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Build & QuoteCompact Track Loader & Skid-Steer Attachments
Compact Loader Buyer’s Guide: Part 5 of 6
Table of Contents:
- Attachments: A Tool for Every Task
- How to Choose the Right Compact Track Loader & Skid Steer Loader Attachment
- Types of Compact Loader Attachment Systems
- Top Attachments for Compact Track Loaders & Skid Steer Loaders
- Turn Tough Jobs into Light Work with the Right Attachment
- Continue the Compact Track Loader & Skid-Steer Loader Buyer's Guide
Attachments: A Tool for Every Task
Compact track loader and skid-steer loader attachments are what make these machines incredibly versatile. With the right attachments, you can tackle any task and maximize the value of your investment. Confidently take on new projects and expand your service offerings to meet evolving client needs and market demands, from landscaping to construction to demolition.
How to Choose the Right Compact Loader Attachment
Selecting the appropriate attachment for your compact loader requires careful consideration of several factors.
- Determine specific application: Consider the tasks you need your loader to complete. Are you handling lighter jobs like landscaping or material handling? Or are you tackling intensive projects such as construction or demolition? Understanding your specific applications will help you identify the attachments that can ease your load.
- Consider the size and weight of the attachment: Ensure the attachment you choose is compatible with the size of your compact loader. For example, using an attachment that’s too heavy for your frame size can impact performance.
- Check compatibility with the compact loader: Bobcat attachments are powered by auxiliary hydraulic systems, so check that you have the right hydraulic flow option—standard, high-flow, or super-flow—for the attachments you plan to use to achieve optimal performance.
- Consider the strength of the attachment: When choosing attachments, prioritize durability and strength. Invest in attachments made from high-quality materials and reinforced components that can withstand frequent use.
- Determine the maintenance requirements of the attachment: Invest in easy-to-maintain attachments with readily available spare parts.
- Consider the usability of the attachment: Before purchasing an attachment for your compact loader, evaluate things like operator accessibility and frequency of use. Look for features like intuitive controls and simple attachment mechanisms that allow for quick changes without the need for specialized tools.
Types of Compact Loader Attachment Systems
Bobcat offers three attachment mounting systems for select compact track loaders and skid-steer models.
Bob-Tach® Attachment System
The Bob-Tach® is the standard attachment system on Bobcat loaders, designed to simplify the connection process and ensure the attachment remains secure.
Power Bob-Tach®
The optional Power Bob-Tach® system lets operators change non-hydraulic attachments from the comfort of their cab. For hydraulic attachments, all operators need to do is hook up the hoses after the attachment is secured.
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Find A DealerTop Attachments for Compact Loaders
The comprehensive Bobcat attachment lineup keeps your skid-steer or compact track loader ready for the task at hand or any upcoming challenge.
Angle Brooms
The angle broom attachment features heavy-duty bristles that efficiently sweep debris, dirt or light snow to one side, making it ideal for cleaning streets, parking lots, driveways, construction sites, and more.
Augers
Augers are indispensable tools for digging precise cylindrical holes quickly. These attachments help speed up jobs that would otherwise require manual digging like installing fence posts or planting trees, making them valuable in construction, landscaping and agricultural applications.
Automatic Grade Controls
Automatic grade control systems enhance the precision and efficiency of grading processes in construction, mining and other earthmoving applications.
Automatic Grade Control Laser
The automatic grade control laser uses laser technology to maintain precise grading levels. This system is commonly used for creating level surfaces for foundations, roads or sports fields, helping increase accuracy and reduce operator fatigue.
Automatic Grade Control Sonic Slope
The automatic grade control sonic slope uses sonic sensors to maintain the correct slope when creating drainage slopes or preparing building sites. This system can work in environments where laser systems might be unusable, such as areas with obstructions or uneven terrain.
Backhoes
Compact track loaders and skid-steer backhoes are powerful digging tools used for excavation, trenching and material handling.
Standard Backhoe
Backhoe attachments can turn your compact loader into a powerful digging machine for excavating trenches at landscaping and nursery sites, digging foundations and sewage systems or general earthmoving tasks.
Bob-Tach® Mounted Backhoe
This version of the backhoe attaches directly to the loader’s Bob-Tach® system, offering quick mounting and dismounting. The Bob-Tach® mounted backhoe is ideal for jobs that require frequent switching between digging and other tasks.
Blades
Standard Box Blade
The standard box blade can push, spread and level materials effectively. This attachment is commonly used in landscaping and light construction to create smooth surfaces.
Heavy-Duty Box Blade
The heavy-duty box blade is reinforced to handle larger loads and more challenging terrain in heavy construction and road maintenance tasks.
Dozer Blade
The dozer blade excels at pushing large amounts of material over longer distances, making it suitable for earthmoving operations and site clearing. The blade can be angled to direct material to the side as needed.
Breakers
A breaker attachment on a compact track loader or skid-steer is a powerful hydraulic tool used mainly for demolition applications. It delivers high-impact energy to break solid surfaces in coordination with the machine’s hydraulic system.
Hydraulic Breaker
The hydraulic breaker is a powerful attachment designed for breaking up hard materials like concrete, asphalt or rock. This tool is commonly used for demolition work, road construction and quarry operations.
Nitrogen Breaker
Nitrogen breakers offers high-impact energy to tackle reinforced concrete and other demanding jobs, for compact equipment and universal mounting caps that streamline inventory needs.
Forestry Attachments
Brushcat Rotary Cutter
The Brushcat rotary cutter is a versatile attachment that can quickly cut overgrown grass and light brush, helping maintain large properties, clear fields and manage roadside vegetation. The Brushcat can cover large surfaces quickly, making it efficient for regular maintenance tasks.
Brush Cutter
A brush cutter is a heavy-duty attachment designed to clear vegetation and even small trees. This rotating blade system used in tandem with the hydraulic system makes quick work of land-clearing.
Heavy-Duty Brush Cutter
Built for the toughest clearing jobs, the heavy-duty brush cutter can handle dense brush and small trees with ease. This attachment is ideal for land clearing, forestry management and clearing rights-of-way.
Brush Saw
The brush saw is designed for efficiently cutting through thick brush and small trees, making it suitable for clearing overgrown areas, maintaining trails or preparing sites for construction.
Buckets
Buckets are the most common compact track loaders and skid-steer attachments. Different types of buckets are available; each designed for specific loads and applications.
Combination Bucket
The combination bucket is ideal for operators who need to switch between moving material and fine grading without changing attachments. This four-in-one attachment can be used as a bucket for loading, carrying and dumping. It also works as a grapple for handling odd-shaped objects, or for dozing, leveling and spreading material with the clamshell open.
Dirt Bucket
The dirt bucket is a staple for construction and landscaping tasks where operators need to penetrate the ground easily and carry loose material without spilling.
General-Purpose Bucket
The general-purpose bucket is designed for a wide range of material handling tasks, such as moving dirt, gravel, mulch, and other common materials found on jobsites. This attachment is often used for light-duty and medium-duty grading and leveling applications, as well as loading and unloading material.
Light Material Bucket
Featuring a large capacity, light structure and high-back design, the light material bucket is perfect for handling snow or other low-density materials like fertilizer, mulch and grain while minimizing spillage.
Rock Bucket
Built with reinforced edges and wear-resistant materials, rock buckets are ideal for handling large, irregular materials such as rocks, boulders and demolition rubble.
Standard-Duty Bucket
Standard-duty buckets are cost-effective, durable attachments suitable for a wide range of general material handling, grading and leveling jobs.
Severe-Duty Bucket
Engineered for work in tough environments such as quarries and demolition sites, the severe-duty bucket has reinforced mounting frames and cutting edges for handling abrasive materials and heavy-duty grading and leveling tasks.
Heavy-Duty Bucket
Heavy-duty buckets are designed to make easier work of more demanding tasks, such as handling and loading heavy materials, as well as grading and leveling on hard surfaces. These buckets are commonly used in construction, demolition, mining, and landscaping applications.
Chippers
Chippers can turn branches, small trees and other woody debris into chips, which can later be used for mulch or biofuel. These attachments are commonly used for landscaping businesses, tree services and property maintenance.
Concrete Attachments
Concrete attachments for skid-steer and compact track loaders add functionality for handling, pouring and mixing. They utilize hydraulic power and maneuverability to perform common construction tasks.
Concrete Mixer
The concrete mixer attachment allows operators to mix concrete on-site, which is particularly useful for smaller jobs or areas with limited access.
Concrete Pump
The concrete pump attachment can move concrete to hard-to-reach areas or upper levels of a construction site.
Landplanes
The deluxe landplane excels at creating smooth, level surfaces, featuring adjustable scarifying teeth to break up hard soil before leveling. This attachment is ideal for preparing sites for construction, landscaping or agriculture.
Drop Hammers
Drop hammers are used on construction and demolition sites to effectively break up concrete. Compared to standard hydraulic breakers, the drop hammer attachment generates little vibration or noise, meaning less wear on the machine and less noise for the operator and bystanders.
Mulchers
Drum Mulcher
The drum mulcher is a heavy-duty attachment that can quickly clear brush, small trees and stumps, turning them into mulch. Drum mulchers are commonly used for land clearing, forestry management, utility line and right-of-way maintenance, and creating firebreaks.
Disc Mulcher
The disc mulcher attachment functions like a flywheel, storing kinetic energy to slice through tough material and shred it into mulch. The stored energy minimizes the performance demands on your loader and helps reduce operating temperatures. They are most commonly used for utility line and right-of-way maintenance, site preparation and rural area and vegetation maintenance.
Dumping Hopper
The dumping hopper is used to transport and precisely place materials like sand, gravel, or demolition debris on construction sites.
Grapples
A grapple attachment on a compact loader enables heavy-duty grabbing, lifting and carrying. Grapple attachments use hydraulic-powered arms to securely hold objects in place, enabling more precision.
Industrial Grapple
Designed for handling bulky, odd-shaped materials, the industrial grapple is ideal for sorting and moving demolition rubble, scrap metal or other building materials.
Root Grapple
Specialized for land clearing operations, the root grapple can efficiently remove stumps and roots while allowing soil to sift through, reducing topsoil loss.
Utility Grapple
This versatile utility grapple attachment is suitable for various tasks, such as moving loose loads like logs and brush on construction sites or farms.
Flail Cutters
Flail cutters use rotating flails to cut vegetation, making them ideal for maintaining roadsides and clearing overgrown brush in parks and large properties. This attachment can handle tall grass, light brush and saplings, offering a clean cut and even distribution of clippings.
Scarifiers
The front mount scarifier can easily break hard surfaces like compacted soil, gravel or asphalt, making it suitable for road maintenance and site preparation.
Graders
Graders are commonly used for creating smooth, graded surfaces in road construction, driveway preparation and general site grading applications. These attachments offer precise control for achieving specific slopes and contours.
Landscape Rakes
Landscape rakes are used to smooth surfaces, remove debris and spread materials evenly. These attachments are a staple for landscaping professionals when it comes to preparing the soil for seeding or sodding.
Mowers
Mower attachments for compact loaders and skid-steers come in various widths to suit different needs and are designed to help maintain large grassy areas. They’re commonly used for parks, campuses, golf courses, and large commercial properties.
Packer Wheels
Packer wheels are used for soil compaction alongside other attachments like trenchers. They help ensure proper soil density in landscaping and construction projects to prevent settling and erosion.
Pallet Forks
Pallet forks are used for material handling in construction, warehousing and agriculture, coming in various lengths and weight capacities to suit different loads.
Planers
Planers are ideal for removing layers of asphalt or concrete. These attachments are commonly used for road maintenance, parking lot repairs and preparing surfaces for resurfacing.
Quick-Tach Rear Stabilizer Kit
The Quick-Tach rear stabilizer kit helps increase performance during digging operations, particularly when using backhoe or tree spade attachments. This attachment can improve the loader’s digging capabilities by providing additional ground contact points.
Rippers
Rippers are designed to break up hard, compacted soil or frozen ground. These attachments can be used to prepare soil for excavation, break up subsoil for better drainage, or loosen ground for planting, making them essential in construction and agricultural applications.
Seeders
The seeder - 72" is a wide seeder attachment that efficiently plants large areas, making it ideal for establishing or renovating lawns, sports fields or pastures. This specialized attachment is a reliable workhorse around farms, ensuring even seed distribution for optimal plant germination and growth.
Silt Fence Installers
The silt fence installer helps simplify the process of installing silt fences for erosion control. This specialized attachment is often used in construction and land development projects to comply with environmental regulations and prevent soil runoff.
Snow Equipment
With the right attachments, compact loaders can be highly effective snow-clearing tools.
Sand and Salt Spreaders
The Spreader Attachment is a valuable tool for winter maintenance in urban areas, helping evenly distribute sand, salt or other de-icing materials on roads, parking lots and walkways.
Snow Blade
The snow blade is ideal for quickly clearing snow from roads, parking lots and driveways.
Snow Pusher
The standard snow pusher is designed with high sides to contain snow, allowing for efficient clearing of large, open areas like parking lots.
Snow Pusher Pro
The Snow Pusher Pro is the advanced version of the snow pusher, featuring trip edges and other enhancements for improved performance and durability.
Snow V-Blade
The Snow V-Blade has a V-shaped blade that can be configured in multiple positions for versatile snow removal. This attachment is suitable for breaking through deep snow and windrowing.
Snowblower
Snowblowers are ideal for handling deeper snow or areas where snow cannot be pushed aside, as they throw snow away from the cleared area.
Sod Layers
The sod layer attachment automates the process of laying sod, helping speed up landscaping projects such as establishing lawns in residential developments or sports fields.
Soil Conditioners
Soil conditioners help prepare soil for planting by breaking up clods, removing rocks and debris and leveling the surface. These attachments are essential for creating an ideal seedbed for landscaping and agricultural applications.
Spreaders
A spreader attachment enables efficient distribution of materials like sand, salt, fertilizer, seed or gravel. They are commonly used for snow and ice management, landscaping and agriculture applications.
Soil and Asphalt Spreader
Soil and asphalt spreaders are designed to precisely spread soil or asphalt, making them valuable tools in road construction and large-scale landscaping projects.
Stump Grinders
Stump grinders use a high-speed disk with specialized cutting teeth to grind stumps below ground level. These attachments are commonly used for land clearing, urban development and landscape renovation.
Sweepers
Sweepers help clean paved surfaces and maintain cleanliness on jobsites, parking lots and roads. They can collect and contain debris for easy disposal.
Tillers
Used to break up and mix soil, tillers are crucial in preparing ground for planting. These attachments are commonly used in gardening, agriculture and landscaping to create loose, aerated soils ideal for plant growth.
Tilt-Tatch
The Tilt-Tatch allows operators to tilt other attachments from side to side, adding an extra degree of control and versatility. This attachment is particularly useful for grading on uneven terrain or working on slopes.
Tree Spades
Used for transplanting trees, tree spades can dig up trees with their roots intact and replant them in new locations quickly and efficiently. These attachments are invaluable for landscaping projects, nurseries and urban forestry programs.
Trench Compactors
The trench compactor is designed to compact soil in trenches and other confined areas. This attachment is typically used to handle site preparation in utility installation and foundation work.
Trenchers
Trenchers are used to dig precise, narrow trenches for laying cables, pipes or irrigation systems. They are available in various sizes and with different chain types to suit various soil conditions and trench depth requirements.
Utility Forks
Utility forks are versatile attachments for handling various materials like logs, pipes, loose straw, and other hard-to-grab materials. They’re useful in construction, agriculture and landscaping applications.
Vibratory Rollers
Vibratory rollers are used for compacting soil, asphalt and other materials. These rollers combine weight with vibration for quick and efficient site preparation, which makes them suitable for road construction, parking lot installation and soil stabilization projects.
Vibratory Plows
The vibratory plow is ideal for precision tasks such as installing underground cables or pipes, building sprinkler systems or burying irrigation pipes and wires. The sharp vibrating blade creates narrow incision-like slits, reducing ground disturbance.
Wheel Saws
The wheel saw can cut through hard surfaces such as asphalt and concrete. This attachment is used for road repairs and utility work, such as cutting trenches to install water, gas, electrical, utility, and fiber-optic cable lines.
Turn Tough Jobs into Light Work with the Right Attachment
Equipping a compact track loader or skid-steer with the right attachments turns it into a versatile workhorse ready to handle daily tasks and new challenges.
With the help of innovative attachment mounting systems like the Bob-Tach and Power Bob-Tach, operators can switch between attachments quickly and easily, often without leaving their seats.
If you need expert advice on choosing the best attachment for your upcoming projects, worksite conditions and business goals, contact your local Bobcat dealer today.
Continue the Compact Track Loader & Skid-Steer Loader Buyer's Guide
- What Are Compact Track Loaders & Skid-Steer Loaders and Their Uses
- Explore Sizes and Specifications of Compact Track Loaders & Skid-Steer Loaders
- Key Factors When Choosing a Compact Track Loader or Skid-Steer Loader
- Features and Options for Compact Track Loaders & Skid-Steer Loaders
- Attachments for Compact Track Loaders & Skid-Steer Loaders
- Service and Maintenance of Compact Track Loaders & Skid-Steer Loaders