What Is a Skid-Steer Radial Lift Path (Reach Chart)
A skid-steer radial lift path chart shows how the attachment moves as the loader arms rise, including the height and forward reach available at different points. Use the chart for your exact machine and setup to judge whether the attachment can reach the work. Check its capacity limits separately: reach alone does not tell you whether a load is safe.
Rain, snow, and thaw can turn firm ground soft or slippery. That matters when you use a skid steer: a load the machine can handle on level, firm ground may be less stable on a slope or weak surface. A lift path chart helps you understand where the attachment will travel, but it is not a promise that every lift is safe in every condition.
What a radial lift path chart shows
A radial lift path chart illustrates the arc traveled by a skid-steer loader’s arms and attachment as they rise. It helps you see how high the attachment can go and how far forward it can reach at various heights. The exact path and measurements depend on the machine model and chart.
A radial-lift loader’s arms pivot from a fixed point on the machine. As they rise, the attachment generally follows a curved path. On many radial-lift models, forward reach is greatest around the middle of the lift, then the load moves back toward the machine as the arms rise farther. The exact path varies, so use the manufacturer’s chart rather than assuming every machine behaves the same way.
This pattern often suits digging, grading, and work close to the ground. It can also affect how you approach a truck or place material at height: the attachment may not reach as far forward near the top of its lift as it does partway up.
How to read the lift path and reach
A lift path chart maps attachment position as the arms move. Read the labels, units, and measurement points before comparing the path with your task. Reach at the bucket edge, lift height at the attachment pin, and dump height describe different things and cannot be used as substitutes for one another.
Look for the chart’s horizontal and vertical scales. The horizontal scale usually shows forward distance from a stated reference point; the vertical scale shows height from a stated reference surface. A curved line or sequence of marks shows where the attachment moves through the lift cycle.
Check the notes beside the graphic. The manufacturer may define reach at the bucket cutting edge, attachment face, or another point. Lift height is often listed at the attachment hinge pin, but confirm the chart’s definition. Dump height describes a point related to discharging material, not necessarily the highest point of the attachment.
| Chart item | What it tells you | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Lift path | Where the attachment travels as the arms rise | Which attachment and machine configuration are shown |
| Reach | Forward distance at a stated arm position | Reference point and units |
| Maximum lift height | Highest stated position for the specified point | Whether the value is at the hinge pin or another point |
| Dump height | Height associated with dumping material | Whether the task needs this height or another measurement |
| Rated operating capacity (ROC) | A manufacturer-stated load rating for a defined setup and basis | Machine configuration, attachment, and rating notes |
| Tipping load | A stated stability-related test value | How the manufacturer relates it to ROC |
Do not estimate a safe load from the lift path itself. A path shows movement, while capacity information addresses load limits. A reach figure alone cannot establish whether a particular load can be lifted safely.
Confirm you have the right chart and capacity data
A machine-specific chart is one prepared for the exact loader model and relevant configuration. Before using it, match the make and model, and check notes about tires or tracks, counterweights, and the specified attachment. Do not use a vertical-lift chart for a radial-lift machine, or a chart from another model.
Compare the intended load with the applicable machine and attachment limits. Attachment weight reduces the payload available for material; follow the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the allowable load for your setup. Also consider load center, meaning the load’s position relative to the stated reference point. A load with the same weight can affect the machine differently if its center is farther forward.
Find these machine-specific values in the manual, chart, or data plate:
- ROC, including its stated configuration and rating basis.
- Tipping load and the manufacturer’s stated relationship between tipping load and ROC.
- Maximum lift height and the point used to measure it.
- Reach at maximum height and the point used to measure it.
- Reach at a specified mid-lift or dump-height position, if provided.
There is no single set of reach or capacity figures that applies to all skid steers. If the chart does not match your machine or leaves a key measurement unclear, ask the manufacturer or dealer to confirm it before lifting.
Apply the chart to a real task
A reach chart is most useful when you compare its measurements with the actual work point. First identify where the attachment must sit, then check the chart at the height and reach needed. Treat the following as examples of how to frame the question, not as capacity approvals for any particular machine.
| Task scenario | What to check on the chart | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Filling or grading near ground level | Reach and attachment position near the ground | Check the attachment and machine limits; the chart does not account for every ground condition |
| Reaching over a truck side | Required height and forward distance at that height | Do not assume maximum reach and maximum height occur together |
| Placing a load at height | Attachment position at the required height, plus capacity data | Confirm load weight, load center, and attachment weight |
| Working on soft or sloped ground | The required path and the machine’s stated conditions | Chart figures do not account for every slope, soft surface, or dynamic movement |
For example, imagine a load that appears manageable near the ground but must be raised and extended to reach a placement point. The path chart can show whether the attachment gets there; the capacity information and manual help determine whether the load and setup are within stated limits. If either part is uncertain, do not proceed on guesswork.
Prepare, lift, travel, and park safely
A step-by-step routine helps connect chart information to the conditions around the machine. Follow the operator’s manual and applicable rules, including OSHA 29 CFR 1926.602 for construction equipment. Keep the restraint bar or seat belt engaged, and keep the cab or ROPS/FOPS protective structure in place as designed.
Before use, inspect tires or tracks, attachment locking, hydraulics, lift arms, controls, and the restraint system. Check visibility and the work area for people, overhead hazards, slopes, weak ground, and underground utilities. Do not use damaged equipment; arrange repair first.
Start and warm the loader as its manual directs. Check that controls and warning indicators work as expected, and keep bystanders clear. Approach the work squarely on firm, level ground. Lift and move smoothly, keep the load low while traveling, and avoid abrupt turns or stops, especially with the arms raised.
Do not travel with a raised load or lift beyond the applicable machine or attachment capacity. A load that seems acceptable near the ground may exceed a stability limit when raised or extended. A slope, soft ground, or sudden movement can further affect stability. A chart is not permission to exceed rated capacity or ignore changing conditions.
When finished, lower the attachment fully and park on stable ground. Apply the parking brake and follow the specified shutdown procedure. Relieve hydraulic pressure before disconnecting an attachment as directed in the manual.
Check changes and maintain the setup
A chart remains useful only when the machine still matches the setup it describes. Recheck the correct chart when you change the attachment, counterweight, tires or tracks, or another capacity-affecting part of the configuration. If you are unsure whether a change affects capacity, consult the manufacturer’s instructions.
Inspect lift-arm pins and bushings, cylinders, hoses, couplers, attachment locks, tires or tracks, and safety interlocks at the intervals in the service schedule. Remove damaged equipment from service until it is repaired. Clean and inspect the machine before storage, park it on stable ground with the attachment lowered, and follow the manufacturer’s procedures for fuel, battery care, freezing conditions, and hydraulic storage.
Frequently asked questions
What does “radial lift” mean on a skid steer?
It describes an arm design in which the arms pivot from a fixed point and move the attachment along a curved path. Check the machine’s own chart to see the actual path.
What is a skid-steer reach chart used for?
It shows the attachment’s reach at stated points in the lift cycle. Use it to check whether the machine can reach a work position, then check capacity information separately to assess the load.
Does a radial-lift loader reach farther at the top?
Not necessarily. Many radial-lift loaders provide their greatest forward reach around mid-lift, with the attachment moving rearward as it rises. The exact path depends on the model.
Is reach the same as lift height?
No. Reach is a forward-distance measurement, while lift height is a vertical measurement. The chart should state the reference point and units for each.
Can I use a vertical-lift chart for a radial-lift machine?
No. Use the chart for the exact loader model and lift design. A chart from another model or lift configuration may give misleading measurements.
Does the reach chart tell me the safe load weight?
Not by itself. Check the machine’s capacity information, attachment limits, load weight, load center, and configuration. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Why does attachment weight matter?
The attachment is part of the load the loader carries. Its weight reduces the payload available for material, so use the manufacturer’s method to determine capacity for the setup.
Can I rely on the chart on a slope or soft ground?
Do not assume so. A chart does not account for every slope, weak surface, or dynamic movement. Follow the manual, assess site conditions, and keep the load low while traveling.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Evan Bradley. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
