Construction loaders are pieces of heavy equipment used for a multitude of purposes. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit any project. Generally, these heavy construction machines move materials like rubble, soil or other debris from one location to another. Thanks to their versatility, you can find different types of loaders on almost every construction or industrial site.
There are several types of loaders commonly used to achieve the daily tasks required on construction sites.
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Wheel Loaders
Wheel loaders are also called front-end or bucket loaders. They’re four-wheeled earthmoving machines with a front-mounted bucket attachment. The bucket allows the operator to scoop, move and dump various materials. Unlike other pieces of heavy equipment that have tracks, wheel loaders use durable tires to get around. Tough treads or chains protect the tires and reinforce the wheel loader’s overall strength and traction. The tires also enable greater maneuverability, making wheel loaders agile machines for almost any project.
Wheel loaders play a central role at many construction sites. Some of their most common uses include loading materials into vehicles for transport or moving debris out of the way. Wheel loaders come in a range of sizes depending on their horsepower, including compact, small, medium and large loaders.
Skid Steer Loaders
Skid steers or skid loaders are serious multipurpose machines. Like wheel loaders, they typically have four durable wheels for increased mobility on any surface. What makes skid steer loaders so special is their range of available attachments. These are just a few of the potential attachments for your skid steer:
- Buckets
- Brooms
- Claws and grapples
- Pallet forks
- Plows
- Saws
The construction possibilities are endless with a skid steer loader. You’ll be able to handle, relocate and clean up almost any type of material or debris on your site. The skid loader’s compact size, mobility and available attachments mean it’s up to any challenge on your next project.
Backhoe Loaders
Also known as diggers, backhoe loaders have both a front-mounted bucket and a rear attachment. The rear attachment is most often a backhoe, an extendable arm fitted with a toothed bucket that can dig and excavate. Other attachments include grapples, hammers and grinders. Backhoes are among the most common types of loaders in construction. Having a bucket in front and excavator in the back allows you to efficiently dig up and transport materials with the same machine, reducing the need for other equipment.
Operators can use backhoe loaders to break up or soften the ground, dig holes and lay pipes or other underground utilities.
Wheel Loaders at Carolina Cat
At Carolina Cat, we provide parts, service and sales of new and used construction equipment, including wheel loaders, skid steers and other essential machines. Contact us today to learn more about our construction loaders and other equipment.