Skid Steer Attachments Give You a Productivity Bump
Skid steer and compact track loaders are the Swiss Army knives of light utility equipment. When equipped with the right set of attachments for your operation, these tool carriers can vastly improve your productivity.
But which attachments are right for you, and which ones are worth the investment?
The right attachments can save time and labor when performing specific tasks — from lifting bales to grading/preparing a seedbed to performing odd jobs around the farm. Among the most-hardworking attachments that can help you get through your chores more efficiently are:
Digging tools. If you’ve ever had to dig or drill into tough ground, you understand why digging and drilling attachments are important. For soil that is difficult to penetrate, consider a planetary drive auger or post-hole driver attachment that can get these jobs done quickly and effortlessly.
Hay-moving attachments. For moving, lifting and stacking hay, the right hay attachment for your equipment saves you time — not to mention your back. This one’s a must-have for the livestock feeder or hay producer, especially if you prefer large round bales.
Manure-handling attachments. A manure fork moves loose hay and manure and can be used with a grapple to transport branches or limbs; a manure scraper draws material away from walls, corners or fences.
Multiple-purpose attachments. A versatile 4-in-1 bucket functions as a loader, grapple, dozer blade or high-dump bucket.
Silage defacers. With this attachment, you can remove hay and corn silage and maintain a smooth, compacted bunker face for reduced spoilage and easy access. The best defacers maintain the haylage stem length for improved palatability and digestibility, yielding higher milk production.
Snow attachments. The right snow-removal attachments can substantially increase your productivity on the farm during winter.
Rotary cutters. These attachments make quick work of large-scale brush clearing and fence-line maintenance.
When considering attachments, keep in mind that you can rent or purchase them outright. Base your decision on usage. For example, if you can use an attachment at least 60 percent of the time, that’s probably the right attachment for your operation. But if a project is more short-term, renting might be the better option.
Work with your Case IH dealer and select attachments that have been designed and tested by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for use with the OEM’s equipment. OEM attachments are adapted for compatibility and designed for the best fit, productivity and performance.
Attachments are an easy, cost-effective way to get the most from your skid steer. You might not purchase a new skid steer or compact track loader every few years, but you can vastly expand its usefulness with the right combination of attachments.