Buying a Wheel Loader

Whether you work in mining, construction, or agriculture or another business that requires the use of heavy machinery, you’ll likely find a wheel loader to be one of the most practical pieces of equipment you can buy. These machines tend to be used most often for moving loose materials like dirt, gravel, soil, and sand. Here’s a quick guide to assist you in the shopping process so you can choose the best model for your needs.

Think About Size

Wheel loaders can be large or small, with different horsepowers and bucket capacities. Those latter two factors are how most models are categorized:

Small: A small wheel loader will be between 50 and 90 horsepower, with a more compact size and superior agility. These models will cost the least and will be easier to store and maneuver, but they don’t have much capacity.

Mid-Size: A medium wheel loader’s horsepower will typically fall between 100 and 300 hp, allowing you to carry more weight and more material at one time, while not compromising too much on agility.

Large: These wheel loaders are anywhere between 500 and 1500 hp, with the potential to move anywhere from 20 to 40 tons of material with their buckets. You’ll get the most productivity out of a large wheel loader, but it will be harder to store and maneuver, and it will cost the most.

Consider Attachments

When selecting a wheel loader, you’ll need to consider its ability to use various attachments. While a bucket is practical for most purposes, there may be cases where you would prefer to use an auger, a pallet fork, or a grapple, among other options. It’s important to think about what attachments you might need to buy and whether the wheel loader you’ve chosen can handle these attachments.

Come see us at one of our dealerships located in Geneva or Fairport, NY, to check out our amazing selection of new and used wheel loaders and other equipment for sale. Bobcat® of the Finger Lakes is proud to serve our customers in Rochester, NY, and the greater Finger Lakes region.