Bobcat Hire in South Africa
Free quotes from plant hire companies across South Africa. One request, no obligation.
- Size class
- 2–4 t skid steer
- Gets to site
- On a trailer
- Job stage
- Dig & load
Bobcat hire gets you a skid steer loader, the small, nimble machine most South Africans simply call a bobcat, for loading, levelling and clearing in tight spaces. PlantHiring.co.za is a free quote service. You send one request and we pass it to independent plant hire companies and owner-operators near your site, who quote you directly. We do not hire, operate or transport any machines ourselves, and there is no fee or obligation. Tell us the job, the site address and how long you need the machine.
What a skid steer loader does
A skid steer steers by turning its wheels or tracks at different speeds, so it can spin on the spot and work in spaces a larger loader cannot reach. With a bucket it moves sand, soil and rubble, and with other attachments it becomes several machines in one:
- Bucket for loading, levelling and backfilling
- Pallet forks for moving bricks, blocks and paving
- Auger for fence posts, pole holes and tree planting
- Broom for sweeping roads, yards and parking areas
- Hydraulic breaker for small slabs and old paving
Tracked versions, often called compact track loaders, grip better on soft or wet ground and leave less rutting after rain.
Tipper truck and bobcat hire for rubble removal
The most common request is a tipper truck and bobcat hire together. The bobcat loads building rubble, garden waste or excess soil, and a tipper truck takes it to a licensed tip or a site that accepts clean fill. Booking both from the same company keeps them working at the same pace and saves arranging two deliveries.
Ask who pays the tip fees, and check that the truck can reach the loading point. On narrow suburban streets, the bobcat may need to carry each load out to the road. Illegal dumping attracts municipal fines, so ask where the load will go.
Skid steer hire costs and booking
Skid steer hire is usually priced per hour with a minimum of several hours, or per day. Most bobcats are hired with an operator, and the machine comes to site on a trailer behind a bakkie or small truck. The quote depends on:
- Hours on site and the minimum charge
- Delivery distance, charged each way
- Attachments beyond the standard bucket
- Wheels or tracks, and the size of machine
- Fuel, VAT and any standing time
In metros such as Tshwane, searches for bobcat hire Pretoria return many small operators, so compare a few quotes on the same basis.
Bobcat or something bigger?
A bobcat is ideal for clean-ups, paving preparation and loading in tight spots, but it does not dig deep. For trenches and foundations, use a TLB or a mini excavator. For large stockpiles, a front end loader carries far more per bucket.
What to include in your request
- Describe the material and rough volume
- Say if you also need a tipper truck
- List any attachments you need
- Mention access width and street parking
- Give dates and hours you expect
Bobcat Hire on different jobs
- House plots and renovations: clearing builder's rubble, spreading topsoil and levelling driveways and patios for paving
- Housing estates and townships: cleaning stands, spreading base and loading waste between rows of new houses
- Shopping centres, offices and schools: preparing parking areas, sweeping roads and moving pallets around shopping centres and offices
- Factories, warehouses and logistics parks: cleaning factory yards, moving materials and sweeping warehouse aprons and loading bays
- Roads, pipelines and civil works: sweeping milled surfaces, clearing verges and spreading material along kerbs and sidewalks
- Mines and quarries: cleaning spillage under conveyors and around crushers and workshops in confined areas
- Farms, dams and game lodges: cleaning out sheds and feedlots, moving feed and drilling post holes for fencing
Frequently asked questions
Does PlantHiring.co.za hire out bobcats?
Is a bobcat the same as a skid steer?
How long does it take to clear a building site?
Can a bobcat level ground for paving?
Bobcat Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Lephalale
- Kimberley
- Kathu
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
More plant and equipment for hire
Dig & load
Machines that excavate, trench, load and clear
Haul & lift
Trucks that move material, machines that lift it
Compact & finish
Level, compact and mix for layer works and slabs
Site power & tools
Power, breaking, small plant and access
Plant hire services
Hire with operators, rates and buying equipment