Gifts for Skid Steer Owners: 6 Real Ideas by Budget

The best gifts for skid steer owners are upgrades they will actually use in the cab, not another coffee mug with a loader on it. At the low end, a 22 inch LED light bar runs $99 and a cab heater is $119. In the middle, an electric wiper kit is $229 and side window panels are $399. The big one is a shatterproof polycarbonate door at $1,395 to $1,795, depending on the machine. Every item on this list is something we build or stock ourselves, with real prices from our own store.

The quick list: six gifts by price

Prices are current as of this writing. Now let’s walk through each one, so you can match the gift to the person.

Under $250: gifts that get used every day

22” LED light bar, $99

Short winter days mean a lot of skid steer work happens in the dark. Plowing at 5 a.m. Feeding animals after sunset. A 22 inch LED light bar throws a wide field of light in front of the machine, well beyond what tired factory lights put out.

At $99, this is the easiest gift on the list. You do not need to know the model number, and it works whether or not the machine has a door. If the owner ever complains about not seeing the edge of the driveway or the far side of the feed lot, this is the one.

Cab heater, $119

Ask any operator what they want in January and the answer is heat. Our cab heater is the natural partner to an enclosed cab. A door and enclosure hold the heat in, and the heater supplies it. Together they turn a freezing cab into a place a person can work all day.

If the machine already has one of our doors, a heater is the obvious next step. If it does not have a door yet, keep reading, because the door is the gift that makes the heater worth it. For the full picture, see our cab heater guide.

Electric wiper kit, $229

A door keeps sleet and mud off the operator. The wiper keeps the view clear. Our electric wiper kit was designed specifically for our skid steer doors, so it matches the door instead of forcing a universal part to fit.

Snow, freezing drizzle, and mud spray are exactly the conditions skid steers work in from November through March. If the person on your list already runs one of our doors bare, the wiper kit is the upgrade they have been putting off. Our electric wiper kit guide covers the install.

$250 to $600: serious comfort upgrades

Side window panels, $399

A door alone blocks the front. Side window panels close in the sides of the cab, which is what gets an operator to real, all-day comfort. The enclosure helps regulate cab temperature in both directions: warmer in January, and it keeps dust and wind out year-round.

If the owner already has a door, side panels complete the enclosure. This is a strong gift for someone who plows commercially or spends full days in the seat.

Door frame kit, $599

Plenty of older skid steers left the factory with no door at all, and no frame to hang one on. Our door frame kit solves that. It gives those machines the mounting structure a door needs, so even a bare-cab machine can be fully enclosed.

The $599 price already includes the additional shipping cost for the kit. This is the right gift when the owner runs an older machine and has always said “they don’t make doors for this thing.” We do.

The big gift: a shatterproof polycarbonate door, $1,395 to $1,795

If you want to give the gift, this is it. We build The Original Shatterproof Polycarbonate (Lexan) Door, the first of its kind on the market. Heavy-duty polycarbonate offers protection superior to tempered glass, which matters when a chain snaps or a branch kicks back toward the cab.

Do not take our word for it. Our owner Leighton swings a hammer into our 1/2 inch thick CAT D Series door on camera, unedited. The door takes it. If you want to see what heavy-duty polycarbonate can handle, watch that video before you buy anything else.

Every door is CNC-cut and precision fit for the specific make and model. No guesswork. We build doors for ASV, Bobcat, CAT, Case, Gehl, John Deere, Kubota, Mustang, Manitou, New Holland, Takeuchi, and Terex machines. Prices run from $1,395 to $1,795 depending on the brand and series.

We also build doors for older and obsolete machines nobody else supports, like the Case 1840 and 1845C. If the person on your list runs an older workhorse, a new door breathes new life into it and lifts its resale value the day it goes on.

What comes in the box

A door order is complete. It ships with:

• The polycarbonate door, cut for the exact make and model
• Handle and locking latch with keys
• Hinges
• Weather seal gasket
• All nuts, bolts, and washers

Many owners install the door themselves, but tools and mounting steps vary by exact model. Some kits bolt straight on and others require drilling and bolting, so the printed instructions in the box are the authority. The supplied installation hardware comes with the kit.

The warranty makes it a lifetime gift

Every door carries a limited lifetime warranty against door failure or breakage: one free replacement for life for the original owner, under normal conditions. Hardware is covered for 3 months. A gift with a limited lifetime warranty is a gift that does not come with worry attached.

How to buy for someone else’s machine

Most gift buyers hit the same wall: you do not know the model number, and you cannot exactly crawl under the machine without ruining the surprise. Here is how to get around it.

• Note the brand on the side of the machine. That narrows it to one of the 12 makes we build for.
• Snap a photo of the machine, or find one on the owner’s phone or in the yard.
• Call or text us at (800) 781-8000, Mon-Fri 7am-4pm CST. Send the photo. We match doors to machines by sight every day, because plenty of our own customers do not know their model number either.
• Not sure between two options? Start with an accessory now and talk to the owner about the door after the holiday.

If you would rather keep it simple, the light bar, heater, and wiper kit do not require a model match at all.

Order timing for the holidays

Shipping is UPS 3 Day Air at a $150 flat rate, and delivery typically takes 3 business days (not guaranteed). Winter weather can add delays, so give yourself a cushion. We ship across the US and Canada.

A safe rule for Christmas delivery: place door orders by the second week of December, and accessory orders shortly after. If you are cutting it close, call or text (800) 781-8000 and we will tell you honestly whether it can make it.

One more option for the truly last-minute shopper: print the product page, wrap it in a box, and let the owner pick the final details with us in January. The owner still gets the exact right door, and you still keep the surprise.

Match the gift to the owner

Still deciding? Use this cheat sheet.

• Plows snow: cab heater, then side window panels, then the door if the machine is still open-cab.
• Runs an older machine: door frame kit plus a door. This combination revives machines the dealers gave up on.
• Already owns one of our doors: electric wiper kit or side window panels.
• Works dawn and dusk: the $99 LED light bar. Simple and always appreciated.
• You want the big reaction: the door. It is the difference between a cold, loud, open cab and a machine the owner actually wants to climb into in January. Our winterizing your skid steer checklist shows where the door fits in the bigger cold-weather picture.

Whatever you pick, you are giving something the owner will use every working day, not something that gathers dust in the shop.

Find your door in 30 seconds. Pick your machine’s make and model and see the exact door built for it: [Find Your Door]. Questions? Call or text (800) 781-8000, Mon–Fri 7am–4pm CST.