The single most common mistake people make when buying a skid steer attachment isn't picking the wrong size or the wrong brand. It's buying an attachment their machine can't actually run.
It happens all the time. Someone orders a hydraulic auger or a brush cutter, it arrives, they bolt it on — and it runs slow, stalls under load, or doesn't have the power the spec sheet promised. The attachment is fine. The machine just can't feed it what it needs.
The good news: this is completely avoidable. You only need to check three numbers before you buy. Here's how to do it.
Why "will it fit my machine?" is the wrong first question
Almost every modern skid steer and compact track loader uses a universal quick-attach plate (sometimes called the "universal" or "Bobcat-style" mount). Our attachments use this standard, which means they physically bolt onto the vast majority of machines from Bobcat, CAT, Kubota, New Holland, John Deere, Case, Gehl, and more.
So physical fit is rarely the problem. The real question for any hydraulic attachment — augers, brush cutters, trenchers, tillers, rollers — is whether your machine can power it.
That comes down to three numbers.
The three numbers that matter
1. Hydraulic flow (GPM or L/min)
This is the big one. Flow is how much hydraulic oil your machine pushes to the attachment per minute, and it's measured in gallons per minute (GPM) or litres per minute (L/min). Flow is what determines an attachment's speed — how fast an auger spins, how fast a cutter blade turns.
Skid steers come in two broad categories:
· Standard flow: roughly 17–24 GPM (65–90 L/min)
· High flow: roughly 30–45 GPM (115–170 L/min)
Every hydraulic attachment has a flow range it's designed to run in. Give it too little flow and it runs weak and slow. Give it too much and you can damage the motor. You want your machine's flow to land inside the attachment's stated range.
2. Hydraulic pressure (PSI or MPa)
Pressure is what determines power — how much torque an attachment can deliver before it stalls. Most skid steers operate somewhere around 2,500–3,500 PSI (17–24 MPa). Most attachments are built to handle this range, so pressure is usually less of a deal-breaker than flow, but it's still worth confirming your machine meets the attachment's requirement.
3. Auxiliary hydraulics — do you even have them?
This sounds obvious, but it catches people out. To run any hydraulic attachment, your machine needs auxiliary hydraulic couplers at the front (the quick-connect hoses on the loader arm). Most skid steers have them, but some older or base-model machines don't. No auxiliary hydraulics means no hydraulic attachments — full stop.
Where to find your machine's numbers
You don't have to guess. Your machine's hydraulic flow and pressure are listed in:
· Your operator's manual or spec sheet
· The manufacturer's website (search your make, model, and "specifications")
· Sometimes a sticker or plate on the machine itself
Write down your flow (GPM or L/min) and your pressure (PSI or MPa). With those two numbers, you can confidently check any attachment.
A quick worked example
Say you're looking at a hydraulic auger that calls for 16–20 GPM (60–75 L/min) at up to 2,900 PSI (20 MPa).
· If your skid steer is a standard-flow machine pushing 18 GPM at 3,000 PSI — you're right in the sweet spot. Good match.
· If your machine only pushes 12 GPM — that's below the range. The auger will run, but slowly and weakly, and you'll be frustrated. Not a good match.
· If you've got a high-flow machine at 35 GPM — that's too much for this particular motor. You'd want a high-flow version of the attachment instead.
Same attachment, three different machines, three different answers. That's why the numbers matter more than the brand.
When in doubt, just ask us
Here's the part that sets us apart: we'd genuinely rather tell you an attachment won't work on your machine than sell you something that disappoints you.
If you're not sure whether your skid steer can run an attachment you're looking at, send us your machine's make and model — or its flow and pressure numbers — and we'll give you a straight answer. If it's a great fit, we'll tell you. If it's borderline, we'll tell you that too. And if your machine genuinely can't run it, we'll say so rather than take your money.
We're a Canadian company, we stock our attachments here, and we work directly with our manufacturer to keep prices fair. But more than any of that, we want the equipment you buy to actually do the job when it shows up.
Have a machine in mind? Get in touch with your make and model, and we'll help you find the right attachment.