Skid steer rental demand jumps as small farms skip the purchase

Rental yards across rural regions say demand for skid steers and compact track loaders has climbed sharply, driven largely by small-acreage owners who need a machine for a project rather than year-round use.

Fence building, pond work, barn cleanouts and land clearing top the list of jobs. Many customers said renting for a week or two costs far less than owning, insuring and maintaining a machine that would sit idle most of the year.

Rental companies have responded by adding attachments such as grapples, augers and mulching heads, letting customers tackle specialized jobs without buying the tools.

Some dealers see rentals as a pipeline to future sales, offering to credit a portion of rental fees toward a purchase for customers who decide they want to own.