Skid Steer Attachments
Models ranging from 20” to 60” in nursery diggers offer a wide array of configurations to suit diverse requirements. These configurations include 22° (truncated), 25° (semi-truncated), and 30° (pointed) spade angles, each tailored to specific digging conditions and tree types.
Whether you’re working on-site, navigating rugged terrain in the wild, or transplanting trees with or without baskets, we have the expertise to fabricate the perfect spade for your needs. Our team is dedicated to understanding your unique requirements and crafting a solution that optimizes efficiency and precision in your tree-moving process.
Discover the ultimate in versatility and efficiency with Big John’s skid steer tree spade attachments. Our attachments are designed to integrate seamlessly with your skid steer loaders, providing enhanced performance for your tree transplanting needs.
Lightweight and Adaptable
We designed our skid steer tree spade nursery diggers for prepared ground nursery digging and they fit a variety of skid steer loaders. They are lightweight with AR400 cold formed, straight blades, and can move trees from 1” to 5” in diameter.
Our skid steer tree spades are designed for prepared ground nursery digging. We offer several customization options for our skid steer tree spades. We can change the size, number, shape, or position of blades, add hydraulic stabilizers, and attach adjustable leveling pads. Contact us for more information about custom units.
We offer pointed, truncated, and semi-truncated models.
Features on all Models
Features on all Models
Choosing a Big John Skid Steer Tree Spade
Every Big John skid steer tree spade on this page is a nursery digger built for prepared ground. Start with the trees you dig most often and find the model whose caliper range covers them. Then check the root ball and the spade weight against your loader.
Tree size and root ball width by model
| Model | Trunk caliper | Root ball width |
|---|---|---|
| Model 20 | 1 to 2 in. | 20 in. |
| Model 28 | 1 to 3 in. | 28 in. |
| Model 36 | 1 to 3 in. | 36 in. |
| Model 40 | 1 to 4 in. | 40 in. |
| Model 44 | 1 to 4 in. | 44 in. |
| Model 48 | 1 to 5 in. | 48 in. |
| Model 54 | 1 to 5 in. | 54 in. |
Root ball depth and spade weight by model
| Model | Root ball depth | Spade weight |
|---|---|---|
| Model 20 | 14 in. | 1,200 lbs |
| Model 28 | 20 to 22 in. | 1,500 lbs |
| Model 36 | 23 to 30 in. | 1,900 to 2,000 lbs |
| Model 40 | 27 to 34 in. | 2,300 to 2,400 lbs |
| Model 44 | 28 to 36 in. | 2,000 to 2,400 lbs |
| Model 48 | 30 to 39 in. | 2,550 to 2,700 lbs |
| Model 54 | 32.5 to 42 in. | 2,800 to 3,000 lbs |
Spade weight is the total machine weight on each spec sheet. A range means the model comes in more than one version, such as the 44 and the 44ST, and the Models 28, 36, and 40 also offer inside-frame and outside-frame versions. Each product page lists every version.
Matching a Tree Spade for Skid Steer Loaders
A tree spade for skid steer work has to suit the machine that carries it. Big John builds these nursery diggers to fit a wide range of skid steer loaders, and they mount on the loader’s quick-attach plate. Four checks settle the fit with your loader and your ground:
- Hydraulic flow. Every spec sheet lists 10 to 16 GPM under Drive System (Minimum GPM). Compare it with your loader’s auxiliary flow before you order.
- Carry capacity. Add the spade weight and the root ball weight from the model’s product page, then compare the total with your loader’s rated operating capacity.
- Coupler. If your machine does not use a standard quick-attach plate, confirm the mount with the team first.
- Blade profile. Pointed blades are the all-purpose choice and work well in very sandy soil. Truncated blades suit prepared nursery ground and harder clay, and make a pot-shaped ball that is easy to basket and burlap. Semi-truncated blades are made for nursery digging and flat-bottom baskets.
For blade shapes in more detail, see which blade configuration fits your nursery. For background on carriers, flow, and sizing before you pick a model, read the skid steer tree spade buying guide.
What a Skid Loader Tree Spade Can Move, and When to Step Up
A skid loader tree spade from Big John moves trees from 1 to 5 inches in trunk diameter, with root balls from 20 to 54 inches wide. These units are built for prepared ground nursery digging, so the limits are tree size and soil. Past either limit, another Big John mount is the better tool:
- For unprepared ground and trees up to 4 inches, the loader-mounted 42DL is designed to fit large skid steers and smaller loaders. It moves 1 to 4 inch trees with a 42-inch root ball and AR500 blades, and it weighs 3,000 lbs with a 1,500 lb root ball, so check your loader’s capacity first.
- For trees up to 7 inches without a loader, trailer-mounted tree spades are self-contained, tow-along machines built for occasional use. The 55DTD handles 4 to 5 inch trees and the 65DTD handles 6 to 7 inch trees.
- For trees over 5 inches or tough ground, truck-mounted tree spades run from the 45D for 3 to 4 inch trees up to the 100D for 12 to 14 inch trees, with an onboard water tank for unprepared digging conditions.
Sizing Your Trees With the Calculator
Choose the spade by the root ball your trees need, not by the trunk alone. The tree caliper to rootball calculator applies the ANSI Z60.1 rule of 10 to 12 inches of root ball for every inch of caliper. A 3-inch tree calls for a 30 to 36-inch ball, and a 4-inch tree for 40 to 48 inches.
Measure caliper 6 inches above the ground on trunks up to 4 inches, and 12 inches above on larger ones. The calculator then returns a root ball diameter, a weight estimate, and a recommended Big John model.
If your trees sit at the top of a model’s caliper range, run them through first and size up when the ball comes out wider than the spade.
Buying New or Used
A new build lets you choose the model, frame, blade profile, controls, and the custom options described above. Owners get customer service for the life of the spade and a manual for routine care. Big John’s skid steer tree spade maintenance guide shows what that care involves.
A used unit lowers the entry cost. The used tree spades list carries customer trade-ins and demo equipment, including models that may no longer be in production, and stock changes as units sell. Recent listings have included a used 40N nursery digger, a version of the Model 40 in the tables above.
New or used, the team can match a spade to your loader and your trees. Contact Big John for pricing and specs.
Skid Steer Tree Spade: Common Questions
Does a Big John skid steer tree spade come with a remote?
Yes. The product pages list a wireless remote as standard, most models also come with an electric valve bank, and every model has a hydraulic gate lock. Cabled controls are available if you would rather run the spade from inside the skid steer.
Will a skid steer tree spade dig hard or unprepared ground?
The Models 20 through 54 are designed for prepared ground nursery digging. For 1 to 4 inch trees in unprepared soil, look at the 42DL, which fits large skid steers. For bigger trees or tougher sites, look at the truck-mounted line.
Which skid steer tree spade handles 5-inch trees?
The Models 48 and 54 are both listed for 1 to 5 inch trunks. The 54 cuts a 54-inch root ball and the 48 a 48-inch ball. For 5-inch stock, the 10 to 12 times rule calls for a 50 to 60-inch ball, so check your trees in the calculator before you choose.
What maintenance does a skid steer tree spade need?
Clean off dirt and debris after every move, lubricate the blade towers, and grease the bushings and pivot shafts. Check the hydraulic lines at every hookup, and check the blades and slides once a year. Big John recommends replacing hydraulic lines every couple of years.
How do I get a quote on a tree spade attachment for a skid steer?
Pick a model from the tables above, then send the team your loader’s make, model, and auxiliary flow, the largest trunk caliper you dig, and your soil conditions. With those, they can recommend the frame, blade profile, and options that fit your work.