Essential Tips for Renting a Skid Steer

Renting a skid steer can be a useful business decision. You may only need the skid steer for a short period of time, so purchasing the equipment wouldn’t make sense. Or maybe your company has a tight budget and it’s not a good time to make a purchase, but you still need a skid steer. There are plenty of situations where a rental skid loader can be the ideal approach. When you find yourself in that kind of situation, use the following guide to find the best skid steer rental for your needs, and then visit Bobcat of York, Frederick, Hagerstown, and Adams County to see skid steer rental options.

1. Analyze Your Project Needs

One advantage of getting a skid steer rental is that you can pick a model that is tailored to a given project. If you were to buy the equipment, you’d need a general-purpose model that is broad enough to suit a range of projects. But with rental skid loaders, it’s advantageous to get a model hyper-specific for certain needs.

Think about the relevant factors of your project. This includes the material(s) you’ll be handling, the size of your worksite, and your budget. Defining the important factors in advance will make it easier to find a rental skid steer that suits your needs.

2. Narrow Your Search Based on Size

The size of the skid steer will play a large role in how well it suits your project. In general, the larger the equipment, the more powerful it will be.

Here you want to strike a balance. Get something too big and it’ll cost you. The rental price will be higher and it’ll consume more fuel. Plus, it might not fit your worksite. Get something too small and your efficiency will be slowed down, which will cost you in productivity. Try to get a rental skid loader that is the right size for your needs.

3. Factor in the Optimal Lifting Capacity

The lifting capacity also plays a key role in how well the skid steer rental suits your needs. Lifting capacity is pound-rated. For example, a small capacity would be around 1,500 pounds while a large capacity would be over 2,200 pounds. The lifting capacity correlates to power performance since it relates to the skid steer’s boom and its bucket strength.

The material you’re handling will influence the lifting capacity you’ll need. For example, some materials require a large lifting capacity, even if you don’t need to lift the load to a large height.

4. Consider Rider Comfort

Rider comfort may sound like a luxury, but it actually affects productivity. An uncomfortable operator will have a harder time staying focused and reaching a high work output. Invest in comfort features and you’ll likely see an increase in productivity. 

For example, advanced suspensions help keep the riding experience smooth even if the work area is on rough terrain. Another feature to consider is a closed cab with heaters and air conditioners to keep the internal environment comfortable. If you’ll be using the rental skid steer for many days or for a long period of time each day, you’ll want to invest more in operator comfort features. 

5. Decide What Attachments to Get

Skid steers can be compatible with a range of attachments. These attachments can be anything from a stump grinder to an auger. They improve the versatility of your skid steer, allowing you to tackle a wider variety of tasks. Think about which attachments you want and be sure your rental skid loader is compatible with them.

We hope you found our guide useful! If you want to explore rental skid loaders, visit our one of our dealership locations in York and Hanover, PA, as well as Frederick and Hagerstown, MD. Our friendly staff can chat with you about our various skid steer rental options and help you find the perfect fit for your needs and budget. We proudly serve those in cities such as Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland. Stop by your nearest location today!