Skid steer attachments are versatile tools that significantly enhance the capabilities of skid steer loaders. From clearing brush and removing stumps to excavation and snow plowing, the right attachment can transform a skid steer into a powerful machine suited for any job.
This guide explores various skid steer attachments, highlighting their uses, key features, and how to choose the right tool for specific tasks.
- Uses of Skid Steer Attachments
- Types of Skid Steer Attachments
- Tips for Comparing Skid Steer Attachments
- Download the Skid Steer Attachments Catalog
Uses of Skid Steer Attachments
Whether you're digging trenches, clearing land, or handling materials, understanding the different types of attachments and their applications is crucial for maximizing your skid steer’s performance and efficiency.
Brush Removal
Tough brush-clearing and landscaping tasks require rugged tools like brush mowers, rock and brush grapples, tree pullers, forestry grapples, tillers, and pallet fork grapples. To ensure your brush-clearing equipment is built to last, check that the attachments feature reinforced materials and expert craftsmanship. Quality attachments are designed to maximize efficiency and safety, whether you're clearing land, transporting materials, or preparing soil.
Digging & Excavation
The right skid steer attachments make tasks like trenching, hole digging, grading, and land clearing more efficient. Common attachments include buckets for general digging and scooping, augers for drilling precise holes, backhoes for deep trenching, and trenching attachments for narrow, deep cuts.
Rippers break through tough soil or rock, while grapples are used to grab and move large debris. Grading blades help level and smooth the ground after excavation. These attachments enhance the skid steer's ability to perform a variety of tasks with precision and speed, making them essential for construction, landscaping, and other excavation projects.
Stump Removal
With the right tools and planning, DIY stump removal can be a manageable and rewarding task. Three key attachments for stump removal include grapples, which are used for grabbing and moving stumps and debris; rippers, which loosen the soil around the stump, especially in rocky or compact ground; and tree pullers, which use hydraulics to yank stubborn roots out of the ground.
Snow Removal
Skid steer attachments are highly versatile tools for snow removal, offering solutions for a range of winter tasks. Snow buckets are ideal for moving large volumes of snow, while hydraulic snow blades allow for precise plowing with adjustable angles, perfect for clearing roads and driveways. Snow pushers excel at quickly pushing snow across wide areas, making them ideal for commercial applications like parking lot clearing. Snow blowers and sweepers can be utilized for more specialized snow removal.
Types of Skid Steer Attachments
Each of the following skid steer attachment types are designed for specific tasks such as land clearing, material handling, excavation, snow removal, and landscaping.
Grapples
Grapple attachments for skid steers are used to grab, lift, and transport a wide variety of materials, making them essential for tasks like land clearing, debris removal, and material handling. The most important feature of the best grapple attachments is a strong jaw that securely grip materials, enabling you to handle tough loads such as logs, tree limbs, and construction debris.
Prime Attachments offers a variety of incredibly durable grapple attachments for your skid steer:
- Rock + Brush Grapple: Built heavy with all grade 50 steel, this grapple attachment can tackle everything from carrying logs to sifting debris from soil.
- Rock + Stump Ripper Grapple: Grab and hold onto the objects you want to remove with this monster-strength attachment.
- Clam Grapple: The 52” bite of this grapple is ideal for cleaning up brush, digging out roots and large rocks, performing concrete work, and moving logs.
- Dual Clam Grapple: Take the power of the Prime Clam Grapple and enhance it with the dual bite design.
- Root Grapple: This badass unit features 2 independent grapples, each with a 3,000 PSI cylinder that works independently to grab the target objects, while the 6” tine spacing lets the smaller debris fall through.
- Forestry Grapple: The large, independent grapples and height and depth of the bucket on this attachment make it ideal for breaking down large forestry projects into manageable tasks.
- Cyclops Solo Grapple: Get all the power of a Prime grapple attachment in a smaller, lighter-weight unit.
- High Capacity Grapple: Experience the ultimate in versatility with a grapple attachment that can do it all - moving round bales, hay bales, straw bales, feed and silage. It even doubles as a snow bucket in the winter.
Tillers
A skid steer tiller is a must-have attachment in agricultural landscaping. It’s ability to cut through virgin soil makes it ideal for developing food plots, gardens, or seedbeds. The Prime Skid Steer Tiller Attachment features a bidirectional motor that saves you time and effort with its ability to rotate the tines backward or forward, allowing you to pulverize the soil in one single pass without disturbing the soil a second time.
Rotary Mowers
Rotary mower attachments for skid steers can do much more than just mowing. In fact, the Prime Brush Mower is powerful enough to cut down saplings and small trees up to 3” in diameter. The Prime Direct Drive Mower kicks it up a notch with its ability to easily mow down trees up to 8” in diameter without breaking a sweat. Whichever you choose, you’ll be set to make brush clearing a breeze.
Buckets
Bucket attachments are utilized for a variety of projects, including digging, trenching, leveling, grading, debris removal, and brush clearing. If you’ve got earth to move, these attachments will make light work of it.
- 4-in-1 Bucket: This super durable bucket attachment is suited for grading, land leveling, dozing, grappling, digging, and pulling. It’s available in 72″, 78″, and 84″ widths and can even be equipped with replaceable excavator teeth for added power.
- Dirt Bucket Grapple: When large amounts of debris stand in your way, this is the attachment that can clear it with ease.
- Stump Bucket: Digging, trenching, and tree/stump removal has never been easier. This powerful attachment is fabricated from commercial-grade 1/2″ steel to withstand even the harshest conditions.
- Stump Bucket Grapple: The serrated tooth design of this grapple attachment give it a mighty jaw that eats stumps and trees for breakfast.
- Low Profile Dirt Bucket: Maximum durability meets ultimate visibility with this skid steer attachment. This is the go-to choice for superior digging capabilities.
- Tooth Bucket: The top of this bucket attachment features a fully welded support on the frame for maximum strength. Plus, we’ve added weld-on replaceable teeth for unbeatable digging performance.
Augers
Auger attachments are used to drill holes in the ground for fence post installation, tree planting, utility pole setting, and more. The Prime Auger features a standard 2” hex drive, is self-centering, and is built with a commercial-grade, heavy-duty frame.
Pallet Forks
Strength and stability are paramount when assessing a pallet fork attachment. That’s why Prime Pallet Forks feature a 1/2″ welded “T” design that results in a 5,500lb capacity. We also offer a Pallet Fork Grapple version which enhances that design with a grapple to easily haul a wide variety of items such as logs, concrete slabs, bales, pipes, and rocks. For inconsistent pallet sizes or placements, the Hydraulic Sliding Pallet Fork can quickly adjust each fork individually using hydraulics.
Tips for Comparing Skid Steer Attachments
Despite their diverse functions, all skid steer attachments should share key qualities like durability, strength, and precise engineering to ensure they can handle tough tasks efficiently and safely. The following are additional considerations to keep in mind when comparing skid steer attachments.
New vs. Used Attachments
Whether to buy new or used skid steer attachments depends on your needs and budget. While used attachments can offer cost savings, there is typically uncertainty about their quality, and they often lack a warranty. New attachments tend to come at a higher price point but come with guaranteed quality, durability, and a warranty that puts your mind at ease.
Interchangeable Attachments
While not all skid steer attachments are universally interchangeable, most modern skid steers feature a universal quick attach plate, allowing operators to use attachments across different brands. Prime Attachments are compatible with Caterpillar, Bobcat, John Deere, and others. For more details, we recommend checking your skid steer user manual or consulting with an expert on our team.
Operating Capacity
When using heavy-duty attachments on a skid steer, it's essential to understand the Rated Operating Capacity (ROC) to avoid tipping risks. The ROC determines the maximum weight a skid steer can safely lift, typically no more than half of its tipping weight.
Skid steers come in different sizes:
- Small-frame models (3,000-6,000 lbs) handle lighter attachments with an ROC of 760-1,550 lbs
- Medium-frame models (6,000-7,000 lbs) manage heavier loads with an ROC of 1,750-2,200 lbs
- Large-frame models (7,000-12,000 lbs) are built for tough, high-capacity attachments with an ROC over 2,200 lbs.
Always ensure your attachment matches the skid steer’s weight capacity for optimal performance and safety.
Download the Skid Steer Attachments Catalog
Prime Attachments offers high-quality, American-made skid steer attachments designed for durability and reliability. Backed by over 30 years of experience in metal fabrication, Prime's attachments are rigorously tested and built with thicker welds and stronger materials to ensure long-lasting performance. Download our product catalog to learn more about our versatile lineup.
