TMG sells attachments direct to Canadian buyers at prices that undercut dealers. Here's the honest assessment of what you're getting, what to watch for, and who should — and shouldn't — buy TMG.
TMG Industrial is a Canadian company that operates differently than the traditional attachment brands. Instead of selling through a dealer network with stocking dealers, service departments, and the markup that comes with all of it, TMG sells primarily direct — through their own website and through platforms like Wayfair, Walmart.ca, and Amazon.ca. The result is pricing that's noticeably lower than what you'd pay at an equipment dealer for a comparable attachment.
That business model creates an obvious question: what's the catch? This guide gives you the honest answer, based on what the product specs show and what the broader Canadian operator community has observed about TMG products over time.
TMG's catalog covers a wide range of skid steer attachments. Their core product lines include:
The range is broader than many buyers expect. TMG isn't just selling simple mechanical attachments — they make hydraulic units too, including auger drives, grapples with hydraulic cylinders, and breakers. That's important context for understanding where the quality trade-offs actually live.
TMG sources most of its products from Asian manufacturers — primarily Chinese. That statement gets reflexively dismissed by some buyers and used as an automatic criticism by others. The real answer is more nuanced.
China's manufacturing quality range is enormous. At the low end, you get thin-walled steel, cheap hydraulic seals, and components that fail under real work conditions. At the mid range, you get products that are functionally comparable to North American mid-tier brands, especially for simpler applications. TMG's products appear to land in the lower-to-middle portion of that range, depending on the specific product.
Simple mechanical attachments with no hydraulics or precision components are where TMG shines relative to price. Pallet fork frames and tines are structurally straightforward — good steel, proper welds, and a correct quick-attach plate is all you need. TMG pallet forks, based on available product specifications and the limited community feedback available, appear to be legitimate working tools for the price. The same applies to basic bucket attachments and bolt-on accessories.
Grapple attachments also have reasonable community sentiment for lighter applications. A root grapple used for property cleanup — handling brush piles, small logs, and debris — doesn't face the same stress loading as one being used for heavy stump removal or clearing large timber. For the lighter use case, TMG grapples represent real value.
Hydraulic attachments are where the scrutiny should be highest. TMG's auger drive units and hydraulic breakers are the products most commonly flagged in online discussion as "okay for occasional use, not for sustained commercial work." The hydraulic seals and internal components on budget-tier units tend to be the first failure point — and seal replacement on a failed TMG unit can be challenging when the unit wasn't designed with serviceability in mind and the brand doesn't have a service network.
Hydraulic breakers deserve specific mention. A breaker works hard — it's a high-cycle-rate impact tool. The internal valve and piston components in budget breakers wear faster, and when they fail, the repair cost can approach or exceed the original purchase price. The Canadian operator community on forums like Heavy Equipment Forums Canada and r/Skidsteer has a reasonably consistent message on this: buy a used mid-market breaker (Atlas Copco, NPK, Montabert) over a new economy breaker. The used mid-tier will outlast the new budget unit and parts are serviceable.
The fundamental trade-off with TMG is straightforward:
| Factor | TMG Industrial | HLA / Dealer-Network Brand |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | Lower — often 30–50% less for comparable specs | Higher — dealer margin + import/domestic overhead |
| Dealer Support | None — direct sales only | Local dealer with service capability |
| Parts Availability | Limited — ship back to TMG or source third-party | Local dealer stock, often same-week service |
| Build Quality (mechanical) | Adequate for light-to-medium commercial use | Consistent commercial-grade quality |
| Build Quality (hydraulic) | Variable — adequate for occasional use | More consistent, better seals and components |
| Resale Value | Low — not well-known in secondary market | Better — recognized brand holds value |
| Best For | Budget-conscious buyers, light-to-medium work | Commercial operators, high-use applications |
The acreage owner with a used skid steer: You've got 20 acres outside of Kamloops, you run your Bobcat S650 a few dozen hours a year, and you need pallet forks and a grapple for general property work. TMG pallet forks at $600–$800 CAD delivered are a completely sensible choice. You're not going to wear them out. You don't need a dealer network for a set of forks.
The startup landscaping contractor: First year in business, tight on capital, running one or two machines. TMG buckets and simple attachments let you get working without a major capital outlay. As the business grows and machines accumulate hours, the calculus shifts toward dealer-brand attachments — but in year one, TMG buys you time.
The farm operator buying a second set: Your primary attachments are HLA or Bobcat OEM, but you want a spare set of pallet forks to leave on the feed handler or a second auger bit you don't want to store. TMG accessories for secondary use make sense.
Commercial snow removal company: You're running two machines, 14 hours a night, October through April. Your attachments are profit centres. A TMG snow pusher that fails mid-season or needs a cutting edge that takes two weeks to ship costs you real money. This is HLA territory (or better).
High-volume construction operation: Running a Caterpillar 262 or Bobcat T650 for site excavation 40+ hours a week. The attachment is a production tool. Don't compromise on an economy brand.
Anyone needing a hydraulic breaker for real demolition work: Just buy used mid-tier. Full stop.
TMG's primary Canadian channel is their own website (tmgindustrialtools.com), but they also list products through:
Shipping on large attachments (anything over 100kg) typically involves LTL freight. TMG ships from their own Canadian warehouse, which means no customs delays. Delivery to major urban centres is usually 5–14 business days. Remote areas in northern BC, the territories, or northern Ontario/Quebec may take longer or have additional freight costs — confirm before ordering.
TMG serves a real market need. Not every operator needs a $5,000 HLA grapple when a $2,800 TMG grapple will do the same job at 60% of the use rate. The key is matching the product to the application. Light-to-medium mechanical attachments for moderate-use applications: TMG is a legitimate choice. Heavy-duty hydraulic attachments for commercial-intensity work: look elsewhere.
The absence of a dealer network is the permanent limitation. You buy cheaper; you accept that support is limited. That trade-off works fine for simple tools. It's less acceptable when the tool is mission-critical and downtime is expensive.