What's the Difference?

You may wonder how one can distinguish between the different models and their purposes. There are a few characteristics that can help identification in this respect. Since wheel loaders are usually designed with utilitarian functionality in mind, the most reliable method of identification is to figure out what jobs the wheel loader in question is capable of performing.

Even with this distinction, there is some overlap between jobs. Heavy scrapers, bulldozers, and other similar machines may look similar to wheel loaders, and may even perform similar tasks, but the wheel loader, regardless of size, is not designed primarily as an earth mover. So, how does one tell them apart?

Though they sometimes may be tracked, wheel loaders usually have a simple four-by-four wheel chassis. Vehicles like bulldozers have a shovel mounted in front, like wheel loaders, but they are usually incapable of performing all the tasks of a wheel loader. The wheel loader's primary function is to load debris or other material onto another surface, such as a truck cargo bed, a task the bulldozer cannot mimic. The bulldozer's structure is designed primarily for driving large quantities of material before it (hence the added bonus of tracks, instead of wheels, for extra traction). A wheel loader does not depend as much on surface traction since it does not usually get called upon to simply drive material aside, but to load it someplace.

These are elemental observations, almost inherently obvious, but knowing the differences can help you choose the right machine for your task at hand. A wheel loader is capable of performing tasks that a bulldozer cannot do, and vice versa. Avoiding picking the wrong machine will prevent unnecessary expenses and possibly even accidents.

Among the lighter models, there are even more overlaps when it comes to job specificity, so it is not always as important to pick the right machine. However, some machines are more suited for certain tasks than others. A compact wheel loader, like a farm tractor, is often better for farm or ranch work than a compact tracked Bobcat, for instance, while the latter may be better for landscaping tasks.