Wheel Loader, Tractor or Skid Steer? How to Choose the Right Machine
Wheel loaders, tractors with front-end loaders and skid steers can all move dirt, but each is built for a different main job. A wheel loader is built to lift and carry. A tractor is built to pull and power implements, with the loader as an extra. A skid steer is built for tight spaces. Here's how to choose, using the specifications from our brochures.
The short answer
| Your main job | Choose | HandyMax models |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting and carrying: bales, feed, gravel, pallets, loading trucks | Wheel loader | Nine models, from the HM07E (700 kg lift) to the HM32 (4,000 kg lift) |
| Slashing, digging post holes and grading, plus lighter loader work | Tractor with front-end loader | HT45 and HT45C (45 hp), HT60 (60 hp), HT65 and HT65C (65 hp) |
| Tight access: backyards, landscaping, sheds and small building sites | Skid steer | HS25 (wheels) and HS10T (rubber tracks) |
Current prices, including GST, are on each model's product page.
Side by side: three machines of a similar size
The HM08 wheel loader and the HT45 tractor weigh about the same, so this table shows what you gain and give up with each type. The HS25 is our wheeled skid steer.
| HM08 wheel loader | HT45 tractor with front-end loader | HS25 skid steer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loader lift capacity | 800 kg | 650 kg | 344 kg (tipping load 724 kg) |
| Operating weight | 2,600 kg | 2,800 kg | 1,350 kg |
| Engine | 35 HP (25 kW) | 33.1 kW (45 hp) | Kubota, 18.2 kW |
| Overall width | 1,550 mm | 1,580 mm | 901 mm without the bucket, 1,330 mm with the 4-in-1 bucket |
| Overall height | 2,510 mm | 2,400 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Rear 3-point linkage and PTO | No | Yes: the linkage lifts 1,000 kg at 610 mm, PTO at 540 or 720 rpm | No |
| Changing attachments | Hydraulic quick hitch | Quick-release loader with a Euro quick hitch | Manual quick hitch |
Choose a wheel loader if loading is most of the work
A wheel loader is built around its loader arms. Size for size, it lifts more than a tractor's front-end loader: the HM08 lifts 800 kg and the HT45 650 kg, though the two weigh about the same.
It also lifts higher, which helps when loading trucks or stacking bales: the HM08 lifts to 2,750 mm and the HM16 to 3,630 mm.
The range runs from 700 kg of lift on the HM07E to 4,000 kg on the HM32, and every model has a quick hitch for swapping buckets, forks and bale spears. Our guide What Size Wheel Loader Do I Need? explains how to pick the size.
Choose a tractor if you also slash, dig or grade
A tractor's rear 3-point linkage and PTO run implements such as slashers, post-hole diggers, rotary hoes and spreaders. On the HT45 the linkage lifts 1,000 kg at 610 mm and the PTO runs at 540 or 720 rpm.
Wheel loaders can slash and drill too. Instead of PTO implements, they use hydraulic attachments on the front quick hitch: the HM08 and HM32, for example, both take a hydraulic slasher and an auger.
Every HandyMax tractor comes with a front-end loader and a 4-in-1 bucket. Packages can add a 1,600 mm slasher, a 250 mm post-hole digger, combined pallet and hay forks, and a grader blade with ripper and a backhoe.
The trade-off is lift: the front-end loader lifts 650 kg on the HT45 and 900 kg on the HT65, so for heavy daily loading a wheel loader is the better tool. The HT45C and HT65C add an air-conditioned cab.
Choose a skid steer for tight access
The HS25 is 901 mm wide without its bucket, narrow enough for tight spaces and simple trailer loading. The HS10T runs on rubber tracks for minimal ground disturbance, and at 880 kg it's easy to transport. Both use a manual quick hitch for fast attachment changes.
Skid steers suit lighter work over short distances. The HS25 lifts 344 kg (tipping load 724 kg) and travels at up to 13.8 km/h; the HS10T lifts 200 kg at up to 2.5 km/h.
Three questions to settle it
- What will the machine do most days? Mostly loading and carrying: a wheel loader. Mostly implement work: a tractor. Mostly work in tight spaces: a skid steer.
- What's the heaviest thing you lift regularly? Choose a machine whose lift capacity sits comfortably above it.
- How wide is your narrowest gate or doorway? Compare it with the machine width, and remember the bucket can be wider than the machine.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tractor with a front-end loader replace a wheel loader?
For occasional loader work, yes. For heavy daily loading, no: the HT65's front-end loader lifts 900 kg, while our wheel loaders go up to 4,000 kg on the HM32.
Is a skid steer a good choice for a farm?
For tight yards, sheds and stables, yes. For round bales or loading trucks, a wheel loader or tractor lifts more: the HS25 lifts 344 kg.
Do HandyMax tractors come with a loader?
Yes. Every tractor package includes a front-end loader and a 4-in-1 bucket.
What warranty comes with them?
12 months or 2,000 hours from the manufacturer on every machine in this guide, and the HS25 also has a 3-year engine warranty.
How quickly can I get one?
In-stock machines are dispatched within 2–5 business days. If the model you want is sold out, we confirm the lead time when you pre-order.
Talk to us
Not sure which machine suits your property? Call us on 03 9769 2888 or 1300 077 999, or visit us at 2/22 Park Drive, Dandenong South VIC 3175.
