Two skid steers can have similar engine horsepower ratings yet deliver very different performance with the same hydraulic attachment. The difference often comes from how effectively engine output is converted to hydraulic flow and pressure. Engine horsepower represents the gross power produced by the diesel or gasoline engine, but attachments like mulchers, augers, trenchers, and power brooms rely directly on auxiliary hydraulic flow (GPM) and pressure (PSI) to perform work.
Standard hydraulic flow packages typically operate around 15 to 22 GPM, which is well-suited for general-purpose attachments such as standard buckets, grapple buckets, and light augers. High-flow hydraulic packages increase flow to 26 to 40+ GPM, allowing heavy-duty attachments to maintain high rotational speed and torque under heavy operating loads without stalling.
Operating an attachment below its required GPM range leads to sluggish operation and reduced productivity, while exceeding maximum pressure limits can damage hydraulic motors and hoses. Always verify that your skid steer's auxiliary GPM and PSI match the optimal operational range specified by the attachment manufacturer.
