Used GP buckets and forks are almost always a smart buy. Used hydraulic breakers and mulchers are a gamble. The new-vs-used question has a different answer for every attachment type — here's how to think it through.
Attachment prices in Canada have climbed. A new 72-inch GP bucket from a reputable brand (Werk-Brau, Virnig, Bobcat OEM) runs $1,400–$2,200 CAD depending on the source. A new hydraulic breaker in the mid-range (Montabert, NPK, Atlas Copco) lands at $6,000–$14,000 CAD. A new forestry mulcher? You're at $45,000–$70,000 CAD after the exchange rate and import costs.
That pricing gap between attachment types is exactly why the new-vs-used calculus isn't one-size-fits-all. A well-maintained used bucket is nearly as good as new. A used mulcher with unknown hours and worn carbide teeth is a liability, not a bargain.
Buckets, pallet forks, box blades, land planes, grapples — these are mechanical tools. No hydraulic motors, no wear items beyond the cutting edge or tines, no complex service history to unravel. A used GP bucket from a Bobcat dealer lot is inspectable in 10 minutes: check the welds for cracks, look at the cutting edge, test the quick-attach plate for fit. If it passes, you're getting a $500–$900 CAD attachment instead of $1,600 new.
Forks are the same story. A used set of 48-inch pallet forks with a universal carriage — the kind that shows up on Kijiji after a farm retirement sale — goes for $400–$700 CAD. New, the equivalent is $1,100–$1,600 CAD. Inspect for cracks at the heel (the bend point takes the most stress), check the carriage for wear, and move on. Used forks are a reliable buy.
Grapple buckets are a middle case. The bucket shell and frame behave like any other simple attachment. The cylinder and pins are wear items worth a close look — bent pins or scored cylinder rods mean a hydraulic repair bill shortly after purchase. Look there first.
Hydraulic breakers. This is the one attachment type where buying used without a service record is genuinely risky. Breakers run hard — their entire job is percussion impact — and the wear isn't always visible. Diaphragm condition, piston seal wear, accumulator nitrogen charge — none of that is inspectable without pulling the head apart. A used breaker that looks fine can need $1,500–$3,000 CAD in internal service within the first season.
If you're buying a used breaker, buy from a known source — a rental company retiring a unit, a Bobcat or Case dealer selling certified used, or a contractor who ran it occasionally (not daily). Ask for service records. If there are none, price the likely service cost into your offer or walk.
Forestry mulchers carry the same risk, compounded. Worn carbide teeth on a drum head look cosmetically minor but represent thousands of dollars in replacement parts — a full tooth replacement on a 74-inch Denis Cimaf drum runs $3,000–$5,000 CAD in parts alone. Bent rotor vanes, damaged motor seals from running a standard-flow machine — all hidden problems that show up after you've written the cheque.
Augers are somewhere in between. The drive motor is the valuable and vulnerable part. A used auger drive with unknown hours on the motor is a gamble; a used auger bit (the spiral flighting below the motor) is almost always a safe buy — worn flights are visible and the fix is welding on new carbide, which a local shop can do.
Canada has Bobcat Bob-Tach and universal skid steer plate everywhere, with Kubota and some Cat machines using their own patterns. This matters enormously for used attachment buying.
A used attachment with a Bob-Tach plate (the wedge-style quick attach on older Bobcat machines) is useless on a Cat or John Deere universal mount unless you buy an adapter — and adapters add $300–$600 CAD and some height/reach loss to the equation. Always confirm the quick-attach pattern before paying. Photos of the back of the attachment (the mounting plate) are non-negotiable for online purchases.
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (Innisfail, AB; Barrie, ON; Chilliwack, BC and others) runs regular equipment auctions that include skid steer attachments. The online bidding platform (IronPlanet) lets you access Canadian lots from anywhere. Condition reports are available on most lots and physical inspections are available pre-auction — use them.
Kijiji Heavy Equipment is inconsistently organized but active. Best for local purchases where you can inspect in person before committing. The volume of listings in Alberta and Ontario is significantly higher than other provinces.
Facebook Marketplace has picked up a lot of the casual seller market — farm retirements, small contractors, acreage owners clearing out. Prices are negotiable, provenance is murky. Better for simple mechanical attachments than for anything hydraulic-motor-based.
Dealer certified used programs at Bobcat, Case, and John Deere dealers are worth checking. You'll pay more than private sale — often 15–25% more — but you get some level of inspection, and occasionally a short warranty. For a used hydraulic breaker or mulcher, the dealer premium can be worth it just for the confidence.
| Attachment | New (CAD approx.) | Used Fair Market (CAD approx.) | Used Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72" GP bucket (mid-grade) | $1,400–$2,200 | $500–$1,000 | ✅ Buy used |
| 72" rock bucket | $2,000–$3,200 | $800–$1,600 | ✅ Buy used (inspect welds) |
| 48" pallet forks + carriage | $1,100–$1,600 | $400–$800 | ✅ Buy used |
| 72" root/skeleton grapple | $3,500–$5,500 | $1,500–$3,000 | ✅ Buy used (inspect cylinders) |
| Box blade / land plane | $2,500–$4,000 | $900–$2,000 | ✅ Buy used |
| Auger drive + bit (single) | $2,500–$5,000 | $1,000–$2,500 | ⚠️ Inspect drive motor |
| Hydraulic breaker (mid-range) | $6,000–$14,000 | $2,500–$6,000 | ⚠️ Buy from known source only |
| Snowblower 72" | $7,000–$11,000 | $3,000–$5,500 | ⚠️ Inspect impeller, gear case |
| Forestry drum mulcher | $45,000–$70,000 | $18,000–$35,000 | ❌ New only, or dealer certified used |
| Cold planer | $18,000–$35,000 | $8,000–$16,000 | ⚠️ Check rotor teeth and motor closely |
A third option that's become more common: buying new from Chinese manufacturers directly (brands like AMI, Toro, generic "skid steer attachment" importers through Alibaba-tier suppliers). These aren't junk — the quality range is wide, but the lower end of the market has improved significantly in the past five years. For simple mechanical attachments (buckets, blades, plates), the savings are real: a 72" GP bucket from a domestic importer in BC runs $650–$900 CAD delivered, versus $1,600+ from a name-brand dealer.
The caution: parts availability and warranty support are limited or nonexistent. For a bucket, that doesn't matter much — you're replacing a cutting edge and there's nothing brand-specific about it. For anything with a hydraulic motor, proprietary seals, or specialized teeth, buying from an importer means you're on your own for service.
Run through these three questions:
For simple mechanical attachments that see occasional use on an acreage or farm — buckets, blades, forks — used is almost always the right answer. Buy the savings, inspect carefully, and put the difference toward a proper quick-attach setup or an extra set of carbide teeth.
Compare new models before deciding. Browse the skid steer attachment catalog for verified product pages on attachments sold new through Canadian dealers.