Wheel Loaders

Wheel loaders provide users with heavy-duty power for industrial, forestry, construction, and other purposes that involve moving heavy loads or large amounts of material. There are many companies that provide wheel loaders for purchasing, leasing, or renting.

Wheel Loaders Basic Design
There are two basic designs for wheel loaders: heavy and compact. These, in turn, break down into smaller categories. Understanding how these designs function and knowing their purposes will help you in deciding which will best serve your purposes and which best suits your price range.

The basic design of a wheel loader is a four-wheeled chassis with a shovel operating on hydraulic or pneumatic systems. In almost all cases, only a single operator is required. Wheel loaders serve a number of purposes, but the essential design is, simply, to move heavy loads. More specifically, the wheel loader is usually used to load material into trucks or other vehicles for transport, but the wheel loader can also be used as a transport vehicle by itself in a variety of circumstances, such as on a construction site.

Heavy Models
Heavy industrial designs include models from companies like Volvo, Hitachi, Hanomag, Caterpillar, Liebherr, and others. These wheel loaders also called front end loaders, bucket loaders, or scoop loaders, are essentially heavy tractors that can weigh over 50,000 pounds and employ over 230 horsepower. They mount heavy scoop shovels at either end (sometimes both, in which case they may also be called back loaders), which are sometimes permanently fixed for even greater strength. Also, they are usually wheeled, as opposed to having tracks like other heavy loader machines. Loaders may be tracked or wheeled, depending on its function or just on the preference of the user.

Their primary purpose, regardless, is to load materials into trucks, clearing debris or dirt, and digging. Often, a wheel loader can perform a variety of tasks, but in many cases the shovel may be supplemented or replaced with a different tool, such as hydraulic “clamshell” bucket that allows the operator to close the shovel over the top of a load. The shovel itself usually can hold between three and six cubic meters of material, such as dirt. These heavy wheel loader models can also be used for clearing large amounts of snow, such as in a parking lot or along a strip of road. Heavy models are well suited to this task because sometimes a great deal of snow must be cleared in public areas during winter.

Light Models
On the other end of the spectrum, light wheel loaders include vehicles such as light farm tractors and compact utility tractors. They are also known as compact front end loaders, and although they also employ only a single operator, they are usually much smaller and lighter than the heavy industrial wheel loaders (also, they usually have only 18 to 50 horsepower). Thus, they are popular among farmers, ranchers, and other private owners due to their convenient size and relatively inexpensive price range.

Perhaps the most recognized name among light wheel loader manufacturers is John Deere. John Deere has established a reputation for tough, reliable tractors. Other prominent manufacturers include New Holland Ag, Kubota, and Kioti, all of which produce light wheel loaders for farm, ranch, and landscaping work.

There are two forearm designs on light wheel loader models. The first is the traditional dogleg style, and the second is the newer curved design. The latter design is becoming more popular among the different manufacturers because it offers the operator a slightly better forward view. The older dogleg style partially obstructed the operator’s view to the front of the wheel loader. In addition to the different styles of forearms, many light wheel loaders also incorporate removable shovels. This allows the user to install a variety of other components, such as claws for transporting logs, or pallet forks for lifting pallet crates. They may even install a bale spear for loading and transporting hay bales.

Light front end wheel loaders are useful for a wide variety of purposes. Farmers may use them as do-it-all machines, as they can be used for transporting equipment in the shovel, as a makeshift cargo area. With a number of different types of trailers, they can be used as swathing and baling machines for crops. They can also be used to spread fertilizer, again with special trailers or other mounts. Ranchers may use them to distribute feed for livestock, or for transporting animal waste (not a small concern for many ranchers). Landscapers may use wheel loaders to transport fencing material, or for clearing away brush and other debris from a work area. In short, the light wheel loader is an extremely versatile machine, and adapts well to a variety of tasks.

Pros and Cons
Wheel loaders, for all their versatility, are not suited for every task one might imagine for them. They are designed with specific functions, and that negates the ability to adapt to every conceivable task. Even so, they remain quite versatile.

Standard (i.e. non-tracked) wheel loaders are usually less expensive to construct and maintain than tracked wheel loaders. The non-tracked design allows for greater speed and mobility, although the tradeoff is that they are not as stable or as able to operate in difficult terrain. The tracked design, on the other hand, is harder on the surface, whether paved roads or grass or other surfaces, and thus may not be appropriate to use in all circumstances. The primary advantage of tracks over wheels is the increased traction.

Large wheel loaders employ an “articulated steering” system, in which a hydraulically actuated pivot point controls both the front and the rear axles of the wheels. Since it is set directly in the middle of the wheel chassis, it provides the wheel loader with a reduced turn radius, translating to greater maneuverability. Another advantage is that it reduces strain on the front axle, which allows the wheel loader to lift heavy loads without great concern for the structural integrity of the front axle. Even so, these advantages come at a price: the wheel loader is less stable when turning while carrying a load. Especially when the shovel is high, the raised center of gravity could cause the wheel loader to tip onto the outside edge during a turn. This is a particular concern when operating the wheel loader on uneven terrain, so operators must take this into account.

What’s the Difference?
You may wonder how one can distinguish between the different models and their purposes. There are a few characteristics that can help identification in this respect. Since wheel loaders are usually designed with utilitarian functionality in mind, the most reliable method of identification is to figure out what jobs the wheel loader in question is capable of performing.

Even with this distinction, there is some overlap between jobs. Heavy scrapers, bulldozers, and other similar machines may look similar to wheel loaders, and may even perform similar tasks, but the wheel loader, regardless of size, is not designed primarily as an earth mover. So, how does one tell them apart?

Though they sometimes may be tracked, wheel loaders usually have a simple four-by-four wheel chassis. Vehicles like bulldozers have a shovel mounted in front, like wheel loaders, but they are usually incapable of performing all the tasks of a wheel loader. The wheel loader’s primary function is to load debris or other material onto another surface, such as a truck cargo bed, a task the bulldozer cannot mimic. The bulldozer’s structure is designed primarily for driving large quantities of material before it (hence the added bonus of tracks, instead of wheels, for extra traction). A wheel loader does not depend as much on surface traction since it does not usually get called upon to simply drive material aside, but to load it someplace.

These are elemental observations, almost inherently obvious, but knowing the differences can help you choose the right machine for your task at hand. A wheel loader is capable of performing tasks that a bulldozer cannot do, and vice versa. Avoiding picking the wrong machine will prevent unnecessary expenses and possibly even accidents.

Among the lighter models, there are even more overlaps when it comes to job specificity, so it is not always as important to pick the right machine. However, some machines are more suited for certain tasks than others. A compact wheel loader, like a farm tractor, is often better for farm or ranch work than a compact tracked Bobcat, for instance, while the latter may be better for landscaping tasks.

Different Manufacturers
So, how much can you expect to pay for a wheel loader? Aside from the obvious, such as the model and size of the wheel loader you want, you will have to consider whether you want to buy, lease, or rent the wheel loader. Also, it is not a bad idea to shop around a little and compare prices between different companies.

The manufacturers for larger wheel loaders include Caterpillar, Liebherr, Volvo, Hitachi, Hanomag, Komatsu, and others. Each offers competitive prices and the option to buy or rent wheel loaders. It is up to you to decide what best suits your purposes. However, the companies are more than willing to assist you in making the right decision.

Caterpillar, for example, offers a variety of reasons why you should consider renting one of their machines, or “Cats” as the company calls them. On their website, they promote ten reasons why you should consider renting instead of buying. First, Caterpillar mechanics will be readily available should you experience a breakdown in your wheel loader. This can help prevent or minimize loss of time on a job. Second, you have access to the latest models, so you can take advantage of new technology the company incorporates. You can also take advantage of the benefits of a heavy wheel loader without having to purchase it, if your task only requires its use for a short time. Other reasons include the elimination of storage and maintenance costs. Of course, the faithful “try it before you buy it” reason is always appealing for both new and veteran customers.

Different Models
Though a wheel loader by one manufacturer may share nearly all the same characteristics and features of a wheel loader by another manufacturer, this does not always mean they will operate exactly alike or even be advertised and described alike. Those interested in purchasing or renting a wheel loader, especially a lighter model, should be aware that different manufacturers measure the performances of their machines somewhat differently from each other. The following explanation should illustrate this.

On lighter models, manufacturers measure the performance based on certain measurements of the wheel loader. Some manufacturers measure the load capacity based directly on the pivot point of the bucket, while others measure 500 millimeters forward (i.e. into the shovel itself). This can make a significant difference when you are trying to decide on a model, so be sure to determine how the load capacity is measured.

Price Quotes
Wheel loaders can be rented for as little as $300 per day, for the lightest models. Heavy wheel loaders can be three or four times that amount per day, and some dealers ask that you call for quotes on the heavier models. Many dealers offer daily, weekly, or even monthly rental services. In any case, shopping around will provide you with a variety of price quotes and options, and will deliver the machines directly to the worksite.

Be aware, also, that not all dealers will have the model that best suits your purposes. It is wise to investigate all options before settling on a given wheel loader. Chances are the best model for you is available, if you will spend a little time searching for it.

In Conclusion
Wheel loaders are versatile, tough machines that are employed for a variety of heavy duty tasks. They are equally useful at construction sites, industrial plants, farms, ranches, and forestry sites. Many different models, of all different sizes, weights, and abilities are available to provide the best matches for the given jobs. Dealers offer competitive prices and services, so if you have a large physical job at hand, consider the advantages of a wheel loader.


Local Articles
Construction
Home