Size Guide for Wheel Loaders
Getting the right kind of equipment for your construction project is an essential step of the overall job. Without the right power and capabilities, you might end up being unable to meet your deadlines or damaging your machine by overworking it. Wheel loaders are some of the most capable pieces of equipment on the market and can be assets for any heavy-duty project as long as you ensure you’re getting the right fit.
At RECO Equipment, we want to help you make the right choices for your business needs. With that in mind, we created this guide to help you figure out which loader size will be best for your project. For further assistance or if you want to check out wheel loaders for sale in Ohio, Indiana or Pennsylvania, contact our sales team for more information. We’re proud to be your preferred wheel loader dealer!
What are Your Options?
Wheel loaders are generally used for their earthmoving abilities, where they scoop up loose materials from one place and take them to another. They often do this with the help of a bucket attachment. Most manufacturers classify these heavy machines into four categories depending on their horsepower and bucket capacity.
Compact wheel loaders provide around 40-100 horsepower and 1.0-2.5 cubic yards bucket capacity. Small models can deliver 115-180 horsepower and 2.5-6.5 cubic yards of bucket capacity. A medium-sized machine will give you 230-400 horsepower and 3.75-15.0 cubic yards of bucket capacity. Large wheel loaders are best for those who need over 1,800 horsepower and bucket capacities in excess of 30 cubic yards.
How Big is Your Site?
One of the things you have to take into account is what your site can handle. If it’s a big, roomy one, then you can get a large wheel loader with the maximum power to help you make short work of all the heavy moving tasks your project demands. However, if there are narrow entry/exit points, a lot of obstacles or an overcrowded site with lots going on, you won’t be able to use a large model without causing some degree of damage. A compact or small model will be your best bet.
What are Your Power Needs?
Another important consideration is what you want to accomplish with your wheel loader. This is where you’re going to want to pay attention to the horsepower of a model. The horsepower determines the capabilities of a machine so if you’ve got a lot of heavy moving to do, you want a higher horsepower. Do keep in mind though that some brands list the horsepower after taking into account the loss due to cooling fans, while others do not. You should check how the brand you’re looking at lists horsepower.
What do you Need to Move?
This is where the bucket capacity of a model comes into play. Generally, the size of the bucket should be compatible with the size of your wheel loader so you have to take this into account before you buy. You want a bucket that can get the job done without requiring a lot of passes so you get more productivity in less time. If the material you need to move is heavy, you might have to work with a smaller, sturdier bucket. A lighter but bigger bucket will be able to handle a big load of lighter material, such as hay.
What’s the Tipping Load?
The tipping load refers to the amount of weight that can cause the rear tires to lift off the ground when the wheel loader is fully articulated in a stationary position. Basically, this lets you know the maximum payload your model can handle safely and securely. This is an important consideration not only to know the limit but also to figure out what else can affect the tipping load. For example, counterweights, chains, and tire size can all affect the tipping load of your machine no matter what size it is.
What’s Your Budget?
Another factor that’ll affect the size of the machine you can purchase is how much you’re willing to spend on it. Large wheel loaders are heavy and rugged machines so it makes sense that they’re more expensive than their compact counterparts. They’ll also cost more to operate as they’ll need more fuel to run. It can also get pretty spendy to haul big machines from one site to another so if you’re going to be using the loader for a lot of different projects, you might want to factor in that cost too.
We hope you’ll find this information useful when shopping for loaders! To find out more about your options or if you want to check wheel loaders for sale, get in touch with us at RECO Equipment and one of our expert staff members will gladly assist you. We’re the leading wheel loader dealer for Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania!