How much weight can a front-end loader lift? The answer depends on many factors, including the size and strength of the loader, the type of load you’re lifting, and whether your machine is appropriately counterbalanced.
Whether you’re looking to lift a 300-pound log or 1,000 pounds of dirt, it’s wise to know the maximum lifting capabilities of your loader so you can tackle suitably-sized jobs safely and efficiently. Here are three tips for determining (and maximizing) the lifting capacity of your front-end loader:
#1 Check online or in the manual for weight lifting maximums.
You don’t have to guess how much a loader can lift, at least not entirely. You can find basic numbers by looking up the front-end loader’s specifications online or in a printed manual if you have one.
There are two key numbers to know. The first is how much weight the loader can lift to maximum height at the pivot pins. Let’s say it’s 1,250 pounds. You’re good to go lifting anything up to 1,250 pounds, right?
Wrong. The bucket of the front-end loader sits forward of the pivot pins, and this added distance creates leverage that reduces the lifting ability of your loader. The same goes when using other attachments, like forks. In all likelihood, the load you’re lifting is going to sit somewhat forward of the pins.
That’s where the second number comes into play. If your loader is rated to lift 1,000 pounds to maximum height at a point 20 inches forward of the pins, that’s a more realistic measure of your loader’s lifting capacity.
Understand that a small front-end loader may be fairly limited in its lifting capabilities. If the most it can lift to a maximum height 20 inches forward of the pins is 550 pounds, you’ll have to carry less with each load (if lifting dirt, compost, logs, etc.) and skip lifting solid objects weighing more than 550 pounds if they can’t be separated into smaller loads.
On the other hand, powerful tractors with large front-end loaders can be capable of lifting more than 6,000 pounds. When you have a front-end loader this strong (and a powerful tractor to match), you can tackle some mighty heavy-lifting projects without running up against the limitations of your loader.
#2 If you only need to lift a little, you can lift more.
Notice that the rated lifting capacity of your front-end loader refers to the amount it can lift to maximum height. If you don’t need to lift a heavy load as high up as possible, you can squeeze more lifting power out of your loader. For example, if you’re using a bale spear to lift a round bale, and you only need to lift the bale a few inches off the ground, you’ll be able to lift more weight than your loader is otherwise rated for.
#3 Counterbalancing is the key to safety and max performance.
When lifting heavy loads with a front-end loader, it’s critical to counterbalance the weight at the front of your tractor with ballast at the rear. Without weight at the rear, when you attempt to lift your load, you may find that the load stays stationary and the rear wheels of your tractor lift off the ground instead. Suffice to say, that’s a safety hazard.
Ballast helps you stay safe while getting the most out of your front-end loader. Wheel weights and liquid tire ballasts are two common options. You can also install suitcase weights on a bracket at the rear of your tractor, or mount a ballast box to the three-point hitch and fill it up with heavy materials like rocks, concrete blocks, or dirt. In a pinch, you use any three-point implement (like a plow or box blade) as rear ballast, though doing so can make your tractor less maneuverable, and you mustn’t forget about the implement an inadvertently damage it while focusing on your front-end loader.
By combining these tips and tricks with the rated lifting capacity of your front-end loader, you can stay safe while maximizing the amount of weight your front-end loader can lift.
This article about how much weight can a front-end loader lift was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
