If you're searching for "what is a skid steer," you're probably standing at a crossroads in equipment selection. You've seen the videos of machines spinning in circles. You've heard contractors swear by them. But you're also looking at a JCB 220 excavator for a trenching job, and the line between these machines isn't clear.
Here's the honest answer: there's no single "right" machine. It depends entirely on what you're doing, where you're doing it, and how fast you need it done. Let me break this down by the three most common scenarios I've seen over 4 years of reviewing equipment specs and field performance for contractors.
Scenario One: You're Doing High-Precision Trenching and Deep Excavation
If your primary work involves digging foundations, laying utility lines below frost line, or any job where depth and precision matter more than speed and maneuverability, you want an excavator. Specifically, a JCB 220 excavator or similar mid-size unit.
Why? An excavator's arm geometry gives you down-force and reach that a skid steer's bucket simply can't match. I've seen contractors try to dig a 6-foot-deep trench with a skid steer's backhoe attachment. It works—barely. But the cycle time is painfully slow, and you'll spend half your day repositioning the machine.
I still kick myself for not pushing harder on a client back in 2023. They insisted on using a skid steer with a trenching attachment for a 400-foot utility run. The result? Three days of work instead of one, plus a $2,200 overtime crew cost. The excavator rental would have been $800 for the same period.
Key specs to verify:
- Dig depth: A JCB 220 excavator typically reaches 14-16 feet. A skid steer with a backhoe attachment maxes out around 8-10 feet.
- Bucket breakout force: Excavators generate 8,000-12,000 lbf. Skid steers? Maybe 4,000-6,000 lbf with the right attachment.
- Stability: An excavator's outriggers keep you planted. A skid steer can tip if you overreach.
If I remember correctly, JCB's 220 excavator specs show a maximum dig depth of 15.7 feet and a bucket breakout force of 22,500 lbf. I'd have to check the current model year, but that ballpark is correct.
Scenario Two: You're Moving Material, Loading Trucks, or Working in Tight Spaces
Now, flip the script. If your day consists of loading trucks, grading a parking lot, moving topsoil, or working on a residential site where you can't swing a boom, you don't want an excavator. You want a skid steer loader—specifically a compact track loader if you're on soft ground.
This is where the "what is a skid steer" question gets its teeth. A skid steer isn't better or worse than an excavator; it's different. It's designed for speed, maneuverability, and versatility. The trade-off is depth and reach.
People think skid steers are just mini loaders. Actually, the steering mechanism—skidding the wheels or tracks on one side while the other side drives—gives them a zero-turn radius that no excavator can match. That's why they dominate on congested job sites.
I ran a blind test with our operations team a few years back: same job, same tonnage to move, JCB 457 wheel loader vs. a skid steer. The skid steer completed the cycle 40% faster in a confined area. The 457 is a beast for open lots, but in tight spaces, the skid steer's agility won hands down.
Watch out for this common mistake:
The assumption is that a skid steer can replace an excavator with the right attachments. The reality is that attachments add capability but don't change the machine's fundamental physics. A skid steer with a hydraulic auger can drill holes, but it won't reach 12 feet down. A skid steer with a grapple can clear brush, but it won't load a dump truck as fast as a wheel loader.
When to go with a skid steer:
- You need to move 50-100 cubic yards of material per day
- Your job site has tight gate access or confined corners
- You're switching between attachments multiple times per day
- Ground conditions are firm to moderate (use tracks for soft ground)
Scenario Three: You Need Both—But You Can Only Afford One
This is the reality most contractors face. You want the excavator's digging power and the skid steer's speed. But budgets aren't infinite. So what do you prioritize?
Here's the counterintuitive take: If you can only buy one machine, buy the skid steer first. Here's why.
A skid steer can do 80% of what an excavator does—just slower and less precisely. But an excavator can only do about 30% of what a skid steer does. You can't load trucks efficiently with an excavator. You can't grade with precision. You can't switch from bucket to forks to auger in ten minutes.
I know this goes against conventional wisdom. The "real" digger guys will tell you to get an excavator. But think about your cash flow: if a job goes sideways and you need to pivot, the skid steer's flexibility keeps you billing. The excavator is a specialist—great at one thing, useless for others.
To be fair, there are exceptions. If you're strictly doing utility work—water lines, sewer, storm drains—the excavator is non-negotiable. But for general contracting, land clearing, and site prep, start with the skid steer and rent the excavator when needed.
Granted, this requires more upfront planning. You'll need to budget for occasional excavator rentals. But over a year, the rental costs will likely be less than the downtime of having the wrong machine on site.
Per industry data from equipment rental platforms, mid-size excavator rentals run $1,200-2,000 per week. If you need one for 10-15 weeks a year, that's $12,000-30,000 in annual rental costs. Compare that to the $80,000-120,000 you'd pay for a new excavator, plus maintenance and storage.
How to Decide Which Scenario You're In
This is the part where most guides fall back on "it depends" and leave you hanging. Let me give you a practical framework.
Ask yourself three questions:
- What percentage of my work is below 4 feet deep? If it's more than 40%, you need an excavator or at least a backhoe loader like the JCB 3CX.
- How often do I change tasks in a single day? If you're switching between digging, loading, grading, and hauling, the skid steer wins.
- What's my deadline pressure? This is where the time certainty premium kicks in. If you have a fixed deadline and the cost of delay is high (think liquidated damages or lost bonuses), buy the machine that gives you the fastest cycle time for your primary task. For most site prep jobs, that's the skid steer.
In March 2024, I had a client who paid $400 extra for rush delivery on a skid steer attachment. The alternative was missing a $15,000 bonus for finishing a commercial pad early. The attachment paid for itself in that one job.
After getting burned twice by "probably on time" promises from rental yards, we now budget for guaranteed delivery on critical equipment. That means owning the primary machine and only renting for specialized tasks.
Final thought: Don't let the "what is a skid steer" question stall your decision. The skid steer isn't a strange, exotic machine—it's a tool for a specific job. Match the tool to your work, not to the hype. And if you're still unsure, start with the versatile option. You can always specialize later.
