It doesn’t matter if you are about to start a construction business or you have been in that line of work for a while – it is imperial to possess the right tools. This is true even if you need it to shovel snow or completely different tasks on your farm.
Yes, investing in new pieces of equipment can be quite costly, so you have to be certain that you have made the right decision before making a purchase. In the following article, we will focus on a compact and skid steer loader, tell you about some of their benefits and downside, and help you choose between the two.
Lifting capacity
As a general rule, a compact loader has a greater bucket capacity. This is due to their design, so you cannot compare the sizes of these two machines. A compact loader is longer, meaning that its tipping point is superior. However, this still doesn’t mean you should go and buy the first one you find. Keep in mind that the lifting capacity of this tool is rated as no turn, half turn, and full turn, which obviously, determines how much weight you can lift and carry. This is an important feature to consider, and first, you have to think about the purpose of the machine, that is, how you are going to use it. Our advice is to learn more about the specs of this tool before making a purchase.
Operating cost
As you surely know, it isn’t enough to invest money and get one of these machines. You also have to think about all the future expenses and make sure that they don’t exceed your budget. If you don’t think about the cost of fuel and repairs, you may end up buying a tool you cannot afford to maintain.
When it comes to fuel, a compact loader has smaller engines, so it uses less fuel than a skid steer one. Yes, the tires for a compact loader are significantly more expensive than those for the skid steer one, but you have to keep in mind that these tires can last three to four times longer. That’s hundreds and hundreds of working hours.
Terrain
Do you remember when we said that you have to carefully consider the purpose of the machine before buying it? Well, besides the features it possesses, this is another reason. Skid steer loaders are designed for hard surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, especially when you throw in hard tires in the mix. The main reason is that these tires are more resistant in these conditions, meaning that the chances of tearing and damages are significantly lower.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a machine to use on uneven, muddy, or snowy terrain, you should definitely go with a compact loader. Generally speaking, this machine is also more stable, which means that your productivity won’t suffer because of the terrain.
Horsepower
Without a doubt, a skid steer loader takes a win in this category. Nevertheless, it isn’t that simple. You have to remember that these machines use power in different ways. The skid steer loader needs more power to move around and utilize all the features, while, on the other note, the compact one uses most of its power to carry all the weight. Don’t forget that we have already discussed that this tool has a greater lifting capacity.
Speed
Speed is another important feature you have to consider since it determines the effectiveness of the tasks your employees can complete. First of all, when it comes to the loading speed, the compact loader is significantly faster. Secondly, when comparing the moving speed, this machine is also faster since the speed of mini loaders is between 10 and 14 mph, while the travel speed of skid steer one is between 7 and 10 mph, depending on the model you choose.
Operator comfort
When comparing these two machines, there isn’t a definitive winner in this category. The comfort of the person who manages the machine mainly depends on the model you choose. Both of these have their pros and cons, but the truth is that manufacturers have done a lot to further improve the comfort of both loaders.
This is another significant thing to consider since it can also greatly affect the productivity of the workers. The cabin has to be spacious enough, but a person also has to be able to reach all the commands and buttons easily. This is the only way they will be able to act immediately, at any moment, regardless of the challenge they face.
Visibility
While on the subject of comfort and productivity, we also have to discuss visibility. Compering all the aspect, the compact loader is once again a winner. As you can assume, this is due to the design of the machine itself. The seat is positioned higher, which enables the employee to have a clear 360 view of their surroundings.
Furthermore, the skid steer loader has better visibility of the bucket edge, which makes the task of operating the bucket and loading and unloading weight significantly easier, and therefore, faster. Surely, this machine is restricted when it comes to the back corner view, which is why manufacturers nowadays include cameras that can solve the issue.
Additional features
Generally speaking, a skid steer is considered to be a machine that can complete different types of tasks simply because numerous additional features can be attached to it. Some people would argue that a compact loader is restricted in this sense, but keep in mind that this isn’t necessarily true. After all, manufacturers are continuously working on improving their products, so once again, you have to do thorough research to learn about these attachments and make the decision according to your requirements.
Cost
Finally, we have to mention the price of these machines. Yes, a compact loader is a bit costlier than the skid steer, but taking into consideration the operating expenses we have already discussed, this investment can pay off in the long run.
