Short answer: yes — and for a backyard patio it is close to the ideal machine. A mini skid steer strips the sod, cuts the excavation, hauls the gravel in, and spreads it in lifts, all through a side gate. Here is how the base actually gets built and where the S55's numbers land on this job.
What a Paver Patio Base Requires
The base is the part that decides whether the patio stays flat in ten years. Oregon State University Extension's paver installation guide calls for a compacted crushed-rock base of 4 to 6 inches, a 1-inch bedding sand layer, and a surface slope of 1 inch of fall per 4 feet running away from the house. The excavation is the sum of all three: for 2-inch pavers over a 5-inch base, that is roughly 8 inches of soil off the whole footprint, plus a little extra width so the base extends past the paver edge.
Why the TOVISEN S55 Fits This Job
The TOVISEN S55 skid steer loader covers every stage of base prep: a 900 kg (1,980 lb) rated load and a 0.55 m³ (0.72 yd³) bucket move and spread gravel a wheelbarrow crew would take days over, the 3,000 mm (9.8 ft) lift height dumps straight into a trailer or over a fence-line spoil pile, and at 1,400 mm (55 in.) wide it works between garden beds and fence lines where a full-size loader tears up turf. The 55 hp engine and 12 km/h travel speed matter on the haul cycle — base prep is mostly shuttling material, and that is where compact machines earn their keep.
The Work Sequence, Machine by Machine
First the machine strips sod and cuts the excavation to the string-line depth, working the slope in as it goes — the subgrade gets its own compaction pass before any stone arrives. Then gravel comes in: spread each load in loose lifts of 2 to 3 inches, because a full-depth dump only compacts at the top and settles for years underneath. The skid steer's job ends at final shaping; a walk-behind plate compactor finishes each lift with several overlapping passes, slightly moistening the 3/4-inch crushed rock so the fines lock. Last comes the 1-inch bedding sand, screeded flat and left uncompacted for the pavers.
Where the Mini Skid Steer Stops Being Enough
A long haul from a street-side gravel pile to a rear yard costs cycle time at 12 km/h — for very large patios a dump truck with a spills-the-pile delivery saves hours. And the machine cannot replace the plate compactor: no matter how neatly the bucket spreads stone, base strength comes from the vibratory passes after it. For typical 150 to 400 sq ft patios, one compact loader plus a rented compactor covers the whole prep in a day or two.
FAQ
Can a skid steer dig the patio excavation, or only spread gravel?
Both. With a bucket it strips sod and cuts to depth; with a 4-in-1 or tooth bucket it handles rooted or rocky soil better. The small footprint also means less turf damage getting in and out.
How much gravel do I need for a 12 × 16 ft patio?
A 12 × 16 ft patio is 192 sq ft; a 5-inch compacted base works out to roughly 3 cubic yards, and ordering 15–20% extra covers compaction loss and spillage — so plan on about 3.5 loose yards delivered.
Quoting a patio or hardscape prep job? Send TOVISEN the patio size, soil type, and gate width through the contact page — the factory team will match the S55 or a tracked model to the site and quote direct. More machine photos and jobsite clips are posted on our TOVISEN Facebook page.
