10 best skid steer loaders

Before us is an American brand, widely known outside of its homeland. These mini loaders are not as popular in the world as Caterpillar brand equipment, but their technical characteristics are not lower, and often higher. The bottom line is that this concern produces a huge amount of equipment. They only have 9 loaders of the same type. This model is one of the most compact, and has a load capacity of only 500 kilograms, but there are models for 600, 800 and even 1000.

The manufacturer also produces many canopies for their machines, and often quite rare, such as jackhammers or conveyor belts. At the same time, the equipment itself is compatible with most American brands, that is, you can easily install a bucket from Caterpillar on it and vice versa. This is very convenient, which cannot be said about the filling of this loader, where the Japanese Yamaha engine is installed. It is not clear what caused this choice, but the very fact that the American mini loader works, albeit on the best, but the Japanese engine, is already amazing.

And this is a full-fledged frontal excavator from the Belarusian brand. And it's the best compact excavator on the market with both a radial and vertical lift system.The bottom line is that for frontal equipment, most often only hinged elements are replaced, and the boom remains unchanged. Here it became possible to completely change the design, turning, for example, a concrete mixer into a full-fledged frontal excavator.

In total, the machine supports 15 attachments, and for some American or European brands, this figure will seem ridiculous. But let us recall that here it is possible to completely change the arrow, that is, to change the purpose of the equipment as much as possible. This is the best option in terms of versatility, although it has a number of limitations. For example, all canopies installed on a given model must be of this particular manufacturer, which is not very convenient, since many brands are already compatible with each other. Well, it was precisely this shortcoming that did not allow us to place this model at the top of the rating and call it the best, but we hope that the developers will take this nuance into account.

Almost all mini loaders provide for the change of attachments. The road sweeper easily turns into a forklift, and the excavator into a concrete mixer. It is for the versatility that this technique is so valued. But what remains unchanged is the driving base. Loaders are divided into wheeled and tracked, at least that was the case until 2016, when the American company Locast released a universal version that provides for a change in the mobile base.

Yes, yes, this is how this technique can be used both on tracks, which is very convenient on unpaved surfaces, as well as in cramped conditions.And you can change the caterpillars to wheels, and it is easy to use the car, for example, for cleaning roads, or for moving around the city, where equipment on caterpillars has limitations. In Russia, this model has not yet become widespread, although it is relatively inexpensive. The problem is rather in the availability of spare parts and consumables.

The second largest concern from Russia, which produces special equipment for various purposes UraplVagonZavod. This plant produces both giant mining excavators and mini loaders. As is often the case with Russian manufacturers, the design is given a minimum of attention, but the technical specifications are on top. For example, this model has the most compact dimensions and easily fits in the back of a small truck. At the same time, the carrying capacity is 500 kilograms, which is quite worthy for such a “baby”.

Also, these machines are valued for ease of maintenance. All working parts are designed to be quickly replaced or repaired, and this often becomes a problem in foreign brands that are practically taken apart by cogs to get the right part. There will be no problems with this, as well as with the purchase of original spare parts. Any part can be ordered directly from the manufacturer. It will not only cost less, but is also manufactured with strict observance of all standards.

The equipment of most Russian manufacturers is easy to recognize by the most utilitarian design. Well, Russian engineers do not understand why make special equipment beautiful, and that's it.This has its own truth, and we do not undertake to judge the developers, since the main quality of any special equipment is its performance and reliability, and in this case, these criteria are at the highest level.

Let's start with the fact that the load capacity of this mini loader is exactly one ton, which is displayed in the title. With relatively small dimensions, the machine easily lifts such a weight and at the same time maintains stability, thanks to the radial lifting system. True, the filling of this model is not Russian. The German engine and transmission are adopted here, but everything else, including the wheelbase, is of purely local production. Of course, local production affected the price of the equipment itself, and the cost of spare parts. Firstly, they are easy to deliver, and it is even possible to order directly from the manufacturer. And, secondly, they cost an order of magnitude cheaper than foreign counterparts, even those produced in China and of dubious quality.

Bobcat equipment is a product of the American brand Caterpillar, widely known throughout the world. The main advantage of all equipment of this brand is high performance and quality, both parts and assembly. Before us is a wheeled version with a radial lifting system. The maximum load capacity of this "baby" is over 600 kilograms, and it is achieved due to the carefully thought-out arrangement of the supports.

The technique is also praised for its versatility. The manufacturer itself produces about 60 types of attachments. In addition, Caterpillar cooperates with a number of third-party manufacturers, which, under the brand's license, produce approximately 50 more types of canopies.Simply put, using just one mini front loader, you can assign a wide variety of tasks to it. Probably the only limitation is the excavator. This model cannot cope with this task, as it has a radial arrow. But there are other models in the brand line, with a vertical lift and boom, as well as on a caterpillar base.

Most manufacturers are trying to constantly expand their product range, but there are those who focus on only one type of equipment. The Japanese brand Takeuchi is just one of them. It produces exclusively tracked mini loaders with a bucket, and the entire model range is represented by only four types. It's hard to say whether it's good or bad, but the company has clearly achieved very good results in its cars. They are praised for almost everything, but first of all for the quality. The equipment is so stable that even with maximum load and work in the most difficult conditions, it does not require repair for many years.

This loader could be called the best, but due to the lack of diversity in the manufacturer, we cannot do this. The fact is that companies buying such equipment take many models for various purposes at once, and try to stick to one brand. Here it will not work, and it is likely that in the entire fleet there will be only one car of the Japanese brand Takeuchi, which is not very convenient in terms of repair and purchase of spare parts.

Despite the widespread use of European and American technology, Eastern manufacturers remain the market leaders. Komatsu is one of them. Its mini loaders are highly maneuverable and cheap in terms of maintenance. Maneuverability is achieved through the use of a caterpillar base, but unlike most of these models, soft tracks are used here that do not destroy the roadway. It is thanks to the tracks that the loader is able to turn with a minimum radius and work in the most cramped conditions.

Also, the advantages include the relative cheapness of repairs and maintenance. Yes, the total cost is quite high, and you can find cheaper equipment, but components and consumables are very cheap. In addition, the design of the loader is made in such a way that when replacing any part, the mechanic will not have difficulty accessing it.

One of the most famous manufacturers of special equipment in the world. It produces hundreds of different models, and not the last place in the manufacturer's line is occupied by mini loaders, represented by as many as nine models of various strengths and compactness. This model is the smallest, and despite this, its carrying capacity is over 600 kilograms. And the benefits don't end there.

Caterpillar equipment is valued primarily for its durability and build quality. Yes, spare parts for it, as well as repairs, are expensive, but as practice shows, equipment breaks down very rarely, and, ultimately, the cost no longer seems so high. Praise these loaders and their operators, who note the convenience and comfort.In general, American technology has a high level of comfort, even when it comes to mini loaders. It is really comfortable to be in the cab, and the view is generally not limited by anything, which allows the operator to have maximum control over what is happening around.

This is a frontal mini loader from a world-famous manufacturer. That rare case when the price is not too high, and the technique can be safely called the best of its kind. One of the main advantages here is the convenient location of the engine, and access to it. The loader is easy to repair, but such an arrangement and configuration is not accidental. The fact is that in this model the engine also serves as a counterweight, since the equipment is capable of lifting heavy loads to a very high height.

And here we come to the main advantage - the height of cargo delivery. The design of the loader is such that even when the bucket is raised to the maximum height, the equipment remains as stable as possible. This is achieved by several retaining elements located both in front and behind. At the same time, the supports do not interfere with either the bucket or the driver's view, which is also very important. Such a “baby” easily copes with tasks previously only available to large front loaders.