| What is a skid loader? | | | | has spread to become a highly valued piece of heavy |
| A skid loader is a stiff frame machine with mechanical | | | | machinery at construction and engineering site around |
| arms that can be fitted with attachments for a wide | | | | the globe. |
| variety of different tools, including a backhoe, | | | | What are these machines used for? |
| hydraulic breaker, pallet forks, angle broom, sweeper, | | | | Due to the wide array of attachments available for |
| auger, mower, snow blower, stump grinder, tree | | | | these vehicles , they have many uses, but mostly |
| spade, trencher, and a wheel saw. | | | | are employed for scrape material from one place to |
| Modern skid loaders come in two varieties, a four | | | | another, carry materials in a bucket and proceed to |
| wheeled system and a rubber track version. Wheeled | | | | load them into a truck or trailer. |
| skid loaders are typically are four-wheel drive and for | | | | Skid loaders can also be used in tight digging |
| additional maneuverability, the left and right wheels | | | | situations where factors limit the practically of using a |
| systems are independent. The track version also | | | | large excavator, like digging a basement under an |
| referred to as a track loader provides for better | | | | existing house. In this situation a skid loader would |
| digging and pushes performance in higher end models | | | | make use of a ramp at the edge of the site. The |
| due to less ground disturbance and better traction in | | | | loader would proceed to use the ramp to carry |
| un-ideal environments like mud and sand. | | | | materials out of the hole. The skid loader would |
| History of the skid loader machine | | | | reshape the ramp by making it steeper and longer as |
| The first three-wheeled front-end loader was | | | | the excavation deepened. |
| invented in 1957 by two brothers, Cyril and Louis | | | | Differences between a front loader machine and a |
| Keller, in a small machinist shop in Rothsay Minnesota. | | | | skid loader machine |
| The brothers conceived the idea to help a nearby | | | | The pivot arms on a skid loader lay behind the driver, |
| farmer with the ignoble task of cleaning up manure | | | | alongside the side of the vehicle. |
| for a pole barn. They wanted to help him, and out of | | | | Major machine manufacturers |
| this collaboration the first skidder was born. | | | | Major manufacturers for skid loaders include the |
| This early machine was eventually purchased by | | | | Bobcat Company, Mustang, Case, New Holland, |
| Melrose Manufacturing Company and the Kellers | | | | Komatsu, and Caterpillar. |
| brought on to continue development. Since then it | | | | |