The Contractor Checklist: Bobcat Skid Steer, Air Compressor, Aftermarket Parts, and Forklift Certification

Who This Checklist Is For

I've spent seven years handling equipment and parts orders for a small excavation company. I've personally made (and documented) 14 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $12,000 in wasted budget. Now I maintain our team's checklist so we don't repeat them. This is for anyone about to search for 'Bobcat skid steer loaders for sale,' or thinking about buying an air compressor, ordering Bobcat aftermarket parts, or getting a crew member forklift certified.

I'd rather spend 10 minutes explaining options now than deal with mismatched expectations later. So this checklist is not a sales pitch. It's the operational stuff I wish someone had handed me before I started buying equipment.

Step 1: Start With the Job List, Not the Machine List

Most people begin by comparing specs on compact loaders. That's backwards. Before you type 'Bobcat skid steer loaders for sale' into a browser, write down every task you actually need to do for the next 90 days. That list decides the machine size, the attachment package, the lifting capacity, and the budget.

In my first year (2018), I made the classic mistake: I assumed 'more capacity' was always better. Didn't verify against our real jobs. Turned out we paid about $6,000 extra for a bigger machine that spent half its time sitting in the yard. The right question isn't 'what's the best skid steer?' It's 'what is the smallest machine that safely handles my biggest repeated task?'

Counterintuitive, I know. But the job list has saved more money than any negotiating trick I've tried.

Step 2: Match the Air Compressor and Hand Mixer to the Actual Work

You don't need the most expensive air compressor. You need one that runs the tools you already own. Check the SCFM rating at 90 PSI, not just the tank size. A big tank with low CFM will still starve a grinder or a nail gun.

When I compared my first cheap compressor with the one I bought after it burned out, I finally understood why the CFM rating matters more than tank size. The first looked like a bargain. It wasn't. It also had mismatched fittings, which cost us half a day before a $15 adapter fixed it.

Same with the small stuff. Every crew eventually needs a hand mixer for drywall mud or small batches of leveler. I assumed any electric hand mixer would work. The $40 one I bought lasted exactly one day. For occasional patch work, a light-duty hand mixer is fine. For a crew, get a heavy-duty paddle mixer with enough torque. Match the tool to the pace of the job, not to the sale price.

Step 3: Know How to Get Forklift Certified Before You Need It

If you're moving skid steer attachments or pallets of parts, someone on your crew has to be forklift certified. Here's how to get forklift certified, in the simplest version I know:

1. Choose an OSHA-compliant training course, either online or in-person.
2. Complete the classroom portion covering load charts, stability, and site hazards.
3. Pass the written test.
4. Pass a hands-on evaluation on the type of forklift you'll actually use.
5. Make sure your employer issues a certification record with names and dates.

According to OSHA (29 CFR 1910.178), the evaluation must be repeated at least every three years, and refresher training is required if an operator does something unsafe or has an accident. Verify current details at osha.gov before booking anything.

Everyone told me to get this done before our first pallet delivery. I didn't listen. The inspector asked for the operator's certification, and the resulting fine plus delay cost us about $1,300. That was the reverse-validation moment I needed.

Step 4: Create a Bobcat Aftermarket Parts System

You will be tempted to buy Bobcat aftermarket parts from the first search result. Don't. Build a simple system:

First, compare the part number against a Bobcat parts diagram. I assumed 'same specifications' meant identical results across vendors. Didn't verify. Turned out each vendor had slightly different tolerances and materials. Now I check the diagram before I click buy.

Second, ask for a spec sheet. Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), advertising claims have to be truthful and substantiated. If a seller says a part is 'OEM quality' but can't show you the numbers, that's a red flag, not a bargain.

Third, add shipping into the real price. According to USPS (usps.com), a First-Class Mail letter is $0.73 as of January 2025, but that only applies to small lightweight items. A hydraulic filter or a bucket pin is not a letter. Verify current rates at usps.com before comparing prices.

I have mixed feelings about aftermarket parts. On one hand, they save money on wear items like bucket teeth. On the other hand, I've seen a cheap hydraulic filter fail and take a pump with it. My rule now: genuine Bobcat for anything hydraulic or safety-critical; aftermarket for wear items only if the spec sheet checks out.

Step 5: Check Every Order Against the Parts Diagram Before Installation

In September 2022, I ordered 40 pieces for a Bobcat attachment and approved the invoice without opening the boxes. The parts were the wrong length. That error cost $890 in replacement plus a 1-week delay. I learned the hard way: a quick visual check when a part arrives is worth more than any supplier guarantee.

Now our team uses a short checklist: part number matches the diagram, quantity is correct, no obvious damage, and a test fit happens before full installation. It sounds boring. But in the past 18 months, we've caught 47 potential errors using this checklist. That's 47 delays that didn't happen.

Step 6: Do a Daily Walk-Around, Especially When It's Boring

The machines that break down are the machines nobody looked at. A skid steer, forklift, and air compressor each need a two-minute daily check: fluid leaks, loose hoses, cracked belts, warning lights, and any fresh oil spots.

The surprise wasn't the big hydraulic failure I kept worrying about. It was how many small issues we found on mornings when we actually looked. A loose battery terminal. A cracked air hose. A worn-out pivot pin. Each one took less than 10 minutes to fix. The ones we missed became $300 repair bills.

Step 7: Keep a 'What I'd Change' File

After every job, write down one thing that cost time or money. In 2024, I looked back at my notes and saw that we spent roughly 40% more than necessary on rush shipping because I didn't plan parts orders in advance. That wasn't a supplier problem. It was a planning problem.

The file doesn't have to be fancy. A note in your phone works. The goal is to turn mistakes into a better checklist for next time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Searching for 'Bobcat skid steer loaders for sale' before you've defined the jobs.
• Buying an air compressor based on tank size instead of CFM at 90 PSI.
• Using a light-duty hand mixer for crew-level mixing.
• Waiting until an inspector asks about forklift certification.
• Ordering aftermarket parts without a spec sheet or a part number match.

Bottom line: equipment decisions are easy to get wrong, but they're also easy to prevent with a checklist. I'd rather you borrow mine than make the same mistakes I did.