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As with any construction equipment, Doosan equipment has its advantages and disadvantages. Knowing these helps you to decide if Doosan excavators, wheel loaders, dump trucks, and special application machines are going to be the best choice for you. And when it comes to construction equipment, maintenance and repair is part of Doosan equipment’s lifecycle just like any other equipment. As such, it’s important to know about Doosan parts Australia and how sourcing and installing spare or maintenance parts will fit into your workflow.

Doosan has a large range of machines on offer. It’s usually the case that if you are considering purchasing a fleet of machines, or hope to one day be able to, then most people stick with the same brand. This makes handling maintenance, repairs, and part sourcing easier because it involves dealing with only one company or dealer for all machines. Because of Doosan’s large range of machines that they provide, regardless of where you start or what capabilities you might plan to expand your fleet of machines into, Doosan will have a machine to fit that need.

For instance, Doosan offers excavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks, and special application machines. And, not only that, they also offer mini, medium, large, and wheel excavators. They also offer medium and large wheel loaders in the DL range, and several other options in the SD range. For the special applications machines, Doosan offers options to cover material handlers, high-reach demolition, front shovel excavator, amphibious excavators, super-long-reach excavators, car dismantlers, electric excavators, and forestry machines.

Not only do Doosan have a wide range of machines, they are also known for being priced below their competition. Some have said they purchased Doosan equipment at a price point that was twenty-five thousand dollars below a competitor’s machine. But then the question arises about how Doosan manages to price their machines at a significantly lower cost.

This is the first disadvantage that many people have historically spoken about regarding a portion of Doosan construction equipment. While the complaints are from 10 years ago, several people suggested that the cabin components seemed to be cheaper and not as sturdy as the components in the cabins of competitor’s machines.

To be fair to Doosan, these comments made by operators and owners were made a decade ago, though they are the best specific criticisms that were readily available. Many other descriptions of the machines are all complementary and do not describe this or any other issues with their Doosan machines, whether that be excavators, articulated dump trucks, or wheel loaders.

And, on top of this, the people who made those comments also were quick to point out the value of the machines, describing them as much cheaper (with one specific example of being seventeen-thousand dollars cheaper than a competitor’s machine of the same size), as well as being strong and smooth to operate.

Plus, these criticisms were levelled at machines operated in Alaska, whereas a different individual from New Zealand spoke to the capability of the Doosan forestry excavator, saying there were no complaints in the forestry roading application and that the incredibly cheaper price point at one-hundred thousand dollars less than the competitor’s made it a no-brainer. In this case, the machines were being used for six-thousand hours before trading in for a new one, so the issues of replacing parts didn’t seem to be a priority.

A common thread amongst the positive reviews of Doosan excavators was that the tail swing radius was very small. This was both the case for small- and medium-sized excavators. Having this smaller tail swing radius makes operating in smaller or more confined spaces much easier for operators. But it also reduces a lot more of the risk of causing damage to the machine through collisions.

Another positive quality of the Doosan machines that has been publicly espoused is the low noise of the small excavators. One person said that even though the cable digging completed at their workplace was right outside, it did not require them to shut the window because it was so much quieter than a usual excavator.

Doosan also lay claim to the world’s first “transparent bucket” on their wheel loaders. The visibility that the operator has of what lies behind the bucket, especially when the bucket is heaped higher with a full load, is very poor. This is a serious hazard because it can cause the wheel loader to collide with unseen objects, which causes anything from serious financial losses and damages to even the possibility of loss of life.

The Doosan transparent bucket uses two cameras on the bucket itself and within the cabin, the view from these cameras is projected and mapped onto the wide-angle view of a camera placed near the cabin. The end result is a video feed which shows the operator’s view as if the bucket is transparent, allowing the operator to see both people and objects usually hidden by the bucket. This also helps to prevent the wheel loaders from approaching edges of cliffs or similarly dangerous edges the wheel loader should not traverse.

While the lower cost of a Doosan may come at some minor disadvantages from the perspective of some previous Doosan operators, everyone has said the value delivered for the lower cost is still impressive and has got it where it counts. Doosan is a global supplier of heavy machinery of all varieties for a reason. And that reason is their machines are smooth and strong to use. They are reliable and safe. And they can fit many use cases with their array of attachments and models, from quiet mini excavators to massive articulated dump trucks. Doosan is a name worth considering for your prospective fleet of heavy machinery.

Arguably one of the most useful pieces of heavy equipment, wheel loaders can be found on virtually every earthmoving project. Essentially a giant mobile shovel, a wheel loader's main job is to move materials around a site or load dump trucks.

Since they are such popular and valuable machines, wheel loaders are produced by many of the top heavy equipment manufacturers. This means that while you have plenty of options to pick from, it can be difficult to know which wheel loader brand is the best to rent or own. We've put together this blog to serve as a guide to determining who makes the best wheel loader for your project depending on features like size, bucket capacity, horsepower, and more.

About Wheel Loaders

Wheel loaders can lift any type of material, including rubble, gravel, soil, debris, and dirt. Due to their wheels, they have excellent maneuverability on roads and don't damage finished asphalt or concrete. They can also be called front loaders, front-end loaders, bucket loaders, scoop loaders, or skip loaders.

Compact wheel loaders bear many similarities with skid steers, as their method of transportation (wheels) and main functionality are identical. If you're trying to choose between these options or wondering about the benefits of a compact wheel loader vs a skid steer, the best rule to use is that the small loader is one step above the skid steer in size, power, and capacity. If your project is simply too intense for a skid steer to handle, it's time to move up to its larger counterparts.

Manufactured in a wide range of sizes, no project is too big or too small for a wheel loader, depending on the brand you choose to rent or buy from. They range from compact models weighing under 10,000 lbs to large, surface-mining models weighing more than 500,000 lbs. This incredible versatility makes them great for any job site, from landscaping and construction to quarry and mining projects.

Though each brand classifies its equipment slightly differently, there are three main categories for wheel loader sizes. Compact wheel loaders normally range in size from 9,000-20,000 lbs and provide operators with good material handling capabilities to go along with exceptional maneuverability. Medium-sized loaders range from approximately 20,000-50,000 lbs, though some brands list them as high as almost 80,000 lbs. Large wheel loaders are machines above 80,000 lbs, though this is by far the widest range as these models can weigh up to 590,000 lbs.

Wheel Loader Brands

Although this is not a complete list of wheel loader manufacturers, we've prioritized 13 of the top brands that manufacture and sell this equipment in the North American market. Below you'll find a guide to the advantages and disadvantages of the following brands: Caterpillar, John Deere, Volvo, CASE, Wacker Neuson, Hyundai, Komatsu, New Holland, JCB, Doosan, Takeuchi, Bobcat, and Mecalac.

Caterpillar

Providing by far the largest selection of models, Cat wheel loaders set the standard for reliability, productivity, and versatility. Among their 48 models spanning every size category, you're all but guaranteed to find a machine that meets the requirements you need for your project.

Listing them in four categories: compact, small, medium, and large, these machines deliver high performance in any application. Cat's compact-medium models range from 9,414-78,264 lbs and include a wide variety of bucket capacities ranging from 0.8-22.5 cubic yards. A key feature of their machines is exceptional horsepower, reaching a peak of 1,739 hp on their largest models, which is a good indicator of a loader's ability to handle heavier and more intense projects. Their compact selection includes models like the 906M, 908, and 910.

Another key feature of Caterpillar is that they also provide the third heaviest model on the market, the 995, coming in at a whopping 540,555 lbs with a bucket capacity reaching up to 57 cubic yards. This is the largest bucket capacity on the market, making it an exceptional choice for projects requiring lifting an excessive amount of material.

Cat prides itself on limiting downtime, enhancing operator comfort, and protecting those working on the job site through key safety features. Their machines are great for projects of any size, and they are easily one of the best brands on the market for wheel loaders.

John Deere

Another well-known brand for heavy equipment, John Deere makes three sizes of wheel loaders. With their six models of compact equipment ranging from 10,000-20,000 lbs and industry-leading bucket capacities, you can achieve more with less. These machines provide increased productivity in confined spaces and can be paired with snow blowers, pallet forks, or other John Deere wheel loader attachments to increase their versatility. The average bucket size for this range is 1.75 cubic yards.

Reaching weights of up to 43,783 lbs with five cubic yards of bucket capacity, John Deere's mid-sized loaders are among the industry leaders for horsepower. Providing the option between a single-lever joystick or two-lever fingertip controls, operators can pick their preference. These models, including the 444 P-Tier, 624 G-Tier, and 724 P-Tier, are designed to elevate your reach, comfort, and control, and are perfect for reasonably-sized projects.

Providing five large wheel loader models like the 744 P-Tier and the 824 P-Tier, John Deere focuses on delivering the performance, reliability, and comfort you need to stay productive all day long. Achieving a horsepower rating of over 500 on their largest model, the 944K Hybrid, these are highly capable machines that can handle almost any job.

John Deere is a top manufacturer of wheel loaders and provides a selection of productive models that are reliable options for jobs of many sizes. The one downside to their lineup is the lack of extremely large machines to handle the biggest projects.

Volvo

With 17 wheel loader models spanning 9,877-123,459 lbs, Volvo Construction Equipment is always reliable, providing an excellent alternative for many projects. Their machines, like the L25H and L350H, have excellent power and bucket capacity for their size, ranging from 0.9-16.6 cubic yards, and are known to have some of the most comfortable cabins in the industry.

Volvo wheel loaders won awards for lowest cost of ownership and highest retained value in 2021. Designed to reduce cycle times and operating costs, they consistently provide some of the best bang for your buck in the industry, both when it comes to renting and owning.