A Comfortable Office

From more leg room and satellite radio to ac and pressuried cabs, the skid steer cab has come a long way.

Comfort is technology that until the last decade wasn’t a major focus for manufacturers in the skid steer market. In fact, over the years skid steers seemed to have gained a reputation for a bumpy ride and one-size-fits-all cabs. Comfort is an innovation that really blossomed during the equipment bubble of the ‘90s, when companies began to realize the benefits of a comfortable operator. Today sealed and pressured cabs are becoming the norm.

Comfort and ease of operation have been designed into every aspect of the operator station today. The wide, spacious interior and uncluttered floor plans provide a comfortable work environment with excellent head, shoulder and leg room to keep productivity high and fatigue low. Operators spend long hours in the machine, so sealed and pressurized cabs keep dust out and clean air in for greater operator comfort. Reduced sound levels within the cab also help reduce fatigue. If you want, you can even install Satellite radio or MP3 player adaptability, so you can whistle while you work.

“Skid steer comfort has evolved tremendously in the last 10 to 15 years,” says Kevin Coleman, senior project engineer with Caterpillar. “It wasn’t that long ago that skid steers didn’t even offer an air conditioning option, but customers began to recognize the comfort and productivity benefits of an operator’s environment with additional amenities and began to demand more. In 2007, Cat skid steers introduced premium operator comfort in the form of  industry firsts such as: sealed and pressurized cabs for a quiet and clean operator environment; air ride suspension seats for premium operator comfort even while working all day; seat-mounted joystick controls with independently adjustable arm bars to provide the most comfortable operation based on operator preference; and speed sensitive ride control which helps provide a smoother ride in rough terrain and activates and deactivates based on ground speed.”

Today, ergonomic, seat-mounted joystick controls enable a wide range of comfortable operating positions for operators of any size. The seat and controls are independently adjustable to meet the specific needs of the operator. Air ride seats provide new levels of comfort in a skid steer loader. Optional, interactive, digital interfaces provide easy-to-read and understand information regarding hydraulic oil and engine coolant temperatures, engine speeds and security parameters. Optional air conditioner and heater systems provide greater comfort in extreme conditions. Routine tasks such as boom settings, attachment power and machine speeds can be automated. Today, skid steers boast more creature comforts and automation features to make operators feel like they are in the driver’s seat of their own car.