How to buy a used skid steer in Canada without getting burned

Hours, lift path, tires or tracks, and the five questions to ask the dealer before you drive out.

Start with the job, not the machine. Match horsepower, lift capacity and hydraulic flow to the attachments and work cycle you actually have.

Hours matter less than how they were spent. A 3,000-hour machine that moved snow in a parking lot is a different animal than one that ran a mulcher in the bush. Ask what it did.

Radial lift is for digging and loading flat; vertical lift is for loading trucks and placing pallets. Pick the one that matches your week.

Tires generally cost less to replace; tracks can help on soft ground but add undercarriage cost. Compare both against your sites and transport limits.

Five questions for the dealer: Was it a rental fleet unit? Is there a service history? Has the hydraulic oil been sampled? What attachments are included? What is the warranty on a used unit?

Use the directory to call a branch and compare the answers directly.