Dave Aldrich Light Construction Dealer Development and Service Manager for Paladin Construction Group.

When buying or renting an auger attachment, it is important to match the size of your auger drive to the hydraulic flow and pressure that your skid steer is producing. Choose the auger head or auger bit design to match the type of soil condition you will be working with. For example, choosing an auger drive too large for your hydraulic system will give you fewer rotations on the bit. Too small of a drive will give more rotations on the bit, but less torque. Choosing a fabricated head with teeth placed in a straight line, compared to a cast head with more of an aggressive tooth pattern, to dig through harder ground conditions like compacted soil will make your job more difficult. Both scenarios could cause the excess wear and tear of your auger attachment and/or skid steer, greatly reducing the lifespan of both. When looking to buy an auger attachment, one of the first questions a dealer will often ask is, "What kind of hydraulic system does your skid steer have?" If you come prepared with this information, as well as the type of digging conditions you will be facing, your dealer should be able to recommend the best auger for your application.