Skid steer loaders are among the most versatile machinery out there. You can use them for various tasks: excavation, earthmoving, landscaping, snow removal, construction site cleanup, etc. These are pretty much conventional ways to use skid steer loaders, but what about their other uses?
You see, you can use skid steer loaders in more creative ways, ways that never even crossed your mind. Feeling intrigued? Well, keep reading this article, as it will teach you some unexpected and creative uses of skid steer loaders.
Unusual Ways To Use Your Skid-Steer Loader
Without further ado, let’s see some less usual ways to use a steer loader. Some might surprise you, while others might already be a part of your everyday work. Of course, keep in mind that you might need special attachments and additional tools for some of these activities:
1. Orchard Management
Since skid-steer loaders are so compact and agile, you can use them when working in your orchard. For example, you can drive it between the rows of trees and spread mulch, collect fallen fruits, add fertilizers, and even prune the trees. Basically, your options are endless, and you just need to think outside the box!
2. Fence Building
Maybe you want to build a fence or tear the old one and replace it with the new fence? Well, this is another task you can finish with the help of a skid steer loader. You can use this machine to dig holes, transport fence posts, clear the fence line from vegetation and debris… Again, your imagination is your only limit, and you might need some additional equipment.
3. Hay Handling
Do you have livestock that you need to feed, and the whole process seems a bit too hard to be done manually? Hay blocks can be quite heavy, and they also take up so much space when being carried. A skid steer loader can help you transport these hay blocks and place them in front of your animals. You can even use this machine to transport and deliver feeding pellets and other types of livestock feed.
4. Stump Removal
Is there a stubborn stump sitting in your backyard that’s simply refusing to move no matter what you try? Why don’t you use your skid steer loader to grind the stump and then dig it out of the ground? Then, you can use it to collect all the debris and transport it to the waste collection spot.
5. Pond Installation
Do you know what your backyard is missing? A small pond! Use your skid steer loader to excavate the hole big enough to make your own pond. You can also use it to transport large rocks, filters, pipes, or other things that you might need for pond installation.
6. Serving As a Mobile Workstation
Picture this: you are at your worksite, doing something important, and you have just realized you didn’t bring the necessary tools to do the work. You might think it would never happen to you, but when you use dozens of different tools, it is easy to forget something. On the other side, it is impractical to carry all of your tools with you. Well, unless you attach your toolboxes and equipment to your skid steer loader and use it as a mobile workstation.
7. Firefighting
Some terrains are not accessible by fire trucks, which can pose a huge problem if they get caught in fire. In such situations, one can get their fire-fighting equipment and drive their skid steer loader to the burning area, as skid steer loaders are great for inaccessible terrains.
8. Setting Up Vertical Gardens
Are you dreaming of setting up a vertical garden on top of your home or another building? That requires a lot of heavy lifting: you will need to lift the planting containers, garden soil, and other materials. To make it easier, why don’t you use your skid steer loader to do all the heavy lifting for you?
9. Mixing Cement
Everyone who has worked in construction knows one thing: using a mixing truck to mix small amounts of cement is wasteful and inconvenient while doing it manually is tedious and hard. That’s why you can attach a mixing bowl to the auger drive of your skid steer loader and finish the work before you blink. 
10. Mowing
Believe it or not, you can mow grass by using a skid steer loader. There are several different mower attachments you can use, depending on the type of mowing you plan to do. For example, a brush mower attachment or a side-mounted flail mower attachment.
What Makes Skid Steer Loaders So Popular?
By now, you have seen many possible applications of skid steer loaders. Still, someone could ask, why don’t you use other machines instead? Well, a good skid steer loader comes with several benefits. Apart from versatility, they are also easy to use, which means you can quickly figure out how to use them.
They are also compact, which is great for storing them when not needed. However, it also means you can use them in tight spaces, especially since they are easy to maneuver. Don’t let their smaller size fool you, though: these machines are powerful and durable.
Skid steer loaders are rather affordable when buying, but they also save you money in the long run. You can use various attachments on them, which means you can use them instead of other, more costly equipment.
Of course, you need to be careful when choosing a skid steer loader because you want to buy the one that matches the description above. The AHM skid steer loader is your best choice, as it comes with all the abovementioned benefits, plus a 1-year warranty and lifetime tech support. Make sure to check it out and see it for yourself!
Conclusion
Skid Steer loaders are extremely versatile machines with dozens of potential uses. In this article, we have described ten creative ways to use this machine, but there are many other ways you can use it. With that in mind, it is easy to see why this machine could replace most of the other heavy machinery.
