The wheel loader traces its heritage to the introduction 65 years ago of a scoop situated at the back-end of an ag tractor next to the larger rear wheels. The operator platform of the tractor was reversed so the operator looked down on the one-ton capacity bucket. The positioning of the bucket over the larger wheels gave the loader more capacity and digging force. The new machine was an innovation by a precursor company of Volvo Group, which has gone on to produce many generations of wheel loaders.
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Today&#;s market offers a sweeping range of wheel loaders, with the smallest weighing about a ton, with a 20-hp diesel engine capable of lifting 1,800 lbs. The compact models are perfect for landscapers and homeowners. The largest wheel loader is a LaTourneau monster that weighs 260 tons and draws upon a 2,300-hp engine to lift 160,000 lbs. 24 ft. in the air. This machine is reserved for aggregate applications. The Buyers Guide focuses on small and mid-range models that can meet the routine needs of property owners and general contractors.
If You Are Buying a Wheel Loader
Find Wheel Loader Models and Specifications
Find specifications and charts for a host of Wheel Loaders in our Wheel Loader Specs and Charts section
Because numerous manufacturers offer wheel loaders, your choices are many. You owe it to yourself to become well-versed on the piece of equipment before you invest in it. Some criteria to consider:
How will you employ the wheel loader?
If you are a general contractor with a fleet of equipment and a specific repetitive task in mind, you know what model of machine you need. For everyone else, some consideration of tasks is in order. How will you use a wheel loader? You should make a list of probable applications and rank them by how often they will recur. Will you blade more than scoop? Blow snow more often than lift bales? For optimal performance of any task, several factors come into play including horsepower, weight, hydraulic flow, and configuration. Shop for a machine that will best suit your work.
Weigh features and capacities of individual machines.
If productivity is a make-or-break need, your wheel loader should be configured to that end. Loading dump trucks? Get a larger wheel loader with an engine and bucket capable of topping off a load in no more than three passes. Routinely performing different tasks in the course of a day? Get a smaller, more versatile loader with a quicker ground speed that will save time moving from job site to job site. With the variety of wheel loaders offered today, a buyer can closely tailor a purchase.
Weigh brand and dealership considerations.
Some manufacturers of heavy equipment are iconic &#; John Deere, Caterpillar, Volvo, Komatsu, etc. &#; and achieved such status from decades of turning out high-quality machinery. Confidence in their equipment is well-placed. On the other hand, numerous less well-known brands build equally functional and dependable machines and oftentimes at a lower price. If you know what you are looking for in a wheel loader, shop around. It is easy enough to determine if a manufacturer and its dealers stand solidly behind their products. If machine quality, reputation and warranties all align with your expectations, the color and nameplate of a wheel loader are secondary.
If You Want to Rent or Lease a Wheel Loader
Renting or leasing a wheel loader is a relatively worry-free method of acquiring a needed machine. Yet if it does not function adequately, your money will be wasted. Some things to consider:
Many reputable rental companies, national and local, carry these portable pieces of equipment in their inventory, usually stocking market-leading brands. Two general rules of thumb:
Get the right size and configuration.
Dealers and equipment rental houses typically stock the more popular sizes of wheel loaders. What the rental yard professional needs from you is how you intend to use the rented or leased machine. Plan to fine-grade a building lot? You&#;ll need GPS blade control on the bucket. Digging in virgin soil? You&#;ll need sufficient breakout force. Working in tight quarters? You may need an articulated model. This always is true: You will be frustrated if you rent a loader with insufficient power and hydraulic flow. On the other hand, renting one with power to burn will be a waste of money. Work with your rental agent to get a suitable machine.
Know your project and operator skill level.
If the rented wheel loader is to be operated by a professional, talk with the operator about preferred cab controls and other features. Unless the operator is accommodated, productivity may suffer. On the other hand, if a non-professional will be at the controls, realistically evaluate the person&#;s ability to run the machine. Whether scooping gravel, pushing snow or hauling bales, a wheel loader will only function efficiently if the operator is up to the task. If a job is too complex for an operator, the machine cannot make up the difference.
What You Can Expect to Pay
Because wheel loaders have been around for more than half a century, new models are reliable and used machines are everywhere. Prices depend on size, brand and market demand. Hereafter are some examples of pricing.
New Wheel Loaders
Used Wheel Loaders
Rental Or Leasing Costs
Prices are determined by local demand for wheel loaders and the volume of rental competition in an area. An online survey suggests the rental price for a mid-size (3-4-cu. yd.) loader ranges widely &#; from $500 to $900 a day, $1,700 to $2,700 a week, and $4,900 to $7,000 a month. Some rental companies give corporate and fleet customers a lower rate. Equipment rental sources include independent and national rental houses as well as heavy equipment dealerships.
Some Financing Options
Heavy equipment is expensive, which is why part of any sales promotion is about financing the investment. Leasing a machine with an option to buy lowers front-end costs for customers wanting ownership of a loader. Some dealers and manufacturers offer sales deals with 0 percent financing for up to 48 months. If owning a wheel loader outright is your choice, companies have structured programs to make it happen.
Specifications and Features to Consider
Hydraulic flow
The volume and pressure of hydraulic fluid pumped through a wheel loader&#;s system regulates what it can accomplish. Flow is measured in gallons per minute (gpm). Many manufacturers offer standard and optional high-flow hydraulic systems. A standard flow (17 to 24 gpm) system will operate buckets and grapples. High-flow systems (30 to 40 gpm) with higher pounds-per-square-inch ratings are needed to run more demanding attachments, such as mulchers and snow blowers. While standard flow hydraulics sometime will give the semblance of operating hi-flow attachments, performance will be disappointing. Know what hydraulic flow you will require.
Load capacity
Buckets are the most common attachment on a wheel loader so knowing the capacity of your loader is important. Capacity usually is rated in cubic yards &#; the equivalent of material piled a yard high, yard wide and yard deep &#; or, roughly, nine wheelbarrow loads. Subcompact loaders are limited to a cubic yard of material or less. Compact machines typically can lift two or three cubic yards, while midsize and larger loaders can lift up to 20 cubic yards or more. Bucket size is determined by engine output, hydraulic flow capacity and machine weight. Get a loader with the capacity you need.
Lift height
Wheel loaders have lift heights commensurate with their size and weight. Compact loaders are designed for relatively short lifts (raising potted plants onto a trailer, loading pallets, hauling and dumping dirt). Larger loaders can extend over the sides of dump trucks, reach high shelving, or lift long upright materials into position. It follows that smaller machines generally can raise a bucket 8 to 10 feet into the air with midsize units going up 12 to 14 feet. Bigger loaders can reach up 25 feet or more. Make sure your loader can lift its arms high enough to perform your desired tasks.
Linkage configuration
Two types of attachment linkages dominate wheel loaders &#; Z-bar and parallel-lift. The Z-bar has been around longest and is the simplest and most common system for bucket work. It enhances the breakout digging force of a machine. Whereas the parallel-lift system gives operators greater visibility and fine-tuned control during a lift. This means a parallel-lift loader is better for fork and grapple work such as handling pallets. Once again, how you will be using the wheel loader will determine which linkage system is best for you. Some hybrids of the systems also are offered.
Rigid or Articulated
Fixed-frame loaders can do everything flexible-framed loaders can do &#; but not as nimbly. An articulated loader has a pivot joint in the middle allowing it to &#;bend&#; in cornering, thus reducing the turning radius compared to a rigid-framed machine. Some manufacturers offer all-wheel-steering, which lets the rear wheels on a loader turn in tandem with the front wheels. This also reduces the turning radius, at some small cost in stability. If your work site does not require tight turns, the more complex systems are not a factor in your choice of machine.
Attachments and Auxiliary Features
Most wheel loaders are employed as material handlers &#; that is, moving pallets or scooping up aggregate &#; so buckets and forks are the primary attachments. Other tools can be coupled to the lifting arms of loaders. Specialty tools include sweepers and booms. Staple attachments are adapted to different applications.
Buckets
These come in many sizes and configurations, including all-purpose, 4-in-1, side-dump, high-dump, ejector, mulch, sand spreader, boxer bucket and gravel scoop. Each meets the demands of a particular bucketing job.
Forks
These two-pronged tools were developed to slip between surfaces of a pallet on an unloading dock, in a warehouse, on a job site. Variations include a car body fork with extra long tines to cradle and lift junk car bodies in salvage yards.
Grapples
These grab an object being lifted and release it at the drop point. They are ideal for irregularly shaped objects such as boulders. Variations include ones configured for logs, pipeline materials, and landfill garbage (mated to a bucket).
Blades
These simple push tools are not for digging, but for spreading or clearing away material. Popular models include hydraulic reversal models, one-way plows, high-speed, snow, extendable and V-shaped.
Couplers
To speed exchange of attachments, quick-couplers have been engineered for wheel loaders. After-market manufacturers have developed universal couplers as well as specialty couplers to mate a loader with an existing inventory of attachments.
Notable Wheel Loader Manufacturers
Case
This Wisconsin equipment manufacturer dates from and introduced the industry&#;s first tractor backhoe loader in . Today, it offers seven full-size G Series wheel loaders and four F Series compact wheel loaders. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Case &#;
Caterpillar
First called a &#;Traxcavator,&#; Cat&#;s first wheel loader, the 944, was offered in . That four-cylinder, rear-wheel steered model with a 2 cubic-yard bucket has evolved into a line of nine compact loaders and 40 full-size or large models. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Caterpillar &#;
Doosan
Founded in Seoul, Korea in , the Doosan Group acquired Daewoo Machinery in and its wheel loaders. The company&#;s Doosan Infracore division continues to develop its equipment line and today markets 12 full-size wheel loaders. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Doosan &#;
Hyundai
Another Korean company, Hyundai Motor Group was established in . The Hyundai Construction Equipment division offers 18 full-size 900 Series wheel loaders ranging in horsepower from 156 to 376. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Hyundai &#;
JCB
In , this British manufacturer acquired another British firm that produced wheel loaders. It entered the compact wheel loader market in with its 408 articulated model. Today, it sells 14 models in construction and agricultural markets. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from JCB &#;
John Deere
Founded in , Deere built its first tractor in in Illinois and began to turn out heavy equipment in . Today, Deere manufactures 16 wheel loaders ranging from a 61-hp compact to a 536-hp hybrid model. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from John Deere &#;
Hitachi
In , Kawasaki introduced an articulated wheel loader. In , the Japanese firm was acquired by Hitachi Construction Machinery. Today, Hitachi offers 12 models, from a 46-hp compact unit to a 512-hp loader with a 9-cubic yard bucket. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Hitachi &#;
Komatsu
The Japanese company&#;s roots go back to . It introduced its wheel loaders in . The company markets eight mid-size and large wheel loaders and three models for mining, including a 1,765-hp machine with a 45-cubic yard bucket. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Komatsu &#;
Kubota
The history of this Japanese firm goes back to . It began building construction equipment in . The company offers five compact wheel loaders in the U.S. market, ranging from a 46-hp 4-ton unit to a 64-hp 5-ton model. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Kubota &#;
Liebherr
In post-World War II Germany, Liebherr got its start building cranes and remains a leader in that industry. It eventually entered the wheel loader market and today markets eight midsize and larger models, the largest being a 348-hp unit. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Liebherr &#;
Takeuchi
The Japanese firm launched in and eventually pioneered in the mini-excavator and compact track loader markets. Today, it offers five models of compact and small wheel loaders, the largest being a 114-hp model Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Takeuchi &#;
Volvo
In Sweden in , a root company of Volvo was founded. Some 120 years later, Volvo built one of the first wheel loaders. In , Volvo markets six compact wheel loaders and 11 larger models. The smallest is a 64-hp machine. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Volvo &#;
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Wacker Neuson
Dating to in Germany, Wacker Neuson markets three types of wheel loaders: It offers seven articulated models (from 49 to 102 hp) and four all-wheel-steer units&#;plus three telescopic wheel loaders. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Wacker Neuson &#;
Yanmar
Begun in , the company has been a leader in compact excavator development. It also offers four articulated wheel loader models, the smallest a 41-hp unit and the largest a 100-hp, 7.5-ton model. Click here to see Wheel Loaders currently for sale from Yanmar &#;
Like the 907 and 908, the Cat 906 has a Cat C2.8 engine rated at 74.7 gross horsepower. Operating weight is 12,628 pounds. Bucket capacities are 1 to 2 cubic yards for general purpose use. The 906 can be spec&#;ed with a &#;shift on the go&#; and hydrostatic transmission and locking differentials for smooth operation and speeds up to 25 mph. Options include LED and halogen lighting packages and quick-disconnect auxiliary hydraulics.
Manufacturers have worked hard to make compact wheel loaders better at their traditional applications, but they&#;ve also expanded features to meet the demands of customers who want more versatility.
Robbie Southerland, Caterpillar compact wheel loader product specialist for North America, says compact wheel loaders have distinct advantages over other compact equipment.
&#;They are versatile, easily configurable, upgradable and have a long service life, often having three or four owners over the life of the machine.&#;
For loading applications, compact wheel loaders stand out with their higher efficiency and greater ground speed. These traits also support other applications when customers want to use their CWLs instead of other compact machines.
So is a CWL always the right choice?
No. Southerland offers three tips to help customers choose the right machine:
GehlThe Gehl AL650 and AL750 feature a Z-bar linkage for mechanical self-leveling in both the up and down directions and provide bucket dump angles in the mid- and upper ranges of the lift path. The Z-bar design also delivers greater forward reach.
The Power-A-Tach mounting system simplifies attachment changes, while an optional three-way auxiliary circuit directs hydraulic flow to the front and rear and includes high-flow. An oscillating articulation joint provides 45-degree turn angles right and left and 10 degrees of oscillation in both directions. A multifunction joystick offers low-effort control.
Options for the AL650 and AL750 include an air suspension seat, LED work lights, Hydraglide ride control and a three-speed transmission with speeds up to 19 mph.
Hitachi Construction Machinery AmericasHitachi Construction Machinery Americas has three compact wheel loaders in the 25- to 66-horsepower range:
&#;All three are engineered with the same reliability, safety and efficiency as our larger production loaders,&#; says Matthew Koester, wheel loader production manager, HCMA.
The full front glass contributes to the 360-degree visibility and allows the operator to see the front wheels and attachments, he says. Suspension seating provides operator comfort, enhanced by the oscillating rear axle, which also improves stability and traction when working on uneven terrain.
John DeereIn keeping with its tiering strategy, Deere introduced G Tier compact wheel loaders in October .
&#;As a reminder, G Tier is for customers who need Deere reliability and performance but don&#;t need premium features,&#; says Luke Gribble, solution marketing manager, John Deere Construction Equipment.
The 204 and 304 went from L Series to G Tier; the 184 G Tier is a new machine. These CWLs are good with buckets and forks but also with grapples and other standard-flow attachments.
High flow is available on the 324 P Tier, which also has a high-lift option and offers more features than the G Tier models.
Regardless of Tier, customers can spec&#; either skid steer-type quick-attach or European-style pin-grabber couplers.
Deere offers toolcarrier linkages on larger wheel loaders, &#;but the demands of toolcarriers are typically beyond the weight, power and hydraulic performance of compact models,&#; says Gribble.
He also hastens to point out that although G Tier models are more basic, Deere has made significant improvements to them, especially in the cab. The left-side door is now full glass. The right-side window swings 180 degrees and latches open. Glass on both the left and right of the steering column has been extended to the floor.
KubotaKubota&#;s next-generation R540 and R640 are available with ROPS canopy or cab and have more weight and better lift performance than the R30 models they replace.
&#;We&#;ve also made a number of changes to improve the operator experience,&#; says Bill Holton, Kubota product manager, construction equipment. The console has been reconfigured; it and the switch layout have been moved to the right side to provide more foot and leg room while keeping all controls at fingertip access. The standard multifunction control lever selects forward-neutral-reverse and engages the differential lock.
Visibility has also been improved. The front window has been enlarged. The right-side window is now full glass and is the same size as the entrance door. Arms have been reconfigured for better visibility of buckets, forks and attachments. That improved visibility combined with the standard auxiliary port switch make attachment change-outs and operation easier, the company says.
MecalacMecalac has offered wheel loaders since when it bought the German company Ahlmann, which had been making wheel loaders since the s.
The 75-horsepower AX is its best-selling model. Mecalac has four categories of wheel loaders: traditional articulated, such as the AX; swing loaders; telescopic loaders and rigid-frame loaders, the latter two with four-wheel, three-mode steering.
The AX features the clean-sheet Monoboom design that is strong and improves visibility. The standard bucket is 1.3 cubic yards, although buckets of up to 2.1 cubic yards can be fitted. The self-stabilizing center-pivot (Mecalac Self Stabilizing Concept) improves handling and stability.
Mecalac chose the low-noise Deutz TD 2.9 L4 turbo diesel engine for the AX. Travel speed is 19 mph. Lift capacity is greater than 5,000 pounds, even at full articulation.
&#;We acknowledge that in many categories of equipment, our extensive engineering advantages and unique design features put Mecalac at the upper end of cost,&#; says Peter Bigwood, general manager, Mecalac North America. &#;But our traditional articulated wheel loaders are configured to meet the needs of the broadest range of customers, not those receiving benefit from advanced features. As such, these loaders are very cost competitive.&#;
miniloaders.comMiniloaders.com has been selling small articulated loaders under the Intrepid brand and manufactured by Knickmops in Belgium.
&#;We are now also bringing in Paus loaders from Germany,&#; says Chris Sleurink of Miniloaders.com. &#;We&#;re currently doing the first demos.&#;
The 75-horsepower TL is the one compact model. The standard bucket is 1.3 cubic yards. A multifunction joystick and proportional control provide ease of use when loading or operating attachments. Options include high-speed travel of 24.8 mph, a second hydraulic circuit with 21 or 31 gallons per minute of flow, and PTO for attachments not paired with the standard hydraulic four-point quick-change coupler.
Also standard on Paus wheel loaders is a telescopic boom &#;and from March onward, we&#;ll have swing boom variants, as well,&#; says Sleurink.
Volvo CEVolvo&#;s two electric compact wheel loaders, the L20 and L25 Electric, were launched in North America in late . Both use lithium-ion battery technology.
Charging from zero to 100% takes about six hours with the 6 kW onboard charger when using a 240V service or Level 2 charging station, which is the most common EV charging setup.
Maximum speed is 12.4 mph. An electric parking brake also provides automatic hill-hold. Compared to a traditional disc brake, the spring-applied, hydraulically released wet disc brake improves performance and reduces maintenance costs.
Total cost of ownership for an eCWL is lower than for an equivalent diesel model, despite the higher initial purchase cost. Obvious savings result from not requiring diesel fuel, engine oil, filters and related items.
But there&#;s also potential for jobs where noise and emissions restrictions favor electric models. &#;The ability to not disturb others in densely populated areas and to work indoors allows owners to bid on jobs from which they would otherwise have been excluded,&#; says Darren Ashton, product manager - compact equipment, Volvo Construction Equipment.
Idle time is another factor, as there is none with an electric machine. It&#;s on when it&#;s working and off when it&#;s not, and accumulated hours reflect this. Lower hours result in higher residual value in the secondary market.
Wacker NeusonWacker Neuson&#;s newest compact wheel loader is the 45-horsepower WL28. The 3-ton, 0.5-cubic-yard loader has a Yanmar 3TNV86 engine rated at 45 horsepower for the W Construction and or 54 horsepower for the W Construction, High Performance versions. There are Winter versions of each, the W and W, configured for cold-weather applications, including snow removal.
The drive system is electronically controlled, and control switches are color coded for easy reference. Auto and Eco modes are standard, while optional Attachment mode can be spec&#;ed to match intended use. Attachment mode prioritizes power to the front auxiliary attachment to maintain consistent flow and hydraulic power to the work tool.
Besides the new WL28, Wacker Neuson&#;s compact wheel loader line includes the WL34, WL38 and WL52 with 34, 74 and 75 horsepower, respectively.
&#;Operator comfort is the foundation of wheel loaders&#; design,&#; says Jay Quatro, commercial product manager, Wacker Neuson. Comfort features include mechanically suspended and heated air-ride seat options, adjustable wrist rests and tilting and telescoping steering wheels. &#;These all help maximize comfort and minimize fatigue.&#;
YanmarFrank Gangi, product manager, compact wheel loaders and attachments, Yanmar, says the 72-horsepower V10 and 62-horsepower V8 shared prominence in the company&#;s three-model lineup. &#;But recently the V10 has pulled ahead. Customers are looking to do more with their machines, and the V10&#;s specs work well for them.&#;
Yanmar also offers the 39-horsepower V4-7 and recently announced the new V7 CWL.
He says snow removal is the market showing the greatest growth. The V10&#;s horsepower and 22 mph travel speed are good matches for that. Even so, customers are looking for more hydraulic performance, in the range of 28 to 30 gallons per minute, for bigger attachments; the V10 has 20.3 gpm.
Yanmar used Deutz engines in their three compact wheel loaders until a few years ago, &#;but we&#;re justifiably proud of the reliability and performance of our own engines and made the switch,&#; says Gangi. The company also switched from bright yellow to red exteriors around that time.
Case Construction Equipment
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