Uses for Skid Steer Bucket Attachments

Skid steer loaders are marvelously versatile machines which are indispensable for road crews, forest crews, municipalities, contractors, demolition crews, farmers, and others. This utility is expanded when skid steers are equipped with specialized attachments which make them more capable of taking on a wider range of jobs.

Versatility here is the name of the game, and when it comes to versatility, there are skid steer bucket attachments, and then there is everything else. These are, all things considered, among the most utilitarian of all the skid steer attachments we sell here at Spartan Equipment, which is saying something.

Making such a claim warrants some substantiation, and we’re prepared to deliver. With that said, here are some of the top uses for skid steer bucket attachments. Just remember, this is a starting point. There are many other uses in addition to these.

Excavation

Far and away, excavation is one of the most practical uses of a skid steer bucket attachment. They may not be as specialized for digging as some other attachments like tree spades, trenchers, auger drives, backhoes, and excavators, but they are still excellent for general purpose digging applications.

This makes skid steer loaders equipped with bucket attachments well suited for work around construction sites, on farms, and elsewhere in which a large volume of earth needs to be excavated and moved quickly and efficiently.

All else being equal, a bucket attachment equipped with a tooth bar will be better for digging than one with a smooth cutting else. Many of our bucket attachments are configurable with tooth bars, and some of them have replaceable teeth. Also, if using a bucket attachment for digging, look for one that has side cutters. Volume here is also not as important as it would be if the attachment were to be used for moving material.

Grading

While we also sell specialized skid steer grader attachments, a bucket will do in a pinch. In fact, grading is often a necessary step after excavation, and it also is a vital function for road crews, construction workers, landscapers, and contractors.

A skilled skid steer operator can grade land by dragging the smooth bottom of the bucket backwards across the earth. If you don’t want to shell out the cash for a dedicated grader attachment, just get a quality bucket attachment with a wide, smooth bottom and use that instead - it’ll be good for a whole lot other than grading, anyway.

Compacting

Soil compaction is often necessary for a wide variety of reasons, such as before laying foundations or beginning construction. Compacting the soil fills in voids and increases the shear strength of soil by boosting density and the friction created by accumulated, interlocking particles.

There are specialized soil compactors we sell here at Spartan Equipment, but for light compaction work, such as after backfilling, you can use the base of a bucket attachment. It won’t do quite the standup job of a dedicated compactor, especially a vibratory compactor, but it’s better than nothing.

Demolition

Skid steer bucket attachments are actually really valuable attachments to have around on a demolition site - not only for cleaning up, but for performing the demolition work itself.

A skid steer operator armed with a bucket, and with a good deal of experience under his belt, can make short work of small structures like sheds and other small buildings. Buckets are tough, strong, and perfect for breaking down small structures in a controlled manner, which makes them invaluable in such applications.

Then, on top of that, bucket attachments are ideal for consolidating demolition debris, loading it into dumpsters or truck beds, and hauling it away.

Bulldozing, Clearing Land, and Creating Firebreaks

Not only are buckets useful for breaking down small structures, they can also be useful for clearing land and creating firebreaks.

A good bucket before a skilled operator will make sure work of trees and thick brush, and can even be used to rip out stumps. Afterwards, buckets, like dozer blades, can be used to consolidate cleared debris into burn piles.

Disaster Cleanup

Bucket attachments are not only great for demolition work, they can be highly useful for disaster cleanup, too. They’re great for lifting, loading, and pulling away scrap materials, concrete, rubble, wire, pipes, and other loose materials left in the wake of a disaster.

If using a bucket for these applications, consider a grapple bucket with hydraulic tines which will be able to exhibit greater dexterity, and if in a flooded area, consider a bucket with a slotted bottom that will allow water to drain through.

Clearing Snow

We make specialized snow and litter buckets that are expressly designed for clearing large volumes of snow and loose material. These bucket attachments are perfect for road crews and contractors who are tasked with keeping parking lots, driveways, and other large rights of way clear after a significant snowfall.

Moving and Loading Loose Materials

After excavation, this is probably the next top use of skid steer bucket attachments. Whether you need to move earth, brush, gravel, sand, fertilizer, feed, bricks, clay, or something else, a bucket attachment makes it easier.

And, on top of that, we also sell high dump buckets that make lifting and transporting large volumes of material - as well as loading into hoppers and dump trucks - a lot easier.

Cleaning Up Feed Bunks and Grain Depots

While we also sell bunk scraper attachments, buckets are good for this too. If you have a big depot that you need cleared of feed, fertilizer, grain, seed, silage, or anything else of that nature, a bucket attachment will get the job done.

American-Made Skid Steer Bucket Attachments That Will Never Surrender

This is only a list of some of the more popular and practical uses of skid steer bucket attachments. There are, as mentioned, many others.

Whatever your intended use, get your skid steer bucket attachments at Spartan Equipment. Like all of our skid steer attachments and mounting plates, our bucket attachments are made in the United States using American steel only - never cheap Chinese imports - and will Never Surrender.