Buy new and used wheel loaders – Kramer, Yanmar, Caterpillar, Liebherr, JCB, CLAAS Torion – directly from specialist dealers. From 1.5-tonne farm loaders to 15-tonne industrial loaders: wheel loaders load, transport, grade and lift – in the building materials trade, at depots, in recycling, in agriculture and on any construction site handling bulk materials. Dealers such as Kraus Baumaschinen, GSK Baumaschinen, Mecklenburger Landtechnik and Bontebok advertise their machines with us, specifying the year of manufacture, operating hours, operating weight and engine power.
Which wheel loader is right for your application?
1.5 to 3 t – farm and compact loaders: Kramer 5035, Weidemann, Yanmar V7, Bobcat AL 350, Ahlmann AS 70. Bucket capacity 0.3–0.6 m³. For agriculture, landscaping, local authorities and confined farmyards – often involving alternating use of pallet forks and attachments.
4 to 7 t – the construction site class: Yanmar V80/V100/V120, Kramer 5065/5075, Cat 906M/908M, Liebherr L506/L508, JCB 409/427, Volvo L30/L35, Terex TL80. Bucket capacity 0.8–1.4 m³, 45–75 kW. The all-rounder for municipal depots, building materials suppliers, recycling and civil engineering; most of our listings are in this category.
8 to 15 t – mid-range: CLAAS Torion 530/639, Develon/Doosan DL80–DL250, Liebherr L514–L538, Cat 914–926, Atlas AR 500, Terex TL160. Bucket capacity 1.5–3 m³ for gravel, quarries, compost and handling.
Skid-steer loaders: Bobcat 853/S130/T190, Gehl, Mustang, Case 1840 – wheel steering on the spot, extremely manoeuvrable; listed under ‘skid-steer loaders’ on our website.
Two design types dominate the market: articulated steering (Cat, Liebherr, Volvo, Yanmar) with a high tipping load when travelling in a straight line, and all-wheel steering with a rigid frame (Kramer, Weidemann) offering the same tipping load even at full steering angle – which is why Kramer and Weidemann are so widely used on farms and in the building materials trade.
What to look out for when buying a used wheel loader
Operating hours and maintenance: Wheel loaders in continuous use clock up 1,000 to 1,500 hours a year. Maintenance records (oil and filter changes for the engine, axles and hydraulics) reveal more than the hour meter reading.
Articulation joint and axles: Play in the articulation joint (steer the loader whilst the engine is running; listen for rattling or jolting), oil leaks from axles and planetary gearboxes, condition of brakes and differential lock.
Lifting frame, cylinders, quick-change coupler: play in the lifting frame’s bearing pins, scoring on piston rods, seal integrity, locking mechanism of the quick-change coupler. Raise the bucket to full height – it must not sag.
Engine, hydrostatic transmission, tyres: Cold start, smoke pattern, emission standard (Stage IIIA to V), condition of the hydrostatic drive (smooth acceleration, no delay when changing direction). Tyres: Tread depth, cracks, cuts – a set of industrial tyres is a significant expense for a 10-tonne loader.
Documentation: CE marking, declaration of conformity, annual inspection by a qualified person; for road use, roadworthiness certificate (20 or 40 km/h) and lighting.
| Class | Operating weight | Bucket | Power | Typical models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farm loader / Compact | 1.5–3 t | 0.3–0.6 m³ | 20–35 kW | Kramer 5035, Yanmar V7, Ahlmann AS 70 |
| Construction site class | 4–7 t | 0.8–1.4 m³ | 45–75 kW | Yanmar V80/V100, Cat 906M/908M, Kramer 5065/5075, Liebherr L506 |
| Mid-range | 8–15 t | 1.5–3 m³ | 75–130 kW | CLAAS Torion 639, Doosan DL250, Liebherr L514–L538 |
Brands and dealers
Kramer (four-wheel steering) and Weidemann lead the way in farm and compact loaders, whilst Liebherr, Caterpillar, Volvo and JCB dominate the construction site and mid-range segments; Yanmar offers a strong, attractively priced alternative with its V series (V7 to V120), featuring Stage V engines. Our dealers: Kraus Baumaschinen in Frankenthal (new Yanmar machines, Kramer, second-hand Caterpillar), GSK Baumaschinen in Hanhofen (Yanmar V7 to V100 with extended warranty, Develon/Doosan), Mecklenburger Landtechnik (CLAAS Torion, Kramer, Liebherr, Atlas) and Bontebok Trading from the Netherlands (second-hand loaders at fixed prices, export). Filter by manufacturer, weight, engine power, year of manufacture and operating hours.
Frequently asked questions about used wheel loaders
How much does a used wheel loader cost?
Older compact loaders start in the five-figure range, whilst newer construction site loaders with few operating hours are significantly higher; 15-tonne loaders can reach six-figure sums. Factors influencing the price include weight class, year of manufacture, operating hours, emissions standard, quick-change couplers and attachments. State your intended use in the advert – then you’ll receive a suitable offer.
How many operating hours are still acceptable for a wheel loader?
Wheel loaders are designed for 10,000 hours or more; well-maintained Liebherr or Cat models can run for 15,000 hours. A loader with fewer than 5,000 hours is considered new. The key factors are maintenance history, the articulated joint, the axles and the hydrostatic drive.
Articulated steering or all-wheel steering?
Articulated steering is standard on loaders from 5 t and offers the greatest stability when driving in a straight line. Four-wheel-steering loaders with a rigid frame (Kramer, Weidemann) do not lose their tipping load when the steering is turned and have an advantage in tight yards and when using pallet forks.
What bucket size do I need?
The rule of thumb: the bucket capacity multiplied by the bulk density must be less than the tipping load (articulated). For gravel (1.8 t/m³), a 5-t loader can handle around 0.9 m³; for compost or snow, significantly larger buckets for lightweight materials are required. Many loaders come with several buckets – ask what is included in the price.
Is a wheel loader allowed on public roads?
Only with a certificate of roadworthiness, lights and, depending on the speed (20 or 40 km/h), registration or number plates. Many compact loaders are road-legal ex-works; for second-hand machines, check the documentation.
Which emissions standard do I need?
There are no requirements for use on private land; public sector clients and large construction companies are increasingly demanding Stage IV or V. New machines are Stage V; older Stage IIIA loaders are significantly cheaper and are usually perfectly adequate for yard work, recycling and agriculture.
Can I lease a wheel loader or finance it via hire purchase?
For many listings, you can submit a no-obligation leasing or hire-purchase enquiry directly. You can clarify the terms with the dealer or their finance partner; the purchase and payment are handled directly between you and the seller.
An overview of all types: Construction machinery · Manoeuvrable: Compact loaders · Taller: Telescopic loaders · Guide: Buying used construction machinery – the 10 most important tips