Loaders for sale at ITO - an overview of the types and functions

Loaders come in a variety of forms and function. Whether it is crawler loaders or the multifunctional loader backhoe (a mix of excavator and bucket loader) or skid steers – besides the bucket, one thing they all have alike: their versatility and consequent popularity.

Before we get into the features of the respective types of loaders, it needs to be mentioned that loaders earn their versatility as usual from the masses of attachments easily converting the into lifting and material handling machines or even drilling. Swiftly equipped with forks and grapples or an attached shield, any type of loader can manage dozens of different jobs at construction sites.

 

What is the difference between the loader types and what's their purpose?

1. Crawler loaders

The crawler loaders combine the characteristics of a crawler tractor with the function of a bucket loader. Compared to wheel loaders, they have a much higher thrust thus also occasionally equipped with rippers like bulldozers as their tractive force. Just like all tracked vehicles, their advantage with regard to the ground is the better traction making them able to drive on mud and other moister soil and remarkably reduced ground loading as the machine weight is spread over a wider area.

Some of the makes of crawler loaders we offer are manufactured by Liebherr, John Deere, Caterpillar, Hitachi and Hanumag which is today owned by Japanese heavy equipment conglomerate Komatsu.

2. Wheel loaders

The original form of loaders are on rubber tires. Contrary to skid steers, the wheels on the loader can vary in size comparing the front to the rear tires. Naturally, their main advantage is the mobility on the construction site, driving more than 20 km/h usually. With dozens of dozens of attachments that can be attached via a quick coupler at best, they can serve for many different purposes, like sorting wood or moving earth to upper level with a high-tip bucket.

Due to their popularity, nearly all construction equipment providers have wheel loaders included in their product range. Amongst those are Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, Kalble, Terex, Kramer, Neuson, Weidemann, Furukawa, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi SMC, Takeuchi, Sany

3. Skid steer loaders

Skid steers are a rather special kind of loader as they really differ from crawler and wheeled loaders. First of all, the steering is totally different, as it is non-articulated and therefor comparable to a trench compactor or a tank for instance. Since they don't have axles, the compact construction is possible. Furthermore, skid steers may turn on the spot, making them extremely handy in confined circumstances.

But like everything, there's a reverse of the medal too. Skid steer loaders have a small ground clearance and no suspension at all. Their compact structure also force the operator into a tiny cabin which is sort of inside the skid steer opposed to atop which is the case for other loader types. This results in reduced oversight which can at times provoke dangerous situations. Moreover skid steer loaders tend to easily tip over. An ambiguous fact is that these compact loaders have more lifting force than dead weight. 

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