Best Skid Steer Attachments for Clearing Land

Back in the day, clearing an acre of land of trees and brush could take as long as a year through manual methods, even with the assistance of beasts of burden. The modern era, and the power of internal combustion engines and hydraulic power, has entirely changed all that.

Thanks to advances in technology, we can clear land at a rate that is vastly accelerated. It’s still hard work, but with skid steer and mini skid steer attachments like the following, land reclamation is more practical than it’s ever been.

1.Skid Steer Brush Cutter Attachments, Skid Steer Mowers and Mulchers

Often the first step in aggressive land reclamation is clearing the undergrowth so that people, animals, and machines can create rights of way for access, removal, and transport of materials. Heavy-duty skid steer brush cutters are often the first attachment put to work when it comes to clearing land. When it comes to clearing dense, tangled, tough, even woody debris, there is no attachment like a skid steer brush cutter or a skid steer mulcher.

While we make skid steer brush mowers and mulchers that are effective at clearing debris at the ground level, our articulating brush cutters are among the most versatile our attachments.

They can clear debris at and above ground level can be used to clear brush, thickets, and woody debris, and can be used for limb trimming. They’re tops for clearing pond banks, trails, fence lines, and of course other rights of way.

2.Grapple Rakes/Root Grapples

With all of the underbrush cleared, the next step in clearing and land reclamation is getting rid of all that loose debris that stands in between the larger, taller trees.

Grapple rakes and root grapples, which have powerful articulating tines, are exceedingly practical and highly specialized. They can be used to load and move everything from piles of brush to logs and even boulders.

Moreover, they’re perfect for accumulating cleared brush into burn piles so it can be easily dispatched.

Their utilitarian design doesn’t end there, though. They’re also highly useful for demolition and disaster cleanup, especially in flooded areas where the draining nature of a grapple rake makes it superior to a bucket for cleanup.

3.Tree Shears/Tree Saw

While it’s not often the first step in clearing land, historically one of the toughest aspects of land reclamation has been clearing and processing the trees. Tree shear attachments and tree saws are the best skid steer attachments for that.

Our largest skid steer tree shear attachments can cut through trees up to 14” in diameter and feature fixed bases and double-arm grapples for easy manipulation and removal of the tree. They are powerful, and efficient, can cut at ground level, and extremely durable; our cast shear blades are up to 60% stronger than those of competitors.

Tree saws are also practical attachments for clearing trees en masse. They are available in several sizes, feature efficient 4-sided square cutting teeth, and can cut trees up to 10” in diameter.

4.Log Grapples

Once you clear all those trees, you’re going to need to do something with all those logs. While our tree shear attachments are practical for managing the trees at the point at which you cut them down, a log grapple is a highly utilitarian attachment for removing all those downed logs so they can be easily processed.

Our collection, which includes both manual and hydraulic rotating log grapples, offers precision handling and controlled movements. Our grapple’s tines can grasp loads ranging in thickness from 3” to 48” and can be used to manipulate other large, heavy loads - not just logs.

First, clear the trees, then clear the logs - and then you can get to work clearing those pesky stumps.

5.Stump Grinders

Lots of skid steer attachments can be used to dispatch the gnarly stumps that remain behind after the brush is cleared and trees felled. Augers and rippers can be used to grind them or pull them out, but few attachments are as purpose-driven as stump grinders.

Compatible with a wide range of popular skid steer makes and models, our stump grinders are perfect for arborists, landscapers, contractors, and municipal work departments. They feature extremely strong tungsten carbide teeth mounted on an offset cutting wheel for enhanced visibility and their compact nature makes it possible to get into tight areas that larger machines would struggle to gain access.

6.Log Splitters

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While log splitter skid steer attachments may not be particularly useful for clearing land, they help you manage the aftermath by converting any downed, harvested timber into quartered firewood that you can use to fuel your home.

7.Landscape Rakes

After clearing the brush and felling and removing any remaining trees, the next step is to clear up any remaining brush. Landscape rakes are perfect for that, and we offer landscape rake attachments for skid steers in a range of different sizes.

They’re especially useful if you’re clearing with the intention of planting, and can be used to groom seedbeds and remove roots, sticks and rocks, leaving only well conditioned soil behind. Ours feature low-profile designs for excellent visibility, along with durable steel shrouds and extremely strong steel mining teeth.

8.Rock Rollers

Last but not least we have purpose-designed rock roller attachments, which are more specialized than landscape rakes. Landscape rakes will remove rocks and condition soil, but if you have particularly rocky soil a rock roller can help you clear it more easily.

Available in 30” and 36” sizes, our rock rollers are made from extremely durable 1” thick steel rods; they can easily clear soil of large rocks, allowing finer material to filter through, and save time and money over manual methods. Our larger version even has a 20,000 pound capacity.

Never Surrender: American-Made Attachments

Spartan Equipment skid steer, mini skid steer, and mini excavator attachments are made in the United States with pride. They’re made using high-quality American steel (never Chinese steel) and are covered by generous warranties. Many are also eligible for free ground shipping.

If you have any questions about our skid steer attachments, feel free to get in touch with our customer service department by calling us at 1-888-888-1085.