New or improved, these skid steer models take it to the next level.
Increased visibility
JCB’s 260 skid steer loader’s single-arm “Powerboom” design features a side entry door that increases operator visibility by 60 percent and provides a safer machine entrance and exit. Thirty different attachments are available with the skid steer, and the optional Smooth Ride System (SRS) helps transport materials across rough terrain.
Turbocharged pow
Gehl’s V330 skid loader is powered by an 84-horsepower Yanmar turbocharged diesel engine. With an electronic-engine control and foot throttle, the loader can be operated at partial throttle allowing for lower sound levels and reduced fuel consumption. The lift arm achieves near-vertical height of more than 131 inches.
Handle various jobs
Case Construction Equipment’s Alpha Series includes nine models of skid steers, ranging in horsepower and operating capacities. The line-up has three vertical-lift models for lift-and-carry applications and six radial-lift skid steers to handle jobs involving digging, prying and pushing. Operators will also find added comfort with the addition of wider cabs.
Wheels or tracks?
Volvo Construction Equipment’s C-Series features nine models, five wheeled and four tracked. In addition to a large range of horsepower and operating capacities, the machines operate a single loader arm, improving visibility and safety. The cabs have been redesigned to offer more comfort, and they tilt forward for improved service access.
More refined
Caterpillar’s B-Series 3 includes five skid steer models that have been fine-tuned in the areas of capability, reliability, safety and operation. One model, the 242B3, also has a larger engine and more powerful hydraulics than the previous model. One specific element that was redesigned is the dead-engine lower valve to protect operators if the machine runs out of fuel or stalls with lift arms raised.
Traveling faster
John Deere’s mid-frame 318D and 320D skid steer loaders will soon be available with a two-speed option so landscapers can travel faster across jobsites. For manual and E/H controlled machines, the option increases ground speed by as much as 62 percent. Higher speeds can be achieved with the flip of a toggle switch on the left-hand joystick. Professionals can expect the upgrade by the end of the year.
Improved lift height
Bobcat’s S750 skid steer loader is the newest addition to the company’s M-Series loader line. Powered by an 85-horsepower turbo-diesel engine, the S750 replaces the S300 with improved lift height, now totaling 11 feet, and greater hydraulic flow of 23 gallons-per-minute standard. The new model has an operating weight of 8,730 pounds and rated operating capacity of 3,200 pounds.
By Jennifer M. Holloway
