Contracting and landscaping can be very lucrative businesses. Equipping your team with the machines they need to handle larger projects can increase the demand for your services. Understanding the types of equipment needed for a lawn care business such as a smart lawn scarifier or an electric lawn raker can open doors to the projects that lesser-equipped firms cannot handle. Our guide will zero in and provide you with a foundational understanding of the different types of skids and the jobs they can typically handle. With the information we provide in this short guide, you will be able to make an informed decision before getting the right type of skid on BestofTools. Varying situations will require specific tools for getting services completed efficiently. As you begin to research the types of services you would like to offer your clients, consider getting the machine that will best fit with your current budget and future goals.
As you prepare for your purchase, familiarize yourself with the differences in heavy machinery. The size of the skid is a great indicator of its uses. Landscapers often favor small loaders. For interior projects or tight passageways, a small skid-steer is a great choice. A small loader’s size and load capacity make its ideal for landscaping, final grading, adding soil and mulch, and site development projects. Small loaders can be fitted with hydraulic attachments and that versatility to a small demolition project.
Medium-size skid-steers and loaders bring an increase in power and load capacity to jobs that may require more than what a small loader can provide. Mid-size loaders can be retrofitted with tracks or tires, which allow them to drive over decorative walkways, asphalt, sidewalks, and other subgrades without causing wheel impressions (subgrade rutting). Medium-size machines are the perfect alternative for jobs where an excavator or backhoe is too large.
The largest industrial jobs require larger skid-steers. Large machines are ideal for excavation, drilling, and large grading projects. If your team handles large demolition projects, then the large skid is the machine to choose. Much like the other models, large skid-steers can be very versatile with the right hydraulic attachments. The load capacity allows large skids to remove large amounts of soil and to handle some forestry projects.
