Loaders and excavators are the machines to turn to when there is some heavy lifting to be done around the farm.
Read More (Loaders and Excavators)Skidsteers, meanwhile, are loader excavators that are defined by their steering mechanism. On a standard loader, tractor or excavator, two wheels (usually but not always the front ones) turn to allow the vehicle to change direction. On a skidsteer, however, all wheels are fixed and the vehicle turns by means of the differential speeds of the left and right wheels. This makes for a very hardy construction and it can also give the skidsteer an extremely tight turning circle.
The category of loaders and excavators also extends to lifting machines, principally fork lifts and telehandlers. Both of these machines have their advantages and offer excellent material-handling capabilities. The forklift is the more traditional lifting vehicle and lifts pallets, bales or other materials by way of its lifting forks. These slide under the object to be lifted and can be lifted, retracted or extended as required. They can be used indoors or out and come with forward-facing or side-mounted orientations. The telehandler differs in the layout of the vehicle, with the cab mounted to one side and an extending telescopic arm mounted amidships. The principle advantage of the telehandler is that of reach, with the boom able to extend far forward to place or lift loads from recessed areas or load an entire trailer from just one side.
Most farmers will be familiar with tractor-based loaders, where the loader unit is mounted usually to the front of the vehicle. This has the benefit of providing flexible loading and even excavating capabilities in a machine that can also be used for many other duties. There is also a huge range of loader attachments to suit almost any usage.
Selecting the right used loader or excavator can be a complex task, not least because of the variety of solutions on offer. Thought needs to be given to the appropriateness of each one, along with the weight limits and capacity of the plant. With such a major investment, a thorough inspection and test are essential and a warranty or service agreement should be considered.