Most owners spend more on attachments over a machine's life than they spent on the machine.
That makes attachment selection the more consequential purchase decision, and it gets a fraction of the attention. This guide covers what to buy, in what order, and how to avoid the mismatch that damages equipment.
The Two Compatibility Questions
Before anything else, understand what determines whether an attachment works.
1. Does the plate fit?
Most of the category uses a universal mini skid steer mount. Toro, Ditch Witch, Vermeer, Boxer, Kanga, Ramrod, and most import brands all cross over.
Bobcat is the exception. Their published specs list the proprietary Bob-Tach as standard, with the universal Common Industry Interface as an option. Bob-Tach attachments need an adapter on any other machine.
"Universal" is an industry convention rather than a certified standard, so confirm the specific attachment rather than assuming.
2. Does the machine have the flow?
This is where the expensive mistakes happen.
Every hydraulically driven attachment publishes a minimum and maximum flow requirement in GPM at a stated pressure.
Hydraulic horsepower = (GPM × PSI) ÷ 1,714
Under-feed an attachment and it stalls, heats the hydraulic system, and wears out both the attachment motor and the machine. Over-feed it and you can damage the motor.
Check the attachment's range against the machine's published auxiliary flow and relief pressure before buying either one.
Attachment compatibility → · What is auxiliary hydraulic flow? →
Attachments by Hydraulic Demand
No flow required — mechanical only, limited by capacity and weight:
Bucket · Low-profile bucket · Rock bucket · Pallet forks · Bale spear · Leveler · Snow pusher · Boom pole · Trailer mover
Low flow — intermittent positioning:
Grapple bucket · Root grapple · 4-in-1 bucket · Grading blade · V-plow · Snow blade · Dumping hopper
Moderate flow — continuous drive:
Auger · Angle broom · Plate compactor · Post driver · Salt spreader · Vibratory plow · Concrete mixer · Winch · Tree spade
High flow — sustained heavy work:
Trencher · Harley rake · Soil conditioner · Tiller · Hydraulic breaker · Brush cutter · Stump grinder · Snow blower · Backhoe
Highest flow — 50 hp+ recommended:
Forestry mulcher · Rock saw
What to Buy First
A pattern holds across most operations.
1. The bucket comes with it. It does the majority of the work for most owners.
2. Buy pallet forks second. Almost universally the most-used purchased attachment, across every trade. Anything heavy and awkward becomes a one-person job. Owners are consistently surprised how often they reach for it.
3. Buy the tool that eliminates your worst manual task third. This is the attachment with the fastest payback, because it's replacing the labor you're most tired of paying for:
| Trade | The attachment |
|---|---|
| Fence contractor | Auger or post driver |
| Tree service | Root grapple |
| Concrete contractor | Hydraulic breaker |
| Landscaper | Harley rake |
| Hardscaper | Plate compactor |
| Irrigation | Trencher or vibratory plow |
| Demo / junk removal | Grapple bucket |
| Livestock / equine | Bale spear |
| Snow contractor | V-plow |
4. Then seasonal and specialty tools as the work justifies them.
The Attachments That Surprise People
Pallet forks. The one owners say they should have bought sooner.
Angle broom. Bought for snow, used twelve months a year. Construction cleanup, barn aisles, retail yards, dock aprons — and it's the right tool on pavers where a steel blade would chip them.
Harley rake. For anyone who seeds or sods, this is the attachment that determines the finished result. Seed-to-soil contact is what drives germination, and a power rake produces a better seedbed in one pass than a crew with rakes does in an hour.
4-in-1 bucket. The spreading function — metering material out the bottom while driving forward — saves real rake time and most buyers don't know it exists.
Common Mismatches to Avoid
A mulching head on a 25 hp machine. The most expensive attachment mistake in the category. Most mulchers need more flow than a 25 hp machine produces. Buy a brush cutter instead — it's the honest answer and it'll do better work.
A breaker with the wrong carrier weight rating. Breakers are rated for a range of machine operating weights, not just flow. Too much breaker on too light a machine pushes the machine around instead of breaking concrete, and impact loads travel back into the loader arms and mounting plate. Check both specs.
An oversized bucket or grapple. Attachment weight comes directly off rated capacity. A large grapple bucket on a small machine uses a significant share of capacity before you load anything.
A wide attachment on a narrow-access machine. If you bought the machine to fit a gate, don't buy an attachment that defeats that.
Large-diameter augers on modest hydraulics. Torque scales sharply with bit diameter. A machine that spins an 8-inch bit easily may stall on an 18-inch bit in the same soil — which matters a lot for post-frame builders.
A steel snow edge on decorative paving. Chips pavers and scars stamped concrete. Use rubber or poly edges, or run a broom.
Buying Used
Universal mounting means the used market is open to you, which is one of the practical benefits of a standardized plate.
Holds up well used: buckets, forks, grapples, blades, levelers, bale spears. Simple, mechanical, and wear is visible.
Inspect carefully used: anything hydraulic. Look for motor condition, cylinder rod scoring, leaks, and evidence it's been run under-fed — overheated attachments often show discolored paint near the motor.
Consumables to price in: teeth on rakes, mulchers, grinders, and trenchers; cutting edges on buckets and blades; chains on trenchers. These are real costs and a cheap attachment with worn consumables isn't cheap.
Verify the mount before you buy. A "universal" attachment that turns out to be Bob-Tach needs an adapter.
Storage and Care
Attachments take more room than people plan for. A full set takes more space than the machine.
Store them off the ground where practical — pallets or racks. Ground contact accelerates corrosion.
Grease before storage, especially anything with pivots.
Rinse after salt, manure, or concrete. Salt destroys equipment that isn't cleaned. Cured concrete in a mixer bowl or bucket is permanent.
Keep hydraulic fittings capped so dirt doesn't get into the couplers — contaminated hydraulic connections are an avoidable and expensive problem.
FAQ
How many attachments do I need?
Most owners settle at three to five. A bucket, forks, and the tool that solves their main problem covers most work.
Should I buy attachments with the machine?
Buy the ones you'll use immediately. Universal mounting means adding later is easy, including used.
Will attachments from other brands fit?
Generally yes with the universal mount. Bob-Tach needs an adapter.
What if my flow is too low for an attachment I want?
Buy a different attachment, or a bigger machine. Running under-fed damages both.
How do I know an attachment's flow requirement?
It's on the attachment's spec sheet. If a seller can't provide it, that's worth noting.
Can I run two attachments at once?
No — one at a time on a single auxiliary circuit.
What's the highest-value attachment for the money?
Pallet forks for most operations. Cheap, mechanical, and used constantly.
Do attachments hold resale value?
Reasonably, especially simple mechanical ones. The universal mount means a broad buyer pool.