Radial Lift vs. Vertical Lift Skid Steer: Which One Should You Choose?

When looking for a skid steer loader, you’ll have the option to choose between a radial lift and a vertical lift. The difference lies in the lift arm design and its functionality, and each type is better suited for certain applications.

Radial Lift Skid Steers

1. How It Works

Radial lift skid steers have one pivot point at the rear of the machine. The lift arm moves in an arcuate trajectory as it’s raised, meaning it extends both upwards and outwards. This design provides the most reach at mid – range.

2. Applications

Radial lift skid steers are well – suited for tasks that are at or below eye – level. Some common applications include:

• Digging and Excavation: They can handle digging tasks at significant depths, like trenching and excavating. The arcuate movement of the lift arm allows for efficient digging and material removal.
• Pushing Materials: Radial lift skid steers can help clear a job site by removing debris like rocks or stumps, or pushing materials like dirt or snow.
• Loading Materials: They can load and unload materials, like dirt or rocks, onto or off of trucks or platforms.
• Backfilling, Grading, and Landscaping: Radial lift skid steers can backfill excavated areas, grade surfaces, or help in moving landscaping materials.

3. Attachments

Specialized attachments can further expand the capabilities of radial lift machines. Some common attachments include general – purpose buckets for digging and dozing, grapple buckets or grapple rakes for debris cleanup and handling irregularly shaped objects, trenchers for digging trenches at ground level, mulchers or brush cutters for clearing overgrown vegetation, snow blades or snow blowers for snow removal, and landscape rakes or tillers for ground preparation and landscaping tasks.

Vertical Lift Skid Steers

1. How It Works

Vertical lift skid steers have a more complex linkage system with multiple pivot points. This allows the lift arm to move nearly straight up and down, providing more vertical reach than a radial lift skid steer.

2. Applications

Vertical lift skid steers are better suited for tasks that require lifting loads to a higher height. Some common applications include:

• Loading Trucks: They can easily lift materials to the height of a truck bed, making the loading process more efficient.
• Working at Height: Vertical lift skid steers are useful for tasks such as placing materials on high platforms or working on elevated structures.

3. Attachments

Vertical lift skid steers can use a variety of attachments, similar to radial lift skid steers. However, their ability to lift loads vertically makes them more suitable for attachments that require high – reach operations, such as certain types of forks and grapples.

Which One to Choose?

The choice between a radial lift and a vertical lift skid steer depends on the specific tasks you need to perform. If your work mainly involves digging, grading, and pushing materials at or below eye – level, a radial lift skid steer is likely to be the better choice. It offers good reach and power for these types of tasks. On the other hand, if you frequently need to lift loads to a higher height, such as loading trucks or working on elevated structures, a vertical lift skid steer will be more appropriate. It provides the necessary vertical reach and stability for these operations.