Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Wheel Loader

  • Editorial Team
  • Wheel Loaders
  • 29 March 2022

There are a lot of different makes and models of wheel loaders available in the market today. These loaders come in many different sizes and configurations. If you are having trouble selecting the right loader for your project, you can ask yourself these questions to figure out which loader would be best suited for your work.

How Big of a Loader Can Your Site Accommodate?

When you are selecting a loader for your project, the first thing that you need to consider is the layout of the site on which you will be working. Make the decision after considering the ground conditions of the worksite. You need to choose a loader that would be able to move around easily on the jobsite.

How Much Power Do You Need?

The next thing that you need to focus on is your production target. You also need to think about your payload and the material densities that you will be moving. Once you consider those things, you will have an easier time selecting the right combination of bucket and loader for your project. It may not seem like it, but it usually makes sense to choose your bucket size first. Doing so will allow you to later pick a machine that can accommodate your bucket.

Will Your Loader Be Interacting with Other Equipment?

If your loader will be interacting with other equipment such as trucks and hoppers, you will need to give precedence to load requirements over height and width. You also need to consider whether you will be working strictly at a stockpile or covering significant load and carry distances. These can be important factors in your selection of loader.

How Many Different Tasks Will the Loader Be Performing?

If you are going to be using the loader for different jobs on the site, you need to check how many attachments are available with it. If you are going to be working on different jobs around the worksite with your loader, you need a machine that offers maximum versatility. You could consider one that has a quick coupler that will allow for simple and speedy changeouts. However, if you want a loader for a dedicated task, you can ask your dealer for specialty configurations that are built for specific tasks.

Who Will Be Responsible for Maintaining the Loader?

Maintenance experience is something else to consider. Depending on the time and experience you have available to maintain the loader, you will be able to select a machine that offers the right ease of serviceability. Making sure that any machine is properly maintained can extend its useful life.

Who Will Be Operating the Loader?

You need to factor in the experience of your operator when buying a new loader. Doing so will allow you to make a better decision. Communicating with the operator will help you determine whether you need a loader with cab comfort and operator assist features.

Would Opting for Technology Help Overcome More Challenges?

If you are struggling with finding experienced operators or having issues with misloads, overloads, and underloads, it might be better for you to opt for a loader with the right technology to help overcome these issues. Nowadays, wheel loaders come with on the go weighing, automation, and productivity tracking. These technologies have really helped improve their efficiency over the last few years.

Before you decide that what you need is a 966G front end wheel loader, make sure to ask yourself these questions. Having the right information will help you make the right decision when you are trying to decide which loader to buy. Before you head out to your dealer, it is best that you take a few minutes and answer these questions to narrow down your search.