Attachments
The carrier is only half the purchase. Attachment choice — and whether your machine has the hydraulic flow to run it well — decides what work you can actually take on.
| Attachment | Best for | Hydraulics | Cost note |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Purpose Bucket | Material handling, Backfilling trenches | No auxiliary hydraulics required. Match bucket width to machine width so you are not dragging spoil off-line. | Usually the lowest-cost attachment and often bundled with the machine. Confirm what is actually included in a quote. |
| Auger | Fence post holes, Deck footings | Requires auxiliary hydraulics. Flow rating must match the drive head; rocky soil needs rock-specific teeth. | Drive head and bits are priced separately in most quotes — ask for the complete package price. |
| Pallet Forks | Unloading deliveries, Moving pavers and block | No auxiliary hydraulics. Load capacity is limited by machine rated operating capacity and by load center distance. | Inexpensive relative to powered attachments and one of the highest-utilization tools on a small machine. |
| Trencher | Irrigation lines, Drainage | Requires auxiliary hydraulics and adequate flow. Chain and tooth selection should match soil type. | Frequently rented rather than purchased unless trenching is a recurring revenue line. |
| Grapple Bucket | Storm cleanup, Land clearing | Requires auxiliary hydraulics. Check the weight of the attachment itself against the machine's capacity. | Mid-range cost; often the first powered attachment that pays for itself on cleanup work. |
| Soil Conditioner / Leveler | Lawn prep, Finish grading | Requires auxiliary hydraulics on powered versions; non-powered levelers and grading bars do not. | A common landscape upsell — compare against a simple grading bar if budget matters. |
| Hydraulic Breaker | Sidewalk and slab removal, Footing demolition | Requires correct hydraulic flow and pressure. Undersized carriers reduce productivity and stress the machine. | High cost to own for occasional work — renting is typically the better economics. |
| Tiller | Garden and bed prep, Turf renovation | Requires auxiliary hydraulics. Working depth depends on soil conditions and machine down pressure. | Seasonal-use tool; check rental availability before buying. |
The default tool on nearly every machine: moving soil, gravel, mulch and spoil, plus rough backfill and grading.
No auxiliary hydraulics required. Match bucket width to machine width so you are not dragging spoil off-line.
Drills post holes and footing holes far faster than hand digging, with bit sizes matched to the job.
Requires auxiliary hydraulics. Flow rating must match the drive head; rocky soil needs rock-specific teeth.
Turns the loader into a rough-terrain material mover for pallets, sod, block and bagged goods.
No auxiliary hydraulics. Load capacity is limited by machine rated operating capacity and by load center distance.
Cuts consistent-depth trenches for irrigation, drainage, low-voltage and utility runs.
Requires auxiliary hydraulics and adequate flow. Chain and tooth selection should match soil type.
Grabs irregular material — brush, limbs, demolition debris, rock — that a plain bucket cannot hold.
Requires auxiliary hydraulics. Check the weight of the attachment itself against the machine's capacity.
Prepares seedbeds and finish grades by breaking up and windrowing surface material.
Requires auxiliary hydraulics on powered versions; non-powered levelers and grading bars do not.
Breaks concrete, asphalt and rock in tight areas where a full-size breaker cannot reach.
Requires correct hydraulic flow and pressure. Undersized carriers reduce productivity and stress the machine.
Breaks compacted soil for planting beds and turf renovation without hand tools.
Requires auxiliary hydraulics. Working depth depends on soil conditions and machine down pressure.
Buy the tools you use weekly — buckets, forks and, for fencing and deck crews, an auger. Rent the ones you use a few times a year, especially breakers and trenchers, where purchase cost is high and utilization is low.
Tell us your size class, timeline and ZIP code. We will route your request as dealer, rental and financing partners come online in your market — and send you the research we have in the meantime.