Wheel loaders

Wheel loaders are rubber-tyred machines with a front bucket on lift arms, usually with an articulated frame. They load trucks and hoppers, move stockpiles of aggregate, sand, salt or snow, and carry material around yards, plants and job sites. Compact models work in farms and landscaping, while the largest load mining trucks.

When comparing wheel loaders, look at operating weight, bucket capacity, and tipping load or rated operating capacity. Dump clearance and reach at full lift show whether it can load a given truck or hopper. Overall length, width and height, wheelbase, turning radius and ground clearance cover manoeuvring and transport. Engine power and travel speed matter for load-and-carry work. Bucket and tyre choices change several of these figures.

Across the 135 models listed here, operating weight ranges from about 1,719 to 268,481 kg (3,790 to 591,899 lb). Brands covered: Bobcat, Case, Caterpillar, Develon, HD Hyundai, Hitachi, John Deere, Komatsu, Kubota, Liebherr, New Holland, Volvo.