Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/102855
machine matters | by Richard Ries SKID STEERS GROW UP Developed for a single task, skid-steer loaders have become multifunction workhorses in the 50-plus years they've been around. T alk about humble beginnings: The skid-steer loader was developed to move turkey manure out of barns. A Minnesota poultry producer approached brothers Louis and Cyril Keller about making a machine for that purpose in 1956. Within months a prototype was in the barns. It was the first of what was to become the Bobcat brand of skid steers. Today's skid steers bear almost no resemblance to that prototype with its 3-wheel chassis and unreliable belt drive – the only traits they share are a front loader and extreme maneuverability. Skid steer design has become so mature that one of the challenges facing buyers today is selecting the right machine. Manufacturers size skid steers by rated operating capacity, but that's just a starting point of key considerations. Deciding on lift type If a skid steer is used for many applications, either a vertical or radial lift design will do the job. "In general, both lift arm designs 28 January 2013 | EquipmentWorld.com perform well across several applications," says Sean Bifani, product manager for skid steers at Gehl. "However, radial-lift models are generally considered to be a better choice for ground-engaging applications while vertical-lift machines tend to be better for material handling applications." Both styles do well loading, but radial lift provides more reach at the midpoint in a lift cycle, which is good for loading lower vehicles such as pickup trucks and flatbed trailers. Vertical-lift designs have more reach and height at maximum lift, which is good for loading into higher locations. Kevin Coleman, senior marketing engineer at Caterpillar, provides a list of common applications best suited for each type of machine. Because radial lift provides a compact and simple linkage design with good reach at mid-lift height it is well suited for: ing foundations, driveways and sidewalks, and recycling/transfer stations; cations, such as landscaping and site prep. The radial-lift design also provides a lower weight and lower cost machine configuration than a vertical-lift model. Coleman says that with its higher lifting heights and extended reach at the top portion of the lift cycle, a vertical-lift machine works well for: Vertical-lift machines also feature increased dump angles for improved bucket cleanout and higher rated operating capacities. Curtis Goettel, brand marketing manager for New Holland, offers this rule of thumb: "If you're doing most of your work below eye level, go with a radial lift. If most of your work is above eye level, opt for a vertical-lift machine." Goettel lists other considerations when selecting a machine. Daily checks, preventive maintenance, and repair are more likely to occur if access to service points is quick and easy. And, as most contractors