skid steer loaders more versatile. They let one machine do many jobs, cutting down on the need for extra gear. This means more work gets done faster and at a lower cost. For example, a skid steer can go from digging to clearing brush quickly.

Compatibility considerations

When picking attachments for your skid steer, make sure they fit your machine. Things like hydraulic flow rates and lifting capacity matter. For instance, Cat hydraulic hammers for skid steers have different power levels, from 200 to 800 foot-pounds.

It’s smart to talk to dealers or manufacturers for the right fit and performance. They can help you choose attachments that match your skid steer and project needs. This way, you’ll work more efficiently and effectively on the job site.

Bucket Attachments: The Workhorses of Skid Steers

Bucket attachments are key for skid steers, acting as versatile tools across many industries. They come in various designs and sizes to meet different tasks and materials. The general-purpose bucket is a common attachment, great for scooping, moving dirt, and light digging.

For certain jobs, there are specialized buckets. Material buckets are good for lighter loads, and rock buckets for heavy materials. Tooth buckets have strong edges for digging and grading. Manure buckets are a big help on farms.

Bucket sizes vary from 56 to 98 inches wide, with popular sizes between 62 and 80 inches. This range lets operators pick the right bucket for their skid steer and job. These attachments are crucial in construction, landscaping, and farming.

Bucket Type	Primary Use	Material
General-purpose bucket	Scooping, moving dirt, light digging	Standard steel
Material bucket	Handling light materials	Lightweight steel
Rock bucket	Heavy-duty material handling	Grade 50 steel
Tooth bucket	Digging and grading	Grade 50 structural steel
Manure bucket	Agricultural tasks	Corrosion-resistant steel

Grapple Attachments for Heavy-Duty Material Handling

Grapple attachments are key for handling heavy materials in construction, landscaping, and farming. They come in many types to fit different jobs and machines.

Rock Grapples

Rock grapples are great at picking up big stones and letting smaller stuff fall. The Severe Duty Rock Bucket from Blue Diamond has half-inch tines and open sides for easy sifting. For bigger tasks, the Heavy Duty Rock Bucket Grapple has dual grapples made from ½” steel.

Root Grapples

Root grapples are perfect for clearing land and removing stumps. The Heavy Duty Root Grapple from Blue Diamond can handle up to 2,500 lbs and fits skid steers up to 50 HP. The Light Duty Root Grapple is lighter, weighing 454 pounds, and great for smaller machines.

Combination Grapples

Combination grapples are versatile for different materials. The Severe Duty Grapple Rake has dual top clamps and replaceable teeth for tough projects. For mini skid steers, the Mini Grapple Bucket works as a sifter, land plane, and clearing tool.

When picking a grapple attachment, think about tine spacing, wood-moving profile, and hydraulic cylinder type. Dual clamp grapples are great for holding uneven loads, while single clamp ones are cheaper. For light use, you can bolt on grapples, but dedicated ones give better quality and power.

Grapple Type	Weight	Material	Capacity
Heavy Duty Root Grapple	Not specified	Not specified	2,500 lbs
Light Duty Root Grapple	454 pounds	3/8″ steel	Not specified
Mini Grapple Bucket	454 pounds	3/8″ steel	Not specified

Excavation and Earthmoving Attachments

Skid steer loaders are great for digging and moving earth because of their versatile attachments. These tools turn simple machines into powerful tools for digging, trenching, and preparing soil. Let’s look at some key attachments that make skid steers essential on job sites.

The backhoe attachment turns a skid steer into a mini excavator. It’s perfect for digging footings, drainage ditches, and filling in holes. With depths up to 72 inches, backhoe attachments have a lot of reach for their size. They’re a top choice for construction and landscaping projects that need precise digging.

Trencher attachments are key for making narrow, deep channels. They’re great for digging for utility lines, irrigation systems, and foundations. Trenchers range from 30 to 60 inches, letting operators pick the right size for their job. Side augers on these attachments help move soil out of the way.

Auger attachments add powerful drilling to skid steers. They’re perfect for boring holes for fence posts, planting trees, and footings. Augers can drill up to 72 inches deep, making them versatile for many tasks. They save time and effort on projects needing many holes.

The soil conditioner attachment is a landscaper’s best friend. It smooths out topsoil, levels land, and gets fields ready for seeds. This tool is key for making smooth surfaces in landscaping and farming. It also helps finish construction sites, leaving a clean look.

Attachment	Primary	Typical Size Range
Backhoe	Digging, trenching	Up to 72 inches depth
Trencher	Utility lines, irrigation	30-60 inches
Auger	Post holes, tree planting	Up to 72 inches depth
Soil Conditioner	Grading, land prep	Varies by model

Concrete and Construction Attachments

Skid steers with concrete and construction attachments change the game on jobsites. They make tasks more efficient and increase what your machine can do. Let’s look at three key attachments that make construction easier.

Cement Mixers

With a cement mixer attachment, your skid steer becomes a mobile concrete plant. You can choose from 29-gallon or 42-gallon mixers. These let you make concrete, mulch, and even animal feed right on the spot. They’re a must-have for many projects.

Concrete Buckets

Concrete bucket attachments come in 3/4-yard or 1-yard sizes. They’re great for pouring concrete in tight spots, helping your team work faster. With precise control, you can place concrete just where you need it, cutting down on waste and cleanup.

Hydraulic Hammers

For taking down buildings or moving earth, the hydraulic hammer attachment is the best choice. These tools can break through hard materials like rock and concrete easily. With impact energy from 200 to 800 foot-pounds, they make demolition tasks a breeze.

Attachment	Capacity/Power	Key Feature
Cement Mixer	29 or 42 gallons	On-site mixing
Concrete Bucket	3/4 or 1 yard	Precise pouring
Hydraulic Hammer	200-800 ft-lbs	High impact energy

These attachments make a skid steer much more versatile in construction. They’re great for mixing and pouring concrete, as well as breaking through hard surfaces. They give operators the tools they need to finish projects efficiently.

Landscaping and Agricultural Attachments

Skid steer loaders are great for landscaping and farming with special attachments. The landscape rake attachment is perfect for preparing soil and clearing lots. It comes in styles like power box rakes and industrial grapple rakes, ideal for smoothing out the ground or removing debris.

The tiller attachment is great for breaking up hard ground. It makes the soil ready for planting. Farmers use the bale spear attachment to easily move hay. These attachments come in 2, 3, or 4-tine designs for different bale shapes.

The tree spade attachment changes the game for tree work. It digs and moves trees fast, saving time in nurseries and landscaping. These tools make green industries more productive.

Attachment	Primary Use	Key Feature
Landscape Rake	Soil Preparation	Various Models Available
Tiller	Ground Breaking	Efficient Soil Mixing
Bale Spear	Hay Handling	Multiple Tine Configurations
Tree Spade	Tree Transplanting	Quick Digging and Moving

Snow Removal and Winter Maintenance Attachments

Skid steers turn into powerful machines for winter with special attachments. These tools make removing snow easy and effective, even in tough conditions.

Snow Pushers

Snow pusher attachments move a lot of snow. They don’t need hydraulics and are close to the machine for better control. A standard snow pusher can clear paths up to 16 feet wide.

Many models have a back drag blade. This lets operators pull snow away from buildings when pushing isn’t possible.

Snow Buckets

Snow bucket attachments can move and transport a lot of snow. A 78-inch snow bucket can hold about 28.75 cubic feet of snow. That’s like lifting around 1145 pounds, including the bucket’s weight.

Snow buckets are made to handle snow’s unique properties. Snow weighs about 20 pounds per cubic foot, much lighter than materials like gravel.

Angle Plows

Angle plow attachments are versatile for snow clearing. They let operators direct snow to either side for efficient removal. Some models, like the Top Dog Attachment Snow Blade, have hydraulic rams.

These hydraulic rams let the operator pivot the blade left or right without leaving the cab. This increases flexibility and productivity.

Attachment Type	Key Feature	Ideal Use
Snow Pusher	No hydraulics required	Large open areas
Snow Bucket	High capacity	Snow transport
Angle Plow	Directional control	Versatile clearing

Brush Clearing and Forestry Attachments

Skid steers with brush clearing and forestry attachments make tough tasks easy. The brushcutter attachment, like Blue Diamond’s Severe Duty Series 2, cuts through thick vegetation. It’s great for clearing land and keeping roadsides tidy.

Mulcher attachments turn thick plants into fine mulch. Blue Diamond’s Drum Mulcher cuts wide and chops plants finely. It’s ideal for clearing land and managing forests. For big jobs, disc mulchers can handle large trees.

Tree puller attachments, such as Blue Diamond’s Heavy-Duty model, can remove trees up to 10 inches wide. The stump grinder attachment cuts in two directions. This makes removing stumps faster and easier.

Attachments from Bobcat and John Deere increase a skid steer’s power. They turn these machines into powerful tools for forestry, landscaping, and land management.

Pallet Forks: The Material Movers

Pallet forks are the unsung heroes of material handling, turning your skid steer into a forklift on the go. They’re perfect for moving pallets, lumber, and other heavy items around construction sites, warehouses, and farms. With various sizes and capacities, you can choose the right forks to match your load and machine. Some even have hydraulic tines for precise adjustments.

Brooms: The Cleanup Crew

Brooms are essential for keeping worksites clean and tidy. Whether sweeping up construction debris, clearing sidewalks, or prepping asphalt for paving, brooms make quick work of large areas. Choose from angle brooms for angled sweeping, collector brooms to gather debris, and even rotary brooms for heavy-duty cleaning.

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