John Deere’s New Skid Steers

MESA, Ariz. – The name John Deere is typically synonymous with green equipment, but the well-known manufacturer is trying to get landscape contractors to add a host of yellow iron to its fleet. That’s one reason John Deere representatives were so excited at a media event in Arizona at the end of January.

In 1999, John Deere introduced its first skid steers – four models, all painted yellow. A fifth model – also yellow – was added last year, and the big news this year is the introduction of the company’s Series II line of skid steers, which represent an upgraded version of each model.

Larry Foster, John Deere’s product marketing manager for skid-steer loaders, said the company is pleased with the market share it has garnered in the first few years, especially given the overall market’s sagging sales for the last two years.

“North American skid steer sales climbed from 30,000 in 1993 to roughly 71,000 in 2002,” Foster pointed out, adding that sales in the U.S. and Canada represent about 75 percent of the global market. “But that number fell to 55,000 by 2002.”

The skid steer market was still a $1.1-billion ballgame in 2002, and after two consecutive years of double-digit drop offs, Foster said John Deere expects 2003 sales to be between flat and 1.5 percent up.

The key driver behind skid steer sales is obvious, Foster explained. “It’s the attachments, stupid,” he asserted, playing off of the famous political slogan. “Skid steer users love the versatility of these machines. There isn’t a day or a job that a skid steer could be on that you can’t find one on nowadays.”

That’s especially true in the landscape industry, which Foster said accounts for roughly 45 percent of all North American skid steer sales. “Landscape contractors understand that skid steers are incredibly productive and operator friendly, so there’s a quick return on investment,” he noted.

John Deere hopes to strengthen its position in this market with its improved lineup. Foster admits that most of the changes are minor, but he said John Deere’s machines are as good as any. “We’ve made more than 100 improvements in these machines since their introduction in 1999, so they just keep getting better,” he maintained.

In particular, the latest improvements include:
· New hydraulic control valves
· Cushioned boom cylinders
· Reduced hydraulic connections
· An enhanced boom design
· Web disc brakes
· Improved operator visibility

The company is clearly excited about building more stable machines than what the market is used to, as that was a common theme in conversations with John Deere representatives.

“Skid steers are not generally a very stable machine, given all of their bouncing around,” Foster recognized, “but our machines are rock solid, which means we’re keeping operators comfortable and safe. We’ve lengthened our wheel base this year to make the machines more stable, and that’s something our customers asked for.”

Foster said the new boom design embraces the vertical lift style for larger skid steers, which benefits users by providing them with increased vehicle loading and unloading capabilities.

In addition, John Deere continues enhancing its line of skid steer attachments, which currently number 24. “This is just our start, and we’ll continue to grow our offerings here as John Deere grows its presence in the skid steer market,” Foster promised.

To view video footage of the John Deere Series II skid steer in action, please click here: John Deere Series II skid steer.

To view more footage of the John Deere Series II skid steer, please click here: John Deere Series II skid steer.

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The author is Editor/Publisher for Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at bwest@lawnandlandscape.com.