The Benefits of a Skid Steer Quick Attach Hitch System
Bobcat invented the Universal Skid Steer Quick Attach under the name Bob-Tach. Today, it is the industry standard for skid steer and even some tractor loaders, serving as the universal interface for skid steer attachments. One of the most significant advantages of both the skid steer and this particular hitch system is the variety of attachments widely available. Your skid steer can be a bucket loader for one task and a forklift for another. Equipping your skid steer with new attachments allows you to use the machine as a jack of all trades for your projects.
What is a Skid Steer Quick Attach
The universal skid steer quick attach uses two pins that protrude from the bottom of the machine side of the coupler to lock into two holes on the bottom wall of the plate that is connected to the attachment. It is traditionally for non-PTO (power take-off) attachments. In other words, it is used for non-powered attachments like buckets, pallet forks, or blades; frequently used tools that are going to spend a lot of time in use. And helps enhance the skid steer’s versatility and functionality.
Benefits of a Skid Steer Quick Attach Hitch System
A problem that many skid steer owners faced was how much time it took to manually change out attachments. Ask a farmer, who must get off and back on his tractor for implement changes, and we guarantee he’ll tell you this knee-pounding task can take a lot of time. Also, for non-quick attach machines like larger tractors, the operator needs to find a clear spot to set the arms and attachment down.
The skid steer quick attach hitch system was designed as a universal interface that allows the operator to quickly hook and unhook to a wide range of attachments.
Then it’s manually disengaging the attachment pins, unhooking the PTO and hydraulic hoses in some cases, etc. Repeating this process throughout the day increases the risks associated with attachments sliding or pinching when disengaged. Did we mention the sheer amount of time associated with getting on and off the machine?
Setting Up Your Machine
After equipping your skid steer with a quick attach hitch, you are now ready to use it with most standard attachments. It can be bolted or welded onto the skid steer loader arms. All the skid steer operator needs to do to connect an attachment, like a bucket for example, is angle the arms up and under the bucket's hooks, straighten the arms slightly to put full pressure on your skid steers arms, lock the safety levers, and go on your way. Select a clear ground and reverse the steps to remove an attachment.
Best of all you won’t ever have to exit the cab. And with practice, swapping out attachments with a quick attach hitch will become seamless; almost second nature if you will.
John Deere Quick Attach
You will undoubtedly hear from the John Deere loyalists that the John Deere Quick Attach system for sub-compact and small-compact utility tractors is much better. True, some variations are lighter, cheaper, and rated to lift more weight. But that’s comparing apples to apples. Or better yet, for those of you who live in our home state of Alabama, Tide versus the Tigers.
You will undoubtedly hear from the John Deere loyalists that the John Deere Quick Attach system for sub-compact and small-compact utility tractors is much better.
If you’re a skid steer operator, you likely already know the advantages of a skid steer quick attach versus a John Deere Quick Attach. Furthermore, whatever field you’re working in - construction, landscaping, agriculture - you also know that the skid steer is designed for specific jobs that a sub-compact tractor could not complete with the same efficiency or effectiveness.
So another advantage of the skid steer quick attach is the machine itself. Not to mention there are far more attachments available for the universal skid steer quick attach than John Deere’s system.
The quick attach hitch system has become so popular that you’ll often see it as a standard package with new skid steers. Opting to add one to an existing skid steer will extend the versatility of your machine while improving job site efficiency.
