Man’s Best Friend

Australia is known for its wild creatures. Fascinating beasts like the platypus, the kangaroo and the Tasmanian devil have been found crawling along the shores of the giant island continent. So, it should be no wonder that Australia’s contributions to the machine market are just as curious.

Back in the 1980s, in particular, a strange, mixed breed of mechanical beastie was being spotted more and more on residential neighborhoods and rental lots. Locals called it a Kanga or a Dingo – today we call it a compact utility loader, mini skid steer or man’s best friend on small construction sites. Companies with names like Jaden Engineering and Riga’l Universal Loaders Pty. Ltd. were some of the first to start designing these gnarly little work machines. Fitted with tracks or wheels and equipped with little arms that could run a variety of different hydraulic work tools (buckets, breakers, augers, trenchers, pallet forks and any other implement), these versatile tool carriers found instant popularity in the landscape and rental industries.

These hybrid machines are very much like the North American variety of skid steer loader, but compressed into a smaller work platform. Compact utility loaders are designed to work in more cramped residential or construction worksites where only wheelbarrows could fit before, morphing into almost any work application – augering for fencing, carrying buckets of mulch, trenching for drainage, hauling pallets of brick and cutting down on extra hand labor.

Slowly, these multitasking work mules migrated to North American shores. In 1984, the first compact utility loaders began production in Canada at a company called Leon’s Mfg. Co. – the model was the Ramrod Mini Skid Steer 230 (named for its 23-kg lift capacity). Of course, the market didn’t take off until more than a decade later, when landscape pioneer Toro struck an agreement with Riga’l Universal Loaders Pty. Ltd. to begin selling its wheeled Dingo units.

“In the mid 1990s, Toro was working on its design for a tracked unit when it discovered a wheeled unit in Australia that met many of its initial design objectives,” says Greg Lawrence, marketing product manager of Dingo Products at the Toro Co. “In 1997, Toro licensed the design and began selling wheeled Dingo units in the United States and many foreign countries. Toro introduced tracked units in 1999. Since then, the selection has expanded for contractors.”

While wild red Dingos and hard-nosed Ramrods were the first breeds of machine in North America, they certainly would not be the last. Compact utility loaders with brand names like Bobcat, Ditch Witch, Vermeer and Boxer have all gotten into the small utility loader market in the 10 years following. Today, it has evolved into one of the growing machine markets in the compact equipment industry.

“These compact machines will continue to gain power and additional labor saving features. With more additions to these units and the variety of attachment options, more and more contractors will begin to use them not only in the United States and Australia, but around the world,” says Karrie Crocker, marketing manager with Compact Power.

Evolution of a Species

The versatility of compact utility loaders has allowed these tool carriers to colonize a variety of markets since leaving the land Down Under. Today, many North American manufacturers produce these little loaders – Toro, Bobcat, Vermeer, Ditch Witch, Ramrod and Compact Power (which includes three brands – Boxer, Kanga and PowerHouse). MultiOne (the Italian equipment manufacturer) and Gehl (the Wisconsin compact machine magnate) both make unique ride-on compact utility loaders, fitted with articulating bodies and seats. The two main North American industries are still landscape and rental.

“This continues to be a growth market as the machines increase productivity while reducing the need for additional manual labor which is already in tight supply,” explains Jon Kuyers, compact rubber track segment manager for Vermeer. “I would estimate the market size for the compact utility loader segment to be over 5,000 units with a growth rate of 5 to 10 percent depending on the geographical area.”

By replacing expensive hand labor, maximizing manpower and eliminating the cost of repairing turf damage caused by larger equipment, landscape contractors have quickly bolstered profits using these lightweight, compact machines. They easily maneuver through standard gates and doorframes, travel and operate in areas where only hand labor could otherwise work, move across sensitive turf with minimal ground and site disturbance and can be transported on a single-axle trailer.

“Since landscaping requires the use of many specialty tools at any given time – and the tools can vary from job to job and season to season – the landscape contractor’s fleet is an ideal home for a versatile machine that can serve as an auger, trencher, vibratory plow, hydraulic breaker, backhoe, leveler, tiller, cultivator, hydraulic blade, power box rake and more,” says Lawrence. “With the simple addition of rotary brooms, hydraulic blades or snow throwers, the compact utility loader enables even small businesses to easily expand their service offering beyond seasonal to year-around.”

Compact utility loaders also are popular in the rental industry. Professional contractors will supplement their fleets with a rental unit. In addition, homeowners rent these units on the weekends to accomplish their own do-it-yourself projects.

“25 to 30 percent of the market is rental and 60 percent is contractors – landscape and construction – and 5 to 10 percent is personal or homeowners,” says Bill Muetze, technical manager with Compact Power.

Although most manufacturers and their dealers are focused on landscaping and rental as primary markets, construction is certainly a valid industry where the compact utility loader concept can be applied. A unit with a trencher attachment can be used for installing new utility lines on a construction jobsite, as easily as it can be used for trenching in grounds maintenance applications.

“Landscaping, rental and construction are the three markets that continue to be strong,” explains Kevin Smith, product manager for Ditch Witch mini skid steers. “But we’re seeing the interest from the construction industry continue to grow with these. Everybody’s spaces are getting more confined.”

Natural Selection

A healthy herd of big manufacturers and contracting professionals is keeping the North American compact utility loader market strong and flourishing. The robust industry is allowing various machine brands to focus on creating new technologies, features and product lines. Natural selection is the driving force behind evolution, so companies are designing their fleets around what their customers want, which is pushing constant innovation, variation and customization.

Each company has engineered its own set of unique models and inventive technologies: ride-on, stand-on and foldable stand-on platforms; hydraulic flow ratings from 6 to 22 gpm; gas and diesel engines; retractable undercarriages; articulating body designs; enhanced operator control patterns; choices in tracks or wheels; and more attachments than you can shake a stick at (stick shaking being the preferred measurement of choice at Compact Equipment).

“Bobcat entered the mini track loader market in 2001 with the MT50 and has since introduced two new models. These machines have evolved with larger engines and more hydraulic flow and pressure to accommodate even more attachments,” says Aaron Kleingartner, loader product specialist for Bobcat Co.

While compact utility loaders are often categorized by operating capacity (between 200 to 1,200 lbs), they can also be classified by what a contractor is looking for in a unit. The most obvious classifications include walk-behind, stand-on or ride-on units, wheels vs. tracks and horsepower and type of engine (gas vs. diesel). Deciding on your jobsite requirement will help determine your perfect piece of equipment.

“The preference for stand-on vs. walk-behind design greatly depends on the operator and the applications for which the machine will be used,” explains Lawrence. “If a contractor is working in confined spaces and is only using the compact utility loader here and there, a walk-behind unit is the most efficient option for them. However, if a contractor is using the unit all day and covering a lot of ground, a stand-on unit may best fit their needs.”

Boxer, Ramrod and Vermeer all offer stand-on compact utility loaders, but only stand-on units. They say the industry is turning toward stand-on platforms. The platform makes it easier on the operator by not having to walk through mud or jobsite debris. It will also allow them to be more productive, since they will not be walking all day long to and from the work area. Toro, Bobcat and Ditch Witch offer both walk-behind and stand-on alternatives. Walk-behinds are often great units when it comes to rental (where safety is a major concern) and for contractors who like the option of planting their feet on the ground.

Bobcat and Toro also offer their unique, switcheroo compact utility loaders; Toro’s TX platform has the ability to self store against the machine allowing an operator to walk behind the machine or ride and Bobcat offers its optional stand-on platform available for both the MT52 and MT55 mini track loaders.

As mentioned above, Gehl and CSF MultiOne both make unique compact utility loaders with seats (these are both European-style machines). Both brands offer articulating bodies, big lift heights, ROPS and distinctive approaches to the market. While this article concentrates on a more traditional-style compact utility loaders, feel free to learn more about Gehl’s ADVANTAGE at www.gehl.com and CSF’s MultiOne multipurpose loaders at www.multione.com.

Anatomy of Equipment

Engines are the fiery heart of the compact utility loader and its tracks or wheels are its sturdy set of legs. All are crucial components in your mini tool carrier’s lifecycle, keeping it strong and efficient on worksites. When it comes to the power plant, 25-hp engines are the most common; diesel is popular among construction and some landscape contractors (who want a long lasting engine with good fuel mileage) while gas is popular with the rental yards and landscape operations who use other gas equipment (and who are more comfortable with gas engine technology). Kohler, Kubota, Kawasaki, Honda and Perkins are popular engine OEMs in the compact utility market.

“The market in the United States likes the diesel for the power, but also likes the gas units because of the smaller stature,” explains Crocker. “We also export our equipment into Europe and Australia and we are seeing a stronger demand for tracked, diesel units.”

Toro, Boxer, Vermeer and Ditch Witch all offer both engine alternatives, while Bobcat only offers a three-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine on its MT52 (18.8 hp) and MT55 (23.5 hp). Before choosing, consider that gas and diesels may cost and weigh differently (tracks and wheels affect this too).

Moving from the tickers to travel systems, tracks and tires are the two main selections in the compact utility loader market. Tracks seem to be more popular these days due to their improved ground pressure; however, tires do have their place in the market, although they may cause more damage to turf in some applications.

“Tracked units tend to be more popular, but that doesn’t mean wheeled units will disappear,” says Lawrence. “Wheeled units often are less expensive and if a user doesn’t need the advantages that tracked units provide, wheeled units may be a better fit. The reason tracked units are more popular is because the tracks distribute the weight of the machine better, leaving less of a footprint, which means a contractor can work in a wider range of ground conditions.”

Wheels are great for working on hard surfaces, increasing cycle times and they are cheaper to run and maintain. Tracks work better in soft, wet and delicate surfaces, provide great flotation, but are more expensive to maintain. Companies like Bobcat and Ditch Witch only offer track units, while Toro, Boxer, Vermeer and Ramrod offer both wheeled and track models. When it comes to unique alternatives, Boxer also offers its 500 Series, which comes standard with an integrated track widening system (the only in the industry). The variable track offers a fully extended width of 43.5 in. and a retracted width of 35 in., to navigate through gates and other tight spots.

The Features of Adaptation

The ability to change is a compact utility loader’s greatest strength. Off the front of each unit, a universal attachment plate (fitted with hydraulic hoses) can run any number of attachments – breakers, trenchers, tree spades, backhoes, brooms, graders, ground conditioners, augers, stump cutters, grapples and ever onward. Most manufacturers offer up to 50 or 70 different models of attachments (most are hydraulic implements, but some are not – like buckets and pallet forks).

Besides the manufacturers that design and sell the unit, many third party manufacturers also make compact utility implements, including National Attachments (www.nationalattachments.com), Danuser (www.danuser.com), McLaughlin (www.mightymole.com) and the Paladin brands of attachments, which includes Bradco, McMillen, The Major and Sweepster/FFC (www.paladinbrands.com).

Fit the right size attachment to your compact utility loader’s quick-attachment plate (almost everyone’s attachment system is universal), but first, make sure it matches the machine’s hydraulic flow output (from 6 to 22 gpm). Investigate how each unit’s hydraulic system functions. These machines are basically moving hydraulic power plants, so the efficiency in which hydraulic flow is manipulated is of the utmost importance.

The final ingredient in your quintessential compact utility loader will be to select your machine for the right price.

“For an entry level unit, we’re talking about $12,500 and as you go up, they’ll get as high as $21,500 or $22,000, depending on options,” says Smith. “And I think these are a good buy. You can get a small utility tractor for less money, but you’re fairly locked into what your capabilities are. They don’t have the construction-grade attachment versatility of a compact utility loader. Our SK650 has 31.5 hp and that’s the high end of those compact tractors. So, you can get half the size unit with more available horsepower and functionality with a compact utility loader, and when you get into these confined jobsites, that’s worth more money than anything to these contractors.”

Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment.