Skid Steer Attachments for Land Clearing
Clear land faster, safer, and more efficiently with the right attachment — without wasting money on the wrong tool.
👉 View Land Clearing Attachments
Land clearing isn’t one job — it’s a combination of brush removal, tree handling, debris management, and ground prep, often done under tight timelines and tough conditions. Whether you’re reclaiming acreage, cleaning up storm damage, opening fence lines, or prepping a site for construction, the work changes fast — and so do the demands on your equipment.
That’s why attachment choice matters. The wrong attachment can slow production, beat up your machine, or force you to redo work. A grapple that’s great for brush may struggle with logs. A brush cutter won’t replace a tree shear. A rock bucket can move material efficiently — but it won’t handle tangled debris like a grapple will. There’s no “do-everything” attachment in land clearing, only the right tool for the job at hand.
At CrewTough, we don’t sell attachments based on hype, buzzwords, or exaggerated claims. We sell based on real use cases — what works in the field, what holds up under load, and what actually makes sense for the type of clearing you’re doing. Our lineup of grapples, forestry mulchers, tree shears, brush cutters, root rakes, and rock buckets is built around practical performance, not gimmicks.
This page is here to help you understand which attachments make sense for your work, what problems each tool is designed to solve, and where the tradeoffs are — so you can invest once, work efficiently, and keep your operation moving.
What Types of Land Clearing Are You Doing?
Clearing Brush & Undergrowth
Tree & Heavy Debris Removal
Rocky or Debris-Heavy Ground
Large Acreage vs Tight Access
Farm, Forestry, or Municipal Work
Best Skid Steer Attachments for Land Clearing
FORESTRY MULCHERS (Educational Overview – Coming Soon)
Best for:
High-volume land clearing where vegetation needs to be cut and reduced in place. Forestry mulchers are designed to shred brush, saplings, and small trees in a single pass, making them ideal for large acreage, unmanaged land, and professional clearing operations focused on speed and finish quality.
Not ideal for:
Material handling, debris pickup, or rocky terrain. Mulchers are cutting tools — not grapples — and require high-flow hydraulics and proper machine compatibility.
CrewTough insight:
While CrewTough does not currently stock forestry mulchers, understanding when a mulcher is or isn’t the right tool helps buyers avoid expensive mistakes. Many land clearing jobs are better handled with grapples, tree shears, or brush cutters depending on terrain and debris type.
🔗 Learn when a forestry mulcher makes sense for land clearing
GRAPPLE BUCKETS
Best for:
Handling, sorting, and piling brush, logs, roots, and debris after cutting. Grapple buckets are one of the most versatile land clearing tools and are especially useful for cleanup, storm damage, and material control.
Not ideal for:
Cutting standing vegetation or mulching material. Grapples manage material — they don’t reduce it.
TREE SHEARS
Best for:
Selective tree removal, fence line clearing, and cutting trees cleanly at the base. Tree shears allow for controlled cuts without debris scatter, making them popular for farms, property maintenance, and right-of-way work.
Not ideal for:
Brush clearing, stump removal, or debris cleanup. Tree shears cut — they don’t carry or grind material.
BRUSH CUTTERS
Best for:
Light to medium brush, tall grass, and surface vegetation. Brush cutters are ideal for maintenance clearing where the goal is keeping land manageable without disturbing the soil.
Not ideal for:
Large trees, heavy debris, or rocky ground. Brush cutters are surface tools, not heavy-clearing solutions.
ROOT RAKES & ROCK BUCKETS
Best for:
Separating roots, rocks, and debris from soil after primary clearing is complete. These attachments are commonly used for ground cleanup, grading prep, and material sorting.
Not ideal for:
Cutting standing vegetation or handling tangled brush.
Land Clearing Attachment FAQs
What is the best skid steer attachment for land clearing?
There is no single “best” attachment for every land clearing job. The right attachment depends on what you’re clearing, the terrain, and your skid steer’s capabilities. Grapple buckets are commonly used for debris handling and cleanup, tree shears are ideal for selective tree removal, brush cutters work well for surface vegetation, and root rakes or rock buckets are best for ground cleanup after clearing is complete.
Can one attachment handle all land clearing work?
No. Land clearing typically requires multiple attachments at different stages of the job. Cutting attachments handle vegetation, while grapples and buckets manage debris and ground cleanup. Trying to use one attachment for every task often leads to slower production and unfinished results.
What attachment should I use for clearing brush versus trees?
For light to medium brush and surface vegetation, brush cutters are often the most efficient option. For cutting trees cleanly at the base, tree shears provide controlled removal. After cutting, grapple buckets are commonly used to move and pile material.
Do I need high-flow hydraulics for land clearing attachments?
Some land clearing attachments require high-flow hydraulics, while others do not. Brush cutters typically require higher hydraulic flow, while grapples, tree shears, root rakes, and rock buckets often operate on standard-flow machines. Always confirm your skid steer’s hydraulic specifications before selecting an attachment.
What attachments work best on rocky or debris-heavy land?
Root rakes and rock buckets are commonly used for rocky or debris-heavy ground. These attachments allow material to be separated from soil efficiently and are best used after vegetation has already been removed.
How do I choose the right land clearing attachment for my skid steer?
Start by identifying the type of material you’re clearing, the size of the area, and your skid steer’s hydraulic capacity. Matching the attachment to the use case and machine specifications usually produces better results than choosing based on price alone.
Can CrewTough help me choose the right land clearing attachment?
Yes. CrewTough focuses on matching attachments to real-world land clearing applications, machine specifications, and job requirements. If you’re unsure which attachment fits your work, our team can help guide the decision based on practical experience — not guesswork.
