A skid steer’s hydraulic flow and pressure determine its operating capacity and the attachments it can support. In addition to arm movement, the hydraulic system powers the attachments. The machine must offer sufficient pressure and flow for all its functions.

The critical metrics to confirm are flow in gallons per minute (GPM) and pressure in pounds per square inch (PSI). Some skid steers offer a specialized high-flow hydraulics system to support attachments rated as high-flow products. While a typical hydraulics system delivers 15 to 25 GPM, high-flow systems deliver 26 to 60 GPM.