Buyer's Guide

Used Skid Steer Loader Buyer's Guide – Tips and Tricks

Need to add a Used Skid Steer Loader to your fleet of construction vehicles? Equipment Distributors, Inc. can help. Here's what you need to know before you purchase a used Bobcat or any other brand skid steer.

Skid Steer Loaders (better known as a "Bobcat") are one of the most versatile pieces of construction equipment you can buy. Their compact size, maneuverability, and ability to easily switch among a huge range of different attachments makes them valuable in landscaping, manufacturing, general construction, recycling, and many other industries.

Basic feature rundown
Buying tips
Used Skid Steer Loader Pricing
Choosing the right company to buy your used Skid Steer Loader

Skid Steer Loader Basic Features

The term "skid steer" refers to how the vehicle gets around. Instead of turning like a car, by angling the front wheels to change direction, skid steer loaders turn by driving the wheels on one side of the machine while stopping the wheels on the other. The loader "skids" on the stopped wheels and pivots around them - skid steers can completely turn around within their own length.
Many people use the brand name "Bobcat" to refer to the entire class of machines. While most dealers will know what you mean, it's best to use the generic terms "skid steer loader" or "skid steer" when talking about these machines in general. The Bobcat Company will appreciate it, too. There are eight or 10 significant manufacturers of skid steers, Bobcat, Caterpillar, Case, New Holland, Volvo, Kubota, Gehl, Mustang, John Deere as well as others, so don't get pigeonholed into one just by using the wrong term.

Skid steer loaders are built on four wheels set very closely together. The engine is usually in the rear, just behind the operator's seat in the cab. Two arms run on either side of the cab from back to front and connect to the attachment that actually does the work: a bucket for scooping, forks for moving pallets, or any of dozens of other attachments.
Switching between multiple attachments lets you get much more use out of your skid steer loader. Different sizes and styles of buckets are used for different types of digging. Other common attachments include augers (for boring holes), root grapple (for pinching or gripping), hydraulic hammers and a vast assortment of others. (See Attachments) most skid steer loaders now use the same "quick attach" couplers to secure the attachment to the front of the unit, allowing you to share attachments between most major brands such as Bobcat, Caterpillar, Case, New Holland, Volvo, Kubota, Gehl, Mustang and others. (For more information on Attachments, read our buyer's guide.)

Buying Tips

Like any peice of heavy-duty construction equipment, skid steer loaders suffer significant wear and tear over time, so careful evaluation is essential. A thorough demonstration is by far the best way to evaluate a used Bobcat or other brand skid steer loader.

Be prepared to spend at least 30 to 60 minutes using the loader: dig a hole, scoop loose fill, roughly level a filled spot, do whatever your most common activities are. Drive the loader in all modes and at different speeds. If you're buying multiple attachments, take the time to switch them out and try them, too.

We invite our customers to demonstrate our machines or even bring their own mechanic to inspect the unit further. If this is not possible and we ship to you direct you can depend on our Money Back Guarantee for peace of mind.
An external inspection is also important. Look for any signs of leaking hydraulics or oil, fresh paint that might be covering rust, and any other signs of damage. Dents and dings are no reason not to buy a used skid steer – but you can use them as a starting point to ask what repairs have been done.

The first major consideration is the physical size of the machine: carefully measure any gates, garages, or in other small spaces your skid steer needs to fit through. Typical skid steers range in width from about 3' to over 6', while heights are usually between 5' and 7'. Knowing your height and width limitations is a very simple way to narrow your choices.

A second point to address is how high you need the loader to lift: if you need it to fill a 9' high dump truck, make sure the model you choose has the appropriate dumping height. This is usually measured as the "height to hinge pin," meaning the pivot point between the arms of the loader and the bucket. It can range from around 8' on smaller models to over 10' on the largest.
Most skid steer purchases are driven by these two factors - physical size and dumping height - because they're often inflexible. The third main consideration is lifting capacity, also known as operating capacity. It's also very important, but you'll usually have more flexibility here. As lifting capacity increases, the physical size will increase as well. If your primary consideration is access to tight places, you may have to settle for slightly less carrying capacity.

According to Compact Equipment magazine, the most popular size is the 1,750 lb to 2,200 lb range. Generally, anything over 2,200 lbs is considered a heavy-lift skid steer. In recent years, several manufacturers have introduced skid steers that can handle over 3,000 lbs, but businesses that require more than 4,000 lbs. capacity often turn to full-size front-end loaders or other heavy equipment instead.

Used Skid Steer Loader Pricing

A New Skid Steer Loader is not cheap: they can range from $19,000 at the low end to $69,000 for the largest models fully equipped.

Most Skid Steer Loaders are built with 8,000 to 10,000 hours expected operating lifespan; so many used skid steer models are available with good operating lives left in them. Two- to three-year old models with a couple of thousand hours on them can be about 25% to 30% cheaper than new models, while older skid steer loaders with a little more wear are 40% to 50% less than a new unit. At Equipment Distributors, Inc. our goal is to provide our customers with the best quality pre-owned skid steer loaders in the industry. (See Certified Inspection)

Choosing The Right Company for Your Used Skid Steer Purchase

Not all construction equipment dealers or brokers are very familiar with used skid steer loaders. In some cases, the dealer or broker may do more business in full size equipment, or sell mostly new equipment, while used skid loaders represent only a small portion of their sales. Here at Equipment Distributors, Inc. we specialize in the sale of used skid steer loaders. We know that due to the fact that we sell such a high volume of used skid steer loaders we will be able to do a better job of helping you make the right choice.

The stress and wear that skid steer loaders undergo also means that your relationship with the dealer or seller is important for preventative maintenance and repairs – especially when buying used. You'll want to make sure the company you choose is familiar with used Bobcats and other brands of skid steer loaders, has excellent service policies and staff, and is someone you'll be able to work with easily. Read more about Equipment Distributors, Inc’s. Certified Inspection Money Back Guarantee or Warranties Available
Some important questions to ask when evaluating, which company you, will do your purchasing with.

How long have you been in business?
What type of Warranties do You Offer?
Do they offer a Money Back Guarantee?
What kind of parts inventory do you keep on site?
How many technicians do you have? What is their training and experience like?
Do you do on-site service if my excavator needs repairs?

Choose a company you feel is honest with you and who is easy to work with: those impressions are often accurate. Saving a few thousand dollars on a used skid loader is insignificant compared to the ongoing costs you’ll incur over the years you may own the machine. Instead of focusing on that initial price, concentrate on establishing a relationship with a used skid loader dealer who is trustworthy and easy to work with.

Equipment Distributors, Inc. sells the finest recondition skid steer loaders in North America and will give you everything you need to know to start shopping for a pre-owned skid steer loader, including attachments used and new, how to choose them for your job application, to prepare you for the correct purchase. Once you've got enough information, you can Order On-Line with us or contact us directly. Fill out one simple form and we'll match you with the best equipment for your job. Equipment Request Form

Equipment Distributors Inc.
503 Pulaski Highway Joppa, MD 21085
To contact us call 410-538-6000 or send us an email!