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Warrenton, NCWe are needing something larger than our Ford industrial loader tractor to unload equipment at our small farm implement dealership. We also have a small fork lift that we use inside and on the gravel outside and like the small size for what it does. We believe that we want a wheel loader for unloading equipment off of flat deck and drop deck semi trailers. Currently the equipment that we are wanting to unload is in the 6K pound range, but we also want to have some room for larger equipment in the future. This machine would probably run about once a week at most for us.

When looking at used wheel loaders what are the places specific to wheel loaders to look at? How many hours is high hours for these machines? Any brands to stay away from? Most that we have seen on the internet only have a bucket, where should we look to get forks?

Next week a local consignment auction will have a Deere 444C and a Clark 35C, both with cab and standard looking bucket. We are going to look and drive them just to get more knowledge if nothing else. Any opinions on these machines would be appreciated.

Thank You,
James

southern saskatchewanThe bigger loaders usually have a higher lift. A extended reach loader would work nice for you but will not lift as much further from your machine. A quick coupler and ride control are also nice features. Do you need a third valve? Sometimes the bigger used loaders aren't a lot more money than the smaller ones but hauling them around isn't as easy. A 4 yard loader might be a good fit.

WiTo run once a week you won't need much. 20k hrs is not a ton for most "small" loaders. The 444 is about the smallest of the small category.

Forks are available and it's probably cheapest to make your own. Find a used set of heavy forks and adapt them to attach to the loader you buy. Some older stuff may not have a quick style coupling and may have pin on style. Not a big deal if you don't plan to switch often.

6k is not a ton of weight, although it depends on the dimensions of the equipment you are lifting.

Bigger loaders are just as cheap as the little ones but they are big and a pain to move.

I wouldn't worry about many options for the use you are looking at. Things like ride control make a world of difference for production work but are only on newer more expensive machines. To basically use one as a big forklift, ride control wouldn't be necessary.

Edited by durallymax 3/2/ 11:01


sw mn

weve sold a deere 544g with hrs, and a 444j hi lift with or so.

Link to Xiangyao

for what your doing I don't think youll want a hi lift. I loved our 544gs for those purposes, get jrb couplers. forks can be found easily. plus youll run across different bucket or bigger forks in the future. I thought the (feel ) of the hydraulics on the gs was easier than newer loaders.

you say now youll only run it once a week, once its there you will use it more, and your forklift will sit.

I say g series because that's the oldest ive ran, youll want something with a good park brake (electric over hyd ), not sure if cs had that or not. and easy to get in and out of.

Southern Nevada desertIf you don't need to dig why not a telehandler instead? more versatile as a lifting machine.

On the A, B, and C Deeres, look for power steering cylinder and transmission oil leaks.  The steer pump uses the transmission as its oil reservoir and running the trans low enough will hurt it.  It can take a few times running it so low on fluid that it wont go, but the damage adds up.  If the Deere dealer fixes a bad transmission, you will have a bill that is more than the loader is worth.  We have a 544B that the hour meter quit at 13,000 hours  over 10 years ago.   It still works, but it needs some extra warm-up time.  That one is our spare loader now.

Wheel loaders make lousy forklifts, poor visibility and no side shift.  Visibility  is better with forks replacing the bucket, but there is still more stuff in the way than a forklift.  Your Deere construction dealer should be able to tell you if a 444C will pick up #. 

If you intend on buying parts at a Deere Ag dealership, better check first, that wont work here.

Warrenton, NCI know less about telehandlers than wheel loaders so I guess that is why I have not considered them. What kind of lifting capacities do they have? They look like they would not lift the weight that a wheel loader would. I am sure that we would end up using the wheel loader with the bucket instead of the tractor with front end loader for moving dirt, gravel, etc.
The other poster is probably right we would end up using more than we think we would.

sc kansasafter using a tractor and loader with pallet forks and now a tellehandler rated at lbs there is no comparision in visibility between the two. the tellehandler is 4wd and will reach up over 40ft if ever need to and has 4wheel steer, crab steer or front wheel steer. if you are using anything for equipment setup the tellehandler will also be great for that.

Wheel loaders are powerful pieces of heavy equipment and have various uses, which is why you can likely find them on most construction sites. 

Wheel loaders essentially function like massive mobile shovels, so they are often used to scoop various materials into trucks or to move them from one part of a job site to another.

They can lift many things, including rubble, soil, gravel, debris, and dirt. Wheel loaders look somewhat similar to bulldozers, despite a few distinct key differences. 

Rather than operating on a continuous track system, they have wheels, just as their name suggests. Also, instead of using a flat blade to push things around like a bulldozer, they have a bucket to scoop, move, and dump materials. 

Wheel loaders come in various sizes, making them suitable for pretty much any job site, as well as any type of construction or landscaping project.

What are the most important things to consider before buying a wheel loader?

There are several important factors to consider before buying a wheel loader to add to your fleet. 

Since there are hundreds of different models of wheel loaders on the market, which come from different brands, and in different sizes with different specs, it is necessary to know exactly what to look for as you make this purchase.

The following aspects are all essential to consider in order to ensure that you choose the perfect wheel loader for your needs:

1. Consider its size

As you look at wheel loader options, you will find that they come in many different sizes. Consider the exact kinds of jobs you will be using it for, and pick one that is sized appropriately for your needs. Choosing the right-sized wheel loader will also help you maximize your ROI. 

As you are considering sizes, you may want to think about the amount of material that your wheel loader will need to lift on a daily basis and what the approximate weight of that material will be. 

The three main elements you will need to examine in a wheel loader are its horsepower, tipping load, and bucket size.

2. Choose the right bucket

One of the most important parts of any wheel loader is its bucket, as this is the component of the machine that allows it to dig, scoop, or carry various materials. 

Buckets typically come in compact, small, medium, or large sizes. It is essential that your wheel loader has the right bucket for your needs. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Used Wheel Loader.

You may want to consider your daily production figure and the density of the materials you will be handling. It is also important to consider a bucket’s breakout force, which measures the amount of force the bucket can exert.

3. Other attachments

Aside from the bucket, there are a large number of other attachments that can be affixed to your wheel loader, which is what makes it such a versatile machine. These attachments can help you maximize the efficiency of your wheel loader. 

Once again, consider the kind of work you intend to use your wheel loader for as you decide which attachments to purchase. Some of the common attachments you can get include blades, booms, forks, grapples, and rakes.  

4. Serviceability

As is the case while purchasing any kind of heavy equipment and machinery, it is necessary to consider how easy it is to service the wheel loader that you purchase. 

Therefore, you may want to look for one that has easy-to-access maintenance points such as its hydraulic hoses and its engine. 

It is also important to ensure it has quality components and extended service intervals because, then, you will not have to worry about servicing it too frequently. 

When you buy a wheel loader that can be serviced quickly and efficiently, that means it will be out of commission for less time, which is always better for both your timeline and expenses.

5. Understand arm configurations

There are three main types of arm configurations that most wheel loaders can have: the Z-bar, the XR (extended reach), and the XT (tool carrier). 

It is necessary you understand and consider the differences between these arm configurations because each of them has been configured for a specific purpose. 

The XR is most commonly used in farming applications, whereas XT arms are best for material handling. If you are not doing much material handling, then the Z-bar may be your best bet.

6. Consider comfort

Although comfort may not be the number one priority when it comes to buying a new wheel loader, it is still something important to think about. 

After all, when machinery is more comfortable to operate, it is often much easier to maximize productivity on a job site. 

A few factors you may want to consider when it comes to the comfort of your wheel loader are how smoothly it rides, whether it has air conditioning and heating, how much cab noise it generates, whether it has suspension seats, and how intuitive the joystick controls are.

How Nors Equipment Can Help With Purchasing a Wheel Loader

If you think your future construction projects could benefit from the power and versatility that wheel loaders have to offer, then Nors Equipment would be glad to help you find the perfect one for you to add to your fleet. 

We are a certified seller of some of the best brands in the industry, such as Volvo Construction Equipment, Madill, FFE, TimberPro, Sennebogen, Metso, K-Tec, SDLG, and CMI. 

If you are looking for a new wheel loader for sale in BC, we have some of the latest and most innovative models available that we would be glad to demo for you. 

On the other hand, if it makes more sense to purchase a used wheel loader, for the time being, we can also help, as we have just as many used ones in stock at our 11 stores across British Columbia and the Yukon. 

If you are unsure which direction to go in when it comes to your wheel loader, someone from our product experts will happily point you in the right direction and answer any questions you have. 

We offer competitive pricing on all of our products and even have financing options available for your convenience. If this is an option that interests you, feel free to let us know, and we will gladly walk through all of our terms and conditions with you.

We will also gladly set you up with one of our custom-tailored service and repair agreements so we can help guarantee your satisfaction with your wheel loader continuing for many years. 

For more information, please visit Used Bulldozer For Sale.