Compact Wheel Loader Inventory: Gehl Articulated Wheel Loaders
NOTE: This is the first of many blogs detailing an industry-wide summary of compact wheel loaders. Be sure to check back throughout June for the entire listing.
>Gehl is one of America’s premier providers of compact equipment. The company started 150 years ago in a small blacksmith shop in West Bend, Wis. From these humble beginnings, >Gehl Co. has grown to be a major force in the compact equipment industry worldwide, manufacturing everything from skid steers to mini excavators to compact wheel loaders (the big emphasis of this blog).
Gehl introduced compact, articulated wheel loaders in 2008 into the European market. These Gehl designed and manufactured AL Series loaders in the Yankton, S.D., are specially sized loaders for the small to mid-sized applications. In early 2010, Gehl introduced these loaders into the North American market as to meet the contractor, landscaper, agriculturist and municipal needs as compact wheel loaders. The models include the AL 140, AL 340 and AL 540.
The AL 140 is a 23.3-hp unit with 960-lb load capacity with bucket. This very compact loader is 41 in. wide, 87 in. high (with four-post ROPS) and under 9-ft length. The AL 340 mid-size loader has 35-hp with 1,760-lb load capacity with bucket. It is 42 in. wide, 88 in. high (with four-post ROPS or cab) and under 11-ft length. The AL 540 higher end loader is 47 hp with 2,460-lb load capacity with bucket. The unit is 55-in. wide, 94 in. high (with four-post ROPS or cab) and approx. 12 ½ ft in length. All three loaders have the basic, low cost two-post ROPS or four-post ROPS canopy.
The 340 and 540 have the option of a deluxe cab enclosure with dual-glass doors and heater system (future air-conditioning is planned on the 540). Each loader is equipped with the Gehl All-tach (universal-style) quick-attach system as a standard manual controlled or optional hydraulic-controlled system. The loaders feature differential lock to provide to 100 percent four-wheel traction. The models 340 and 540 feature a two-speed drive as standard for faster transport speeds. Safety and simple maintenance are built into each model for easy customer operation and ability for quick maintenance checks. Each model provides the operators platform to easily be lifted and tilted for further service access as required. Each of these Gehl articulated wheel loaders makes a great buy for contractors and rental houses who need the versatility of a skid steer with extra height, turning radius, power and visibility.
Advice to Buyers:
“As every contractor has many varieties of jobs and applications, one needs to evaluate the needs where a compact wheel loader will best work on the jobsite,” said Kelly Moore, Gehl compact loader product manager. “Where minimal disturbance of turf or ground is needed, a compact wheel loader will excel where a skid or track loader will not. If the work area requires a compact machine that will have a short turning radius and generally a narrower, compact loader, a Gehl AL Series loader may be the best fit. Keep in mind the usage of attachments where the AL loader can mount and power a multitude of attachments from skid steer loaders.”
