Skid steer loaders are amongst the most popular industrial vehicles in the United States. There are a number of reasons for this. One is that the smaller models can actually be transported in the back of the average pickup truck and can be on and offloaded by a single person. Two is that they offer amazing maneuverability combined with a four wheel drive system. Thirdly, they are economical and fuel efficient. But perhaps the greatest attribute of the skid steer loaders is that they are amazingly versatile, and when buying used they are really affordable.
With these loaders the consumer or skid steer mulcher business owner is actually getting a variety of vehicles for the price of one. The reason for this is that the loader can be transformed by replacing the bucket attachment at the end of its arms with one of the dozens of other attachments. By using the various attachments the skid steer loader can transformed from a simple beast of burden into a machine that can cut brush, drill holes for fence posts, clear snow, carry logs or perform a variety of other tasks. For this and the other reasons above there is a huge demand for used skid steer loaders. Used skid steer loaders can be obtained by simply reading the smalls section of the daily newspaper or by using an Internet search engine. However, prior to purchase there are a number of checks and balances that the consumer should be aware of to ensure that the second hand loader that they are purchasing is worth the money, mistakes can be costly and as in the case with all industrial equipment, potentially dangerous.
When evaluating used skid steer loaders a good rule of thumb is to choose a unit that is produced by a reliable manufacturer with a history of excellence, good examples are John Deere and Bobcat. Be aware of the price you’re going to pay, always investigate the price of a new loader and compare apples with apples. In some cases the loader may be available as a special offer on a new unit. In many cases it might be worth paying a hundred dollars more to get the exact unit that you want and which may not be available second hand.
Another attractive option is to rent the skid steer loader. This is especially attractive where the project that needs the loader is off short duration and the unit would simply sit in storage once the project is complete. Rental also keeps the unit off the company’s books, having no effect on the company’s lists of assets and liabilities. In addition the company does not have to bother with insurance or maintenance as these would be covered by a full service contract.
Whatever choice is made between new or used skid steer loaders, the fact remains that these pieces of equipment have proved themselves over time to be extremely useful, be it at home or at a construction site. With proper maintenance and care they can give decades of reliable service.