A Bobcat S70 skid steer rental gives you a real working loader on a footprint that fits through a standard backyard gate, which is exactly what most tight residential lots across the Greater Toronto Area demand. At roughly 36 inches wide, the S70 is the machine you reach for when a full-size skid steer simply will not fit between the house and the fence line. For contractors working laneways in Toronto, narrow side yards in Mississauga, or downtown infill lots in the GTA, the question is rarely whether you need a loader. It is whether the loader can physically get to the work. The S70 answers that question.
This post walks through where the machine earns its keep, what it can and cannot do, what to check before you book, and how to line it up with the right attachments so your day on site runs clean.
Why a Bobcat S70 Skid Steer Rental Works on Tight GTA Job Sites
A Bobcat S70 skid steer rental works on tight sites because it is the smallest skid steer Bobcat builds, narrow enough to pass through a 36-inch gate while still lifting and digging like a machine that means business. Most GTA residential work fails on access, not capacity. You can have the budget, the crew, and the material on a pallet, but if the only path to the backyard is a four-foot side yard with a gas meter sticking out, a standard loader stays parked on the driveway.
The S70 changes the math. Its compact frame lets you run a loader where you would otherwise be moving dirt by wheelbarrow. According to Bobcat's official equipment information, the S70 carries a rated operating capacity of about 760 pounds and an operating weight near 2,800 pounds, which is enough to handle soil, gravel, sod, and small demolition debris without tearing up a finished lot. That combination of narrow width and genuine lift capacity is the whole reason a Bobcat S70 skid steer rental shows up on so many tight-access jobs.
The Specs That Actually Matter on Site
Here are the numbers contractors ask about most before they commit to a Bobcat S70 skid steer rental:
| Specification | Approximate Figure | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Machine width | 36 in (914 mm) | Clears a standard gate and most side yards |
| Rated operating capacity | ~760 lb | Handles soil, gravel, and pallet loads |
| Operating weight | ~2,795 lb | Light enough for finished surfaces with care |
| Travel speed | ~4.6 mph | Quick repositioning in confined areas |
| Tip capacity | ~1,520 lb | Stability margin when lifting |
None of these figures are huge on paper, and that is the point. You are not renting the S70 to move mountains. You are renting it because it is the only loader class that gets through the gap, then does a full day of useful work once it is back there.
Common GTA Jobs Where the S70 Pays for Itself
The S70 pays for itself on any job where access is the bottleneck and the work would otherwise be done by hand. Across the GTA, that covers a long list of everyday contractor tasks. A Bobcat S70 skid steer rental routinely handles:
- Backyard landscaping: grading, spreading topsoil, and moving sod pallets to the rear of a property without a wheelbarrow chain gang.
- Pool and pond prep: shifting excavated material out of a confined yard and feeding a dumpster on the driveway.
- Small demolition cleanup: clearing broken concrete, deck debris, and fence material from interior lots.
- Material handling: moving interlock, retaining-wall block, and bagged product from the front of the lot to the work zone.
- Snow and gravel work: tidy, repeatable passes in laneways and tight parking pads.
If your project is bigger and the access is wider, the S70 is not always the right call, and it is worth being honest about that. For larger lots or higher lift demands, a full-size machine from our Skid Steer rentals lineup will move more material per hour. When the ground is soft or you need flotation across a lawn you cannot rut, a tracked machine from our Track Loader rentals category is the better fit. And when the job is genuine digging at depth rather than surface loading, you should be pricing our Excavator rentals instead. Matching the machine to the access and the task is the difference between a smooth day and a rented machine sitting idle on the driveway.
Honest Limits of a Bobcat S70 Skid Steer Rental
A Bobcat S70 skid steer rental trades raw capacity for access, so you need to plan around its limits rather than fight them. The narrow wheelbase that gets it through the gate also makes it tippier than a wide-frame loader when you reach out at full lift, so keep heavy loads low and centred. The 760-pound capacity means a fully loaded pallet of wet sod or stone can push the machine past comfortable, so split big loads. On steep or greasy ground the short footprint reduces traction compared to a tracked unit. These are not deal breakers. They are the trade you accept in exchange for being the only loader that fits, and a smart operator works within them.
What to Check Before You Book Your Bobcat S70 Skid Steer Rental
Before you book, confirm three things: the machine fits your access, your trailer and truck can legally haul it, and you have the right attachment for the actual task. A Bobcat S70 skid steer rental is only as useful as the planning around it. Measure your tightest pinch point, including gate posts, gas meters, and AC units, and leave yourself a few inches of clearance rather than counting on a perfect line.
Transport is the second item people underestimate. At roughly 2,800 pounds the S70 is well within reach of a standard equipment trailer, but you still need proper tie-downs and a tow rating that covers machine plus trailer. Ontario operators should review the province's load-securement and equipment-safety expectations through the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association before hauling, since a loose chain on the 401 is a problem you do not want to discover at highway speed.
Pairing the Bobcat S70 Skid Steer Rental With the Right Attachment
The right attachment turns a Bobcat S70 skid steer rental from a glorified bucket into a purpose-built tool for your specific job. The standard bucket covers grading and loading, but the S70 runs a range of quick-attach tools that change what it can do in minutes. Browse our Attachments for rent to add an auger for fence-post and deck footings, pallet forks for moving block and bagged product, or a grapple for cleanup work. Booking the attachment at the same time as the loader saves you a second trip and a second mobilization charge, and it keeps the machine earning instead of waiting.
For broader context on how compact loaders fit into modern small-site work, trade coverage at Construction Equipment tracks where this machine class is heading, from operator-assist features to attachment versatility. The short version matches what GTA contractors already know on the ground: the compact end of the skid steer market keeps growing because urban lots keep getting tighter.
Book Your Bobcat S70 Skid Steer Rental With Expert Tools Rental
A Bobcat S70 skid steer rental is the practical answer when access decides the job, and Expert Tools Rental keeps these machines ready for contractors and weekend builders across the GTA. You can review machine details and current availability on our Bobcat S70 rental page, line up the attachments you need, and have the unit on your site without the guesswork. If you are still scoping a larger project, start from our full range of Tools for Rental and we will help you match the machine to the access. Planning a multi-level build with overhead work as well? Pair the loader with our Scaffolding rentals in the same booking.
Tell us your gate width, your tightest pinch point, and what you are moving, and we will confirm the S70 is the right fit before you commit. Contact Expert Tools Rental to reserve your machine and get back to building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Bobcat S70 skid steer rental the right choice for tight GTA job sites?
The S70 is Bobcat's smallest skid steer, roughly 36 inches wide, so it clears standard gates, fence openings, and side yards that larger loaders can't. That width is the main reason contractors rent it for downtown Toronto lots, backyard landscaping, and basement-access digs where space is the limiting factor rather than raw power.
How much can the Bobcat S70 actually lift and carry?
The S70 has a rated operating capacity around 700 lbs and an operating weight near 2,800 lbs. It runs a roughly 23 hp diesel engine. That handles dirt, gravel, sod, and pallet moving on small sites, but it is not built for heavy demolition or large grading. Match the machine to the load, not the schedule.
Will a Bobcat S70 fit through a standard backyard gate or doorway?
Usually yes. At about 36 inches wide it passes through most residential gates and double doorways, which is exactly why it gets rented for fenced backyards and interior work. Measure your tightest opening first, including hinges and posts. Leave a couple inches of clearance, and confirm the path can carry the machine's weight.
What attachments are worth adding to a Bobcat S70 rental?
The common picks are a standard bucket for dirt and gravel, pallet forks for moving material, and an auger for post holes or footings. The smaller frame limits hydraulic flow, so heavy attachments like large breakers or stump grinders are a poor fit. Confirm attachment availability when you book, since stock varies by location and season.
