5 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a New Wheel Loader
What are things to consider when buying a new wheel loader?
- Size of the loader
- Durability
- Type of bucket
- Kind of attachments
- Comfort
There are many different types of heavy equipment used by several industries – particularly construction – in their daily operations. These machines have been brought about, thanks to several industrial advancements that aim to make it more ergonomic for industries to complete their projects.
One of these machines is the wheel loader. If you own a construction or an industrial company, you only want the most trusted information regarding purchasing a wheel loader in the Philippines. There are many factors you have to consider, but perhaps one of the most important things is to ensure you’re buying a type of wheel loader that can perform tasks efficiently.
Knowing the factors to take into account before purchasing the wheel loader which is right for your company is essential and it would be in your best interest to continue reading.
Size of the loader
Wheel loaders are an essential type of heavy-equipment used by many industries for different specialized functions. For the timber industry, particularly, wheel loaders are used to cut and carry around logs to transport them from one place to another. On the other hand, the construction industry uses this equipment to excavate large masses of dirt for the purpose of leveling the ground of a construction site.
There are still many different uses for the wheel loader, depending on the type of industry you belong to. Before buying one, consider what kind of activities it would be used for. You have to consider the volume, size, and weight of the material, you would have to move on a daily basis. If you’re dealing with large construction materials, it would be for your benefit to buy a bigger type of wheel loader which runs on a horsepower able to support large quantities and capacities of items. In this particular case, you’d most likely look into heavy wheel loaders that run on 200 to 250 horsepower.
Durability
The purpose of heavy equipment, such as that of a wheel loader, is to make it more ergonomic for industries to move around their items. A wheel loader that can easily break just after several uses, has not been able to perform its job well. Having said that, the next thing you should definitely look out for before buying one is the durability and quality of the wheel loader.
Wheel loaders that have passed this quality check are able to consistently carry heavy loads in the most efficient time possible. You’re able to measure this by simply looking into the wheel loader’s tipping load. You also have to consider the wheel loader’s ease of use, for the benefit of the machine operator.
You would want your wheel loader to be able to withstand extreme levels of pressure for long periods of time, especially for highly rigorous construction projects. Make sure your wheel loader has been specifically engineered for such purposes.
Type of bucket
Arguably the most essential component of a wheel loader is the bucket. This part of the heavy equipment is what’s responsible for digging up heavy masses of ground, dirt, logs, or other types of industry-specific material.
Buckets of different levels of capacities can exist anywhere, from 0.65 cubic yards to up to 32 cubic yards for example. Alongside this, also knowing the bucket’s breakout force is important. Simply put, the breakout force measures the amount of force the bucket can exert, while it is being rolled back to uproot a tree, for example.
Kind of attachments
As with any other type of heavy construction equipment, attachments play an important role in maximizing the efficiency of your wheel loader. They offer the machine a more ergonomic use and easier function. To determine the type of attachments that you need to purchase, you should first define the scope of the work that your wheel loader has to perform. Just some examples of possible wheel loader attachments include blades, booms, forks, grapples, and rakes.
While these attachments may initially cost you, they will eventually provide you with long-term benefits, allowing you to increase the efficiency level of your industry’s processes.
Comfort
Working long hours in construction sites can put a strain on the machine operator. While this isn’t the most essential factor to have in mind before purchasing a wheel loader, you should always ensure the safety and comfort of the machine operator handling the equipment. After all, the machine operator’s skill is only as good as the machine they’re maneuvering.
Bumps and irregularities on the surface can be uncomfortable on the operator, so the wheel loader’s seat should offer enough comfort for the handler.
It’s already a given that the machine operator is skilled enough to handle such a vehicle. But the wheel loader’s control panel shouldn’t also be too complicated for the machine operator to do their job.
Key Takeaway
Buying a wheel loader in the Philippines can be an especially daunting task if you don’t know where to begin. You wouldn’t want to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on a wheel loader which won’t be able to meet your industry’s needs. The best piece of advice is to always conduct your research first before looking into the features of the heavy equipment.
The guide above has hopefully offered you with just some of the things you should look out for before you make your first wheel loader purchase.
