Skid Steer Backhoe Attachments

A skid steer backhoe attachment turns your loader into a digging machine, so you can cut trenches, dig footings, and clean out ditches without renting an excavator. The attachment mounts to your quick-attach plate and runs off your machine's auxiliary hydraulics, with the boom, dipper, and bucket worked from a seat on the attachment itself. Digging depth is the number that matters most: most reach between 6 and 10 feet, and the deeper units need more machine behind them to stay stable. Check your loader's rated operating capacity before choosing a model. If you're only setting fence posts, a skid steer auger is faster and cheaper.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What size skid steer do I need to run a backhoe attachment?

Most skid steer backhoe attachments call for a machine with at least 1,500 to 2,000 lbs of rated operating capacity, and the deeper-digging models want more. Weight
matters as much as hydraulics here — an undersized loader will lift its front wheels before the bucket is full. Check the attachment's minimum machine requirement
against your loader's ROC and auxiliary flow, and contact us if you're not sure where yours lands.

How deep can a skid steer backhoe attachment dig?

Digging depth on most skid steer backhoe attachments falls between roughly 6 and 10 feet, depending on the model and boom length. Deeper units require a larger,
heavier host machine to stay stable through the swing and the pull. If you know the depth your jobs demand — footings, water lines, septic laterals — start there and
work backward to the attachment size, rather than buying on price alone.

Do I need high flow hydraulics for a backhoe attachment?

No. Backhoe attachments run on standard auxiliary flow, so a high flow machine is not required. What matters more is having a functioning auxiliary circuit with
adequate pressure, plus a case drain only if the specific model calls for one. Standard flow skid steers in the 15 to 25 GPM range run these attachments without
trouble. Check the model's spec sheet, and reach out if you need help reading it.

Is a backhoe attachment better than a mini excavator?

It depends on how often you dig. A backhoe attachment costs far less than a dedicated machine and uses a skid steer you already own, which makes it the better call for occasional trenching and footing work. A mini excavator digs faster and swings 360 degrees, and it earns its keep if excavation is most of what you do. For mixed work where digging is one job among many, the attachment usually wins.