Skid Steers

What Are Skid Steers Used For?

Skid steers are compact, versatile machines used to solve everyday jobsite problems where larger equipment may be too big, too slow, or too specialized. Their maneuverability makes them useful on construction sites, utility projects, commercial developments, roadwork support, landscaping work, and smaller grading areas.

Contractors commonly use skid steers to move dirt, gravel, pallets, debris, and other jobsite materials. They can also support trench backfill, finish grading, cleanup, light excavation, staging, and site prep before or after larger equipment completes the main production work.

For contractors who need one machine that can support many different jobsite tasks, a skid steer can be one of the most useful assets in the fleet.

When to Buy a Skid Steer

Buying a skid steer makes sense when the machine will be used often across multiple projects or as a regular support machine in your daily operations. If your crew frequently handles material movement, cleanup, grading support, backfill, or compact jobsite work, owning a skid steer can give you more control over availability and scheduling.

Consider buying a skid steer when you need to:

• Keep compact equipment available across multiple jobs
• Reduce repeated rental costs for equipment you use often
• Support recurring site prep, grading, loading, and cleanup work
• Control machine availability without depending on rental inventory
• Add a flexible support machine to your fleet
• Replace aging or unreliable compact equipment
• Standardize your fleet around preferred machine sizes or brands
• Build long-term equipment value instead of paying rental costs project by project

Buying can be especially practical when a skid steer will stay active throughout the year, support multiple crews, or help reduce downtime between project phases.

When to Buy vs. Rent a Skid Steer

Buying and renting both have a place in fleet planning. The right choice depends on utilization, job duration, capital availability, maintenance capacity, storage, transport, and how often your team needs compact equipment.

Buy a Skid Steer When:

• You use a skid steer frequently across multiple jobs
• Your crews need compact equipment available on short notice
• Rental costs are becoming a recurring expense
• The machine will support regular loading, grading, cleanup, or backfill work
• You want more control over setup, attachments, maintenance, and scheduling
• Your team can support transport, storage, and routine service
• The machine will help you complete more work with fewer delays

Rent a Skid Steer When:

• You only need the machine for a specific project phase
• The job requires a size or configuration you do not use often
• You want to avoid maintenance, storage, transport, and ownership costs
• You need temporary capacity during a busy project period
• Your owned machine is down and you need a short-term replacement
• You are testing whether a certain size machine fits your workflow

A good rule of thumb: rent when the need is short-term, specialized, or uncertain. Buy when the machine supports recurring work, frequent utilization, and long-term fleet strategy.

Available Skid Steer Options

AdvanceTrac works with contractors looking for skid steers across multiple size and capacity ranges. Our equipment knowledge includes Cat skid steer models ranging from compact 74 hp machines to larger 111 hp options, including:

• Cat 242D3, 74 hp, 7,200 lbs
• Cat 255, 74 hp, 9,500 lbs
• Cat 265, 74 hp, 10,500 lbs
• Cat 275, 111 hp, 12,500 lbs

Smaller skid steers can be a strong fit for tight access, lighter material handling, utility work, and general support tasks. Larger models provide more operating weight, power, and capacity for heavier site prep, loading, grading support, and production work.

These examples show the range of skid steer sizes AdvanceTrac can help contractors evaluate. Availability may vary, and if a specific machine is not on hand, AdvanceTrac can help source the right used or new skid steer for your needs.

Why Buy a Skid Steer Through AdvanceTrac?

Buying a skid steer is not just about finding an available machine. It is about finding the right machine at the right price, with the right condition, hours, size, capacity, and application fit.

AdvanceTrac understands construction equipment and works as a partner to contractors buying, selling, renting, or managing fleet needs. The team can help evaluate what type of skid steer makes sense based on your work, expected utilization, budget, and production requirements.

AdvanceTrac can help contractors:

• Find used or new skid steers that match project and fleet needs
• Compare machine size, horsepower, operating weight, and application fit
• Source equipment when the requested model is not currently available
• Identify strong purchase opportunities in the market
• Evaluate whether buying or renting makes more sense
• Support contractors looking to grow or modernize their fleet

For contractors who want more than a listing, AdvanceTrac can help simplify the buying process and guide the search toward equipment that fits the work.

Skid Steer Sales Support Across Texas and Surrounding States

AdvanceTrac supports contractors from its Texas equipment network, serving Central Texas, North Texas, and larger projects throughout Texas and surrounding states.

For qualified equipment purchases, AdvanceTrac can help source skid steers for contractors in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, and beyond depending on availability, logistics, and project needs.

Find the Right Skid Steer for Your Fleet

Looking to buy a skid steer? Contact AdvanceTrac to discuss your equipment needs, preferred size class, budget, application, and timeline. If the right machine is not currently available, our team can help source used or new skid steers and assist in finding the best available deal for your fleet.