1. Bucket
The many types of bucket attachments available allow you to haul and lift heavy-duty materials like rocks, as well as lighter materials like snow. Because the different buckets are made to serve different purposes, they are not a one-size-fits-all attachment. You’ll need to match the bucket’s dimensions to your skid steer.
Aside from general-purpose buckets, you can find the following configurations:
- Rock buckets: Rock buckets have slats that allow you to hold debris while leaving dirt and soil behind. They’re excellent for sifting debris or carrying rocks or firewood.
- Grapple buckets: Grapple buckets work like a clamp. Two grapple arms sit above the bucket to help you hold large, heavy materials — like boulders — in place.
- Concrete slab buckets: These buckets are designed to carry concrete slab sections. The best models can carry thick slabs and have a drainage hole to prevent water accumulation.
In addition to lifting and hauling materials, buckets can fulfill basic digging, backfilling, and leveling and grading needs, making them one of the most versatile attachments.
2. Pallet Forks
Pallet forks are effective tools for carrying and stacking objects like pallets, logs and bales. They operate similarly to pallets on forklifts, except that they are detachable. If the task at hand involves a few quick lifts, you may benefit from fitting your skid steer with a pallet fork attachment rather than bringing a forklift to the site.
3. Auger
Few attachments are more efficient and powerful than augers for drilling precise holes. Augers are spiral-shaped drills that can create small holes in dirt or soil to make room for trees, fence posts or footings. They are designed to minimize damage to the surrounding environment.
Most augers can drill holes up to 6 feet, so you may need an extension to drill deeper holes.
4. Backhoe
Backhoe attachments typically have a long arm with a digging bucket attached at the end to scoop, carry and deposit materials. Best for small construction and landscaping projects, backhoe attachments can dig trenches, clear debris, transport soil and grade land. When you attach an auger to the end of the boom arm, you can use your backhoe attachment to drill holes for trees or shrubs.
5. Tiller
Prepare the ground and make planting easy with a tiller attachment for skid steers and compact track loaders. These tools break up rock and dense clumps of dirt to soften the soil and disperse soil nutrients. They can also mix manure, fertilizer or compost into the soil to create the best conditions for plants.
6. Snow Attachments
If your company is open year-round in a snowy climate, snow management attachments are essential for your operations. Snowplows, snow blowers and snow pushers can help you remove snow from streets, parking lots, driveways and other paved surfaces.