Common Uses for Wheel Loaders

A wheel loader, also known as a bucket loader or front loader, is a versatile heavy-duty machine used extensively in construction. These machines are the most used in construction, but are also used in waste handling. Wheel loaders are commonly used for Material Handling, Digging, Road Building, Site Preparation, Farming & Agriculture.

The wheel loader is a reliable, productive piece of equipment that offers precise, quick, and profitable handling of materials. They come in a variety of sizes from compact to large, and allows for a variety of attachments in addition to the bucket to complete any job.

Main Components for Wheel Loaders

Wheel loaders are comprised of an articulated pivot frame with a rear mounted engine. The pivot frame allows the wheel loader to turn in small circles and maneuver easily around a site. The diesel engine utilizes a torque converter and power shift gears, and 4-wheel drive transmission. While the wheel loader has 4-wheel drive, it can also be operated in 2-wheel drive for amazing digging capabilities. The tires are designed to deliver excellent traction on various surfaces.
The wheel loader’s real supremacy comes from the attachments powered by hydraulics. The most popular attachment is the bucket that can come with teeth or cutting edges. Additional attachments include handling arms, grapple parts, and loading forks.

Manufacturers & Models

Investing in any heavy-duty machine is an important decision. Consider these four factors before purchasing a wheel loader:

Type of Work

Evaluate your needs to determine what type of work you are doing, how heavy the loads are, and over what terrain will the load be moved. This will help you determine other components- like the need for tire chains and what attachments you need.

Tipping Load

The tipping load is the point at which the rear tires leave the ground when the attachment is fully articulated. It is the maximum load capability for safe operation of the machine. There is no standard tipping load for every size machine, so it is important to check the counterweight, tire size, and other components that affect tipping load to ensure you are getting a machine that can carry your load.

Horsepower

Make sure you check the manufacturer’s determination on horsepower because each wheel loader is different. Some may include horsepower loss due to cooling fans while others do not. Wheel loaders come in four classifications: compact - 80 horsepower or less, small - 80 to 150 horsepower, medium - 150 to 200 horsepower, and large - 200 to 250 horsepower.

Bucket Material

Bucket size is typically referred to as loader size (example: 6-yard loader). You can put larger buckets on your machine using buckets that are made of lighter material. It is important to understand what type of material the bucket is made of so that you don’t go over the tipping load or exceed the maximum horsepower when attaching a larger bucket.

There are several popular manufacturers in the wheel loader market including Caterpillar, John Deere, Komatsu, and Volvo.

Top Wheel Loader Models

Caterpillar 930K | 966G | 988B

John Deere 544K | TC54H | 824J

Komatsu WA500-6 | WA450-5L | WA470-6

Volvo L90G | L220E0 | L330C

Comparing Wheel Loader Models

Looking to compare wheel loader models side-by-side, from either the same manufacturer or competing manufacturers? RitchieSpecs allows you to compare the dimensions, specifications, and operational aspects of over 850 wheel loader models. Once you’ve found the wheel loader model that fits your needs, browse wheel loaders for sale on IronPlanet and Ritchie Bros Auctioneers.

Manufacturer Equipment Specs