Land clearing – Skid Steer machines

Skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheeled or tracked vehicles with the wheels mechanically locked in synchronization on each side, and where the left-side drive wheels can be driven independently of the right-side drive wheels.

The wheels typically have no separate steering mechanism and hold a fixed straight alignment on the body of the machine. Turning is accomplished by differential steering, in which the left and right wheel pairs are operated at different speeds, and the machine turns by skidding or dragging its fixed-orientation wheels across the ground.

Terrain, density of the vegetation, soil stability, moisture, species to be treated, environmental concerns and obstacles to work around are some of the considerations when choosing the right machine for the application.

The required finish and the needed production rates can also be a factor when determining the correct tool for the project. The successful land-clearing contractor will usually approach the job with a variety of units including tracked or wheeled mulching machines, excavator mulchers and skid steer tractors equipped with mulching attachments as well as other tools to handle the many tasks found on the average land-clearing site. Commercial or large acreage jobs could require the high production capabilities of the higher horsepower tracked or wheeled mulching tractors. For wet or swampy conditions, low ground pressure mulching tractors would fit the bill.

The required finish and the needed production rates can also be a factor when determining the correct tool for the project. The successful land-clearing contractor will usually approach the job with a variety of units including tracked or wheeled mulching machines, excavator mulchers and skid steer tractors equipped with mulching attachments as well as other tools to handle the many tasks found on the average land-clearing site. Commercial or large acreage jobs could require the high production capabilities of the higher horsepower tracked or wheeled mulching tractors. For wet or swampy conditions, low ground pressure mulching tractors would fit the bill.

These tractors are used by successful high production land clearing contractors in a variety of climates and in extreme ground conditions. Residential or urban interface projects could utilize smaller and lighter tracked mulching tractors effectively on softer ground conditions or where more work in confined space is needed. A variety of undercarriage specifications can reduce the ground disturbance or enable crossing of paved surfaces while offering the production rates needed.