Your Guide to Buying a Wheel Loader

Wheel loaders are versatile four-wheeled machines used by various industries, including mining, agriculture, construction, carpentry, and many more. These powerful vehicles are an excellent tool for retrieving and transporting heavy equipment and materials from one location to another at your worksite.

However, to make the most of these machines, you’ll need to purchase a model that’s the most suitable for your work. That’s why our experts at RECO Equipment have gathered up a few tips to help you select the perfect model for your job site. Read on to learn more, and for more information, come down to any of our dealerships. We happily serve the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

Size

Wheel loaders are classified by bucket capacity and horsepower. When buying a model by size, make sure that your machine can handle the tasks at your job site.

Small wheel loaders are ideal for tackling tasks at smaller properties. They come with an engine power ranging from 50- to 90-horsepower, and they can move around quickly and around compact areas. These are cheaper than mid-sized and large wheel loaders.

If you need a machine with moderate hauling capacity, you’ll want to go with a mid-sized wheel loader. These machines come with a bucket size of 3 – 5 yards and a more powerful engine of 100- to 300-horsepower. 

On the other hand, large wheel loaders are perfect for large enterprises and farming operations that need higher productivity. These machines feature a robust engine of 500- to 1,500-horsepower, and they can haul about 20- to 40-tons of material at a time.

Material

Next, you’ll want to think about the material you intend to haul with your machine.

If you need to transport heavy materials, you’ll want to go with a smaller and sturdier bucket. Conversely, a larger bucket is a better fit for hauling lightweight materials from one spot to another at your worksite.

Attachments

When shopping for wheel loaders, keep in mind the type of attachments you’ll be using with them. Common implements used on construction sites are buckets, augers, pallet forks, and grapples, while attachments to tackle tasks at farms include rakes, grain shovels, grain pushers, silage defacers, and others.

While you’re exploring options, check to see whether your given model can handle the attachments you want.

Budget

Before you start exploring your options, it’ll be a good idea to plan your budget. Knowing how much you can spend on buying a wheel loader will help you eliminate options that you can’t afford. So, research the price range of the models and brands you want to check out, and then set a realistic budget.

While you’re crunching a few numbers, don’t forget to think about the cost of storage, maintenance, fuel, and attachments in addition to the sticker price of your given model.

Now that you’re more familiar with the various considerations you’ll need to make when selecting a wheel loader, you’re ready to explore a few models in person. Come down to RECO Equipment, where we have an excellent collection of wheel loaders for sale. Our friendly team can give you a complete tour of the available options and help you select a model that’s perfect for you. We’re in multiple locations throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, so stop in today!