Though compact loaders continue to gain in popularity, standard wheel loaders are still a staple on the jobsite, thanks to their heavy-duty loading abilities.
But just as their compact equivalents are becoming more versatile and adding new technology, so too are these trusty workhorses.
The newest models are coming with such features as obstacle detection, tablet-like touchscreen displays and a variety of attachments.
Juston Thompson, senior product manager, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, says machines up to 3.5 cubic yards are more likely to be used with attachments such as mulchers, buckets with thumbs or grapples, and rakes. “Compared to compact equipment, small- to mid-size wheel loaders offer more capacity in these applications,” he says.
And speaking of buckets, one manufacturer has even come out with a “transparent” one, using advanced technology that enables the operator views into the typical blind spots.
For customers considering a wheel loader in addition to or instead of a compact loader, John Dotto, product application and training specialist, Wacker Neuson, suggests three key considerations:
First, is the wheel loader compatible with the attachment now in use or projected for future use?
