Difference between Skid Steer Loader And Common Wheel Loader

Skid steer loaders and wheel loaders are two different types of construction machinery and equipment, and they have significant differences in design, function and application.

Skid Steer Loader

Wheel Loader

Design and construction

Skid steer loader:

Wheeled skid steer loaders use a wheeled travelling mechanism with all-wheel drive and skid steering, and tracked skid steer loaders use a tracked chassis and skid steering technology.

The skid steering technology allows the loader to rotate 360 degrees in place in a small space without additional turning space, which is one of its best features.

The small overall dimensions of the machine make it suitable for working in tight spaces.

The tracked undercarriage of the tracked skid steer loader provides good traction and stability, allowing it to travel over uneven ground.

Wheel Loader:

Usually consists of engine, transmission system, travelling mechanism, hydraulic system and operation cabin.

It has strong mobility and large-capacity loading capacity, but the steering flexibility is not as good as skid steer loader.

Functions and Applications

Skid steer loader:

It is suitable for the occasions where the operation site is narrow, the ground is undulating and the operation content changes frequently.

It can quickly change or hook up various working devices at the work site to carry out shovelling, stacking, lifting, digging, drilling, crushing, grasping, pushing and grubbing, loosening soil, ditching, road sweeping and road surface compaction.

Especially suitable for urban infrastructure, roads or construction sites, factory workshops, warehouses, wharves, ship decks and even cabin operations and other narrow sites.

Wheel loader:

Mainly used in earthworks, road construction and mining and other fields.

It is suitable for loading, pushing and draining, lifting and hauling operations in the construction of open-pit mines, railway foundations and paved roads, etc. It can also be used in small and medium-sized open-pit mines.

It can also be used in small and medium-sized open-pit mines to replace excavators and cars as the main mining, loading and transporting equipment of the mines, or work jointly with cars to load and transport ore rocks to crushing stations.

Mode of travel and adaptability

Skid steer loaders:

Wheeled skid steer loaders are flexible in steering and have high kinetic energy, but they have high grounding pressure and are prone to skidding and getting stuck in wet, muddy or soft soil, so they are more suitable for hard surface work such as roads and indoors. However, with some auxiliary facilities, wheeled skid steer loaders can also work on muddy and soft ground.

The advantages of tracked skid steer loaders lie in off-road capability and stability. The tracked travelling method makes the equipment less prone to skidding and sinking on wet, muddy or soft soil, less affected by the terrain, and better passability. In terms of stability is also better, in the choice of some of the higher stability requirements of the generator, tracked skid steer loader effect is better.

Wheel loader:

Good manoeuvrability, no damage to the road surface, easy to operate. Tyre front loader travels fast, short working cycle time, high loading efficiency. However, tyres wear out faster and have a shorter service life.

Purchasing and operating costs

Skid Steer Loaders:

Wheeled skid steer loaders have a lower overall procurement cost. Tracked models have slightly higher procurement costs than wheeled models. In terms of operation and maintenance costs, wheeled skid steer loaders use highly wear-resistant tyres, while tracked models are designed with rubber tracks, and the repair and maintenance costs for the rubber tracks and their frame structure are a little higher than those of wheeled models, but the service life of rubber tracks is longer than that of tyres, and therefore the frequency of use is also an important consideration.

Wheel Loaders:

Wheel-type front loaders have a lighter deadweight, the manufacturing cost is only 1/4~1/3 of the excavator, and the price is cheaper than the excavator, which can reduce the investment in production equipment for mines and shrink the proportion of fixed assets.

In summary, skid steer loaders and wheel loaders have their own advantages and limitations, and the choice of which type of loader to use should be based on the specific working environment,operation content and budget.