A skid steer, as a dependable piece of equipment, can remove a stump from your project site; it simply takes a bit more effort. Before you get started, it is important to understand that while a skid steer can pull just about anything, it is not designed to carry any weight beyond its own weight. Thus, when you are removing large trees or other heavy objects, you will need another machine to help out. There are two types of skid steers: front-end loaders and backhoes. A front-end loader has the bucket at the front and the engine in the middle. It is best suited for lifting materials like dirt or sand. A backhoe has the bucket on the rear and the engine at the front. It is used for digging holes and trenches in soil or concrete. Either type of skid steer can lift weights up to 2,000 pounds, but they were not designed to carry this amount of weight over long distances or periods of time. Stump removal with a skid steer involves using the bucket to grab the tree by the trunk and pulling it toward you. You then use an axe to cut the tree down near the ground where it can be loaded into your truck.