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You’ve probably heard of skid steer loaders and telehandlers…

• How do you know which one to buy?
• How do you know what is best for your farm’s unique needs?
• Where do you start with understanding the differences?

Look no further! We answer your questions here, and explain the difference between skid loaders and telehandlers.

WHAT IS A SKID STEER LOADER?

A skid loader is a small piece of equipment that is used for numerous tasks on a farm or construction site. The wheels are rigidly mounted to the frame and do not pivot to steer. Rather, the operator controls the speed of each side’s wheels independently. This allows the machine to make very tight turns or even pivot in place.

Skid steers are popular among farms and construction companies because they can be equipped with various attachments for many purposes. Popular uses of skid steer loaders include:

• Snow removal
• Construction
• Excavation
• Landscaping
• Trenching/Digging

There are many options for a skid steer’s engine and payload size, and they are equipped with either wheels or tracks. For more information and an in-depth look on skid steer loaders and their uses for your farm, check out this blog post.

WHAT IS A TELEHANDLER?

A telehandler is a large yet versatile piece of construction/farm equipment that is used for digging but also for reaching up high. It is equipped with a boom that raises and lowers, extends and retracts—and sometimes even swivels, depending on the model. 

Certain models allow you to steer the front and back wheels separately to make tight turns and even sometimes to move sideways!

Telehandlers are popular among farmers because they have many more attachment options than skid steers. Popular uses of telehandlers include:

• Moving hay bales
• Materials handling during construction
• Raising and lowering people and equipment
• Plowing snow

Telehandlers come in fixed or rotating options, and they have either wheels or tracks. For more information and an in-depth look on telehandlers and their uses for your farm, check out this blog post.

WHEN DO YOU USE A SKID STEER?

As you consider the kinds of jobs you do around your farm, keep these things in mind about skid steer loaders:

• Skid steers are able to raise and lower their arms, but not extend them. For that reason, they are good for jobs close to the ground. 
• Skid steers are ideal for bale handling due to their maneuverability and small size.
• They are usually extremely sturdy and strong, meaning they are great for minor demolition, leveling, debris and brush removal, and heavy materials handling. They are typically better suited to digging than telehandlers.

Agriteer carries Gehl skid steers. To buy used skid steers, various used skid steer attachments, and much more, check out our used farm equipment page.

Or if you have questions about anything—like track vs wheels, lift capacity, or even what (else) a skid steer can do, contact us today.

WHEN DO YOU USE A TELEHANDLER?

If those kinds of jobs are not what you have going on, or if you need a piece of equipment that will do even more than that, here’s what you need to know about telehandlers:

• The telescopic boom can allow a telehandler to act in place of a small crane. For that reason, they are good for jobs high off the ground.
• They can be fitted with a basket, and used to lift persons off the ground. 
• They are much larger and can carry bigger loads than the skid steer, good for extremely heavy materials handling and fork work, however the boom limits visibility compared to skid loaders.

Agriteer carries Manitou telehandlers. To peruse our selection of forklift telehandler attachments, telehandler lift options, compact telehandlers, rotating telehandlers, agricultural telehandlers, and more, visit www.agriteer.ag or any one of our showrooms.

CONCLUSION

A skid loader and telehandler are both very capable machines and there is quite a bit of overlap in capability. As always, the right equipment for the right job is the best and most efficient use of your time and money. If you still have questions about what is right for you, contact us at Agriteer today!

Or shop our inventory of used telehandlers, skid steer loaders, and other farming equipment, and take the next step toward purchasing the vehicle your farm needs!