Page 64 • April 20, 2022 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Skid Steers, Compact Track Loaders & Attachments Section • Construction Equipment Guide
Stand-On Skid Steer Attachments Helping Boost Efficiency By Brant Kukuk SPECIAL TO CEG
to move the branch in one trip. Without a grapple bucket and a large skid steer, the crew would need to take time to cut the branch up into smaller pieces that could be carried by hand or pieces that would fit into a standard bucket.
Hardscape, landscape and tree care professionals are feeling the heat, and it is not because of the warmer months approaching. Trencher The increased demand for work, While dedicated trenchers are incredtighter deadlines and the industry’s ibly popular and certainly have a place ongoing labor shortage are issues many in underground construction, trencher contractors face. In fact, according to attachments offer an efficient alternathe 2021 Green Industry Benchmark tive. Report, attracting and retaining employTrencher attachments for stand-on ees is the most frequently cited issue for skid steers are typically available in 4-, landscapers with 70 percent of respon6- and 8-in. widths and are ideal for dents reporting difficulties in finding installing everything from irrigation and workers. drainage systems to utilities and fiber. While the labor shortage is enough to The biggest benefit of a trencher make any contractor sweat, many are attachment is that it eliminates the need looking to their equipment to help them for a second machine on a job site, do more with less workers. which benefits contractors dealing with One machine that is alleviating a labor shortage in two ways. First, by some of the pressure is the stand-on eliminating time needed for mainteskid steer. With its increased power, nance or transportation of a second easy maneuverability and maximum versatility, these machines are helping A grapple bucket is similar to the standard bucket, but with hydraulic clamps, so it can be machine and giving the crew valuable smaller crews stay productive, meet used to hold unstable materials such as tree branches, stumps, large boulders, unstable minutes back in their day. And second, by cutting back on training time needed deadlines and boost jobsite efficiency. bricks and other landscape materials. to learn multiple machines, which And, with the ability to effortlessly grapple bucket. enables new employees to start contributing switch out a variety of attachments, conGrapple Bucket A grapple bucket is similar to the standard to the jobsite immediately. tractors can ensure their smaller crews stay The bucket attachment is the bread and successful. butter of attachments for most stand-on skid bucket, but with hydraulic clamps, so it can Hydraulic Power Fork But with a plethora of attachments to steer operators and is the ideal attachment be used to hold unstable materials such as A hydraulic power fork is an essential choose from, it can be hard for contractors to for smaller crews. It helps operators safely tree branches, stumps, large boulders, unstaattachment for loading and unloading mateknow which attachments will maximize lift and carry large piles of material that need ble bricks and other landscape materials. For example, if a contractor needed to rial from a trailer or truck bed and moving it their ROI. Here are three stand-on skid steer to be relocated or disposed of on a job site. attachments that will help contractors mitiThere are a variety of bucket types to move a heavy tree branch across a job site, a across tricky terrain. It’s useful when movgate the pressures of the industry’s labor choose from depending on the application, grapple attachment equipped with a large ing materials like sod, bricks, trees and shortage. including a dirt bucket, 4-in-1 bucket and stand-on skid steer would allow the operator see EFFICIENCY page 66
Trencher attachments for stand-on skid steers are typically available in 4-, 6- and 8-in. widths and are ideal for installing everything from irrigation and drainage systems to utilities and fiber.
The bucket attachment helps operators safely lift and carry large piles of material that need to be relocated or disposed of on a job site.
