Wheel Loaders (3)

Wheel loaders have different load capacities depending on their horsepower and bucket capacity.

A small, 20-horsepower wheel loader can lift about 1,800 pounds, while the largest can use its 2,300-horsepower engine to lift 160,000 pounds up to 24 feet high. Bucket capacities vary and the operating payload helps you determine which one fits your job best. Always consult with your Budget Equipment representative to be sure you select the best fit for your project’s needs.

Front-end loaders are designed to move heavy, bulky objects like rocks, tree branches, and debris, such as broken-up asphalt and concrete, at a construction or demolition site. If you’re lifting a heavy object, you need leverage and stability in order to move it, so utilizing sturdy, heavy front-end loaders can help.

Weights of front-end loaders vary by size and manufacturer. Sizes and brands available may vary by location, but some mid-sized wheel loaders range in weight from 25,814 pounds to more than 43,700 pounds while compact wheel loaders weigh in anywhere from 9,414 pounds to up to more than 78,000 pounds.

Small wheel loaders have a bucket capacity of 1 to 2 cubic yards. Capacity rises to 2 to 4.75 cubic yards for medium-sized buckets, reaching 10 cubic yards or more for larger buckets.

Make note of and respect the limits of each machine. Attempting to overload one of these machines beyond its designed capacity can increase wear and reduce how long it will last.

You typically think of wheel loaders with scooping buckets in front, but a number of other attachments can customize your machine for the job you’re doing.

You can swap out your bucket for a corkscrew-shaped auger for digging precise holes or a snowplow to clear a path in winter. You can choose among attachments like shovels, rakes, brooms, and grapplers, which can clamp down to grip items like tree branches between opposable “teeth” to lift and move them out of the way.

Yes. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1926.602, operators of all loaders, including front-end loaders, backhoes, excavators, and skid steers, must be trained and certified. Employers are required to evaluate wheel loader operators every three years. Online classes are provided by various websites, and certification entails passing a written exam and a practical evaluation.