The first skidsteer was the Keller Self Propelled Loader; invented by Louis and Cyril Keller in Rothsay, Minnesota in 1957. Mustang introduced their first mass-produced skid steer just eight years later and quickly expanded their range, creating machines to handle almost any task imaginable. In 2001 the company's first track loaders were brought out to expand their use even further.
During the troubling times of 2008, the Manitou Group was able to purchase Mustang and all the expertise in building these machines that came along with it. For many years these subsequent machines were badged as “Mustang by Manitou” however in 2019 the decision was made to finally drop the Mustang name and bring everything under one roof as Manitou skidsteers, today standing as the second longest standing manufacturer of skidsteer loaders.
We’ll take a look at some of the innovations that keep these machines at the forefront of the skidsteer and track loader world.
Tracks
- The IdealTrax tensioning system automatically tensions the tracks to the correct tension each time the loader is started, and releases this tension when the machine is stopped.
- Dual flange idlers and triple flange rollers are spaced to provide a smoother ride for operator and reduce spillage of load.
Boom
- Vertical lift or Radial lift options.
- Hydraulic lines run along inside of the boom to keep safe from falling debris
- Excellent forward reach in the middle of the lift for dumping over walls or into trailers on radial lift machines.
- Improved visibility and strength by profiling the lift arms allowing debris to fall away minimizing the real world vision blocking of the arms.
Controls
- Hand and foot control
- Joystick control
- T Handle control
Maintenance
- Reduced oil requirement due to clever hydraulic cooler design making each service cost less
- Greaseable pins allow for easy maintenance of your loader in just a couple of minutes each day.
- Easily accessible engine and motor compartment accessible by rear bonnet on smaller machines or by simply tilting back the cab on larger models
- Manitou Connect telematics system available on certain models allows us to check hours and book servicing at a time that suits you as well as be alerted to faults on the machine making repairs faster and reducing downtime.
