Rental Solutions: Why skid steer attachments must be tougher than ever
Attachments unlock the true value of skid steers for rental companies and end users.
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| Grapple bucket. |
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| Brush cutter. |
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| Trencher. |
by Trey Thompson
Skid steers have long been the Swiss Army knife of the job site. Compact, quick, and undeniably capable, these machines are everywhere – from sprawling infrastructure projects to backyard landscaping gigs. But it’s the attachments that unlock the equipment’s true value for rental companies and end users.
Today, as contractors ask more from their machines, it’s not just about what the skid steer can do. It’s about what the attachment can handle.
According to Trey Thompson, president of Star Industries, “It’s no longer okay for attachments to be ‘good enough.’ The machines are bigger. The flow rates are higher. The demands are tougher. Our mission has always been to build smarter, stronger tools that can go the distance. Our skid steer attachments reflect that commitment.”
Powering Up: Bigger Machines Support Heavy Duty Attachments
Today’s skid steers are heavier, wider and more powerful than ever before. They are often track-dependent rather than having wheels. Higher horsepower engines and increased lift capacity are now the norm. That’s great news for operators who want to move more material, dig deeper trenches, or cut thicker vegetation. But it also means attachment design has to evolve.
“You can’t always bolt yesterday’s bucket onto today’s machine,” Thompson says. “Higher power means heavier loads and more wear and tear. We’re engineering attachments with thicker steel, reinforced gussets, and upgraded hydraulics to handle the stress.”
Attachments like brush cutters and trenchers especially benefit from high-flow hydraulics, now offered as an option on nearly every new skid steer. With more gallons per minute (gpm) in flow, these tools can spin faster, cut more aggressively and complete jobs that used to require much larger equipment.
But it’s not just about performance. It’s about durability. “Contractors want a grapple or bucket that won’t twist under pressure or wear out after a season of use,” says Thompson. “That’s why our extreme-duty grapples use thicker tines, shell reinforcements and heavier hydraulics. We don’t just want our attachments to last. We want them to outlast everything else in the yard.”
“We make our money back in four months on grapple buckets. A good one will last five years which surpasses the depreciation schedule,” says Matt W., Equipment Rentals manager.
Quick-Tach Tools Equals Faster Job Completion
Versatility is still the name of the game. Thanks to the universal quick-tach mechanism found on Star’s skid steer attachments, switching between tools is faster and simpler than ever. One machine can be a trencher in the morning, a demolition tool at lunch and a snow pusher by sundown.
This quick-swap capability is especially valuable on smaller job sites where mobility and multi-functionality matter most. For contractors, it reduces the number of machines needed on-site; for rental companies, it expands the utility of every machine in the fleet.
But there’s a catch. “The challenge isn’t whether the skid steer can use the attachment,” says Thompson. “It’s whether it should. You’ve got to consider duty cycle, flow compatibility and weight tolerances. Just because it fits doesn’t mean it’s a good match.”
High Flow vs. Low Flow: Know Before You Rent
In the rental world, one potential attachment pitfall is related to the difference between high-flow vs. low-flow hydraulic systems. Most skid steers today support high flow, but that doesn’t mean every attachment is ready for it.
“High-flow attachments let you move serious volume,” Thompson says. “But they’re potentially more sensitive to contamination. Rental equipment is constantly having attachments added or removed, which could introduce debris into a high-flow system.”
That’s why many rental fleets prefer low-flow options for their day-to-day rentals. They’re more bulletproof and easier to maintain. But as demand grows for more powerful systems, rental companies must strike a balance.
“We always caution our customers to pay attention to hydraulic compatibility and cleanliness,” says Thompson. “The right attachment in the wrong application doesn’t help anybody. A broken high-flow attachment isn’t just downtime, it’s lost rental revenue and a frustrated customer.”
Lifting Smarter: Match the Attachment to the Machine
Another mistake contractors and rental teams may make is overlooking weight tolerances for both the skid steer and the attachment itself.
“Let’s say your customer asks for an 84-inch bucket because they want to move more dirt,” Thompson says. “Sounds great, until that extra width adds 400 pounds and puts them over safe lift capacity. Now you’ve got a safety risk and a frustrated operator.”
Star’s solution? Offer a range of extreme-duty and lighter-duty options to match the machine and the job. From lightweight shells for better balance to reinforced buckets built to take abuse, the focus is always on safety, performance, and ROI.
“Clients are asking for heavier-duty shells but also lighter options that don’t max out the machine,” Thompson says. “It’s a balancing act, and it starts with understanding how attachments are really being used in the field.”
Rental Ready: Stock What Sells, Support What Lasts
For rental branch managers, having the right attachment on the lot can be the difference between winning the deal or watching it go down the road. “We hear it every day. If you have it when the customer calls, you get the rental,” says Thompson. “That’s why we focus on keeping inventory high and lead times low.”
But it’s not just about having the gear. It’s about building gear that stands up to the rental environment: multiple users, aggressive duty cycles, minimal maintenance. Star’s attachments are built “rental tough,” with heavy welds, user-friendly designs and reinforced stress points. Branch managers rely on high uptime and fleet utilization to drive ROI.
The Bottom Line for Skid Steer Attachments
From augers and forks to grapples and cutters, the world of skid steer attachments is evolving fast, and the demands are higher than ever. Contractors want more power. Rental companies want more uptime. And everyone wants more versatility.
Trey Thompson sums it up best: “If your attachment isn’t keeping up with today’s machines, it’s already outdated. At Star, we build attachments that move with the industry and move the industry forward.”
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| President Trey Thompson Star Attachments |
This advertorial for Star Attachments appeared in the November December 2025 issue of Pro Contractor Rentals magazine. © Urbain Communications LLC. All rights reserved.
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