Skid Steer Shootout for 2012

Today's skid steers come in a variety of sizes and with seemingly endless options to meet the needs of every customer. Whatever the application is, you can find a skid steer model to fit the bill. In addition to offering performance and comfort features designed to make operators more productive, manufacturers are also more focused than ever on making sure your skid steers are simple and easy to service, so you can get maximum uptime for optimum ROI. Following is an update of what leading manufacturers have to offer in their skid steer lines.

Bobcat M-Series: Harder to break, easier to fix

With the M-Series skid-steer loader engineering, Bobcat incorporated several design changes to protect a rental store's machine investment.

"We simplified the hydraulics from the ground-up, and removed 20 to 30 percent of the hoses out of the engine area, making it cleaner and easier to service," says Greg Rostberg, marketing manager. "The hydraulic hoses now run along the inside of the loader arms to prevent them from being snagged."

In addition, quick couplers are protected with a bar, and are more solidly mounted to a plate on the loader arms while the rear bumper was re-engineered to protect the tailgate. Meanwhile, recessed lighting prevents the tail lights from being broken.

Rostberg notes that many features were designed to make service and maintenance simple. For example, coolers were separated to help clean the radiator, while hydrostatic oil and a larger gauge make it easier to read fluid levels. Also, greasing points are easier to see, ensuring that that the renter or the rental house grease the machine more often, cutting down on major repairs.

The machine is also easier to tie down for transport compared with previous models, Rostberg says.

FAST FACTS:

• Automatic shutdown feature that monitors engine and hydraulic functions is standard on all models.
• Loaders with Selectable Joystick Controls (SJC) feature joysticks mounted
  to the seat
• Durable, patented liftarm design with a choice of vertical or radial lift path

LiuGong: Compact and midsize models to fit every application

LiuGong's 385A midsize production class skid steer is an all-round multipurpose machine for construction site work and powering numerous skid steer attachments, while the 365A compact skid steer is a versatile loader and tool carrier suitable for landscaping work and industrial lift and place applications.

LiuGong’s 82.6-hp 385A skid steer is the largest in LiuGong’s loader lineup. A turbo-charged Tier 4 interim Yanmar engine powers the 385A skid steer, making it well-suited for transporting heavy materials, relocating soil and demolition work. LiuGong’s 365A compact loader features a reliable 67.3-hp water-cooled four-stroke Yanmar engine. Both the 385A and 365A skid steers have industry-proven hydrostatic transmissions and offer travel speeds of up to 7.6 mph for quick jobsite mobility.

LiuGong’s 365A and 385A skid steers have maximum dump heights ranging from 7 ft. 4 in. up to 8 ft., featuring a radial lift path designed for dropping material into truck beds or over retaining walls. The standard level-lift function on both loaders provides stability to the 385A and 365A while transporting palettes of supplies or loose materials. The 385A has a rated load of 2,300 lbs. and static tipping weight of 4,600 lbs., while the 365A has a rated load of 1,750 lbs. and static tipping weight of 3,500 lbs. Breakout forces of up to 5,900 lbs. allow the loaders to easily dig into mounds of heavy material. LiuGong says the 365A’s cycle time is a short 8.7 seconds.

Both LiuGong skid steer models offer 3,000 psi of hydraulic pressure to power a variety of attachments and an auxiliary high-flow valve is available for work tools that require additional power with switchable flows from 21 to 31 GPM.

FAST FACTS: