Mini skid steer loaders are indispensable allies on landscaping, construction and arboriculture projects due to their versatility and functionality. However, there are a lot of factors to consider when buying a mini skid steer loader, such as the loaders lifting capacity. Many articles such as the one by the Health and Safety Executive emphasise the dangers of unsafe operating practises and therefore importance of ensuring you have the right skid loader for the job. To guarantee your safety, this article will go over everything you need to know about the tipping and lifting capacity of a mini skid steer loader.
Understanding tipping capacity:
Also referred to as the tipping load, tipping capacity is the measurement relating to the maximum force that the loader’s pallet or attachment can exert before the machine tips or loses stability.
Factors that influence tipping capacity
The tip capacity is influenced by many factors, including:
- The skid loaders weight distribution and the centre of gravity of the load being lifted.
- Angle of the terrain
- Type of attachment being used
Understanding Rated Lift Capacity:
Running off your tipping capacity may reduce your mini skid loaders stability and responsiveness, which can cause damage to your mini skid loader and may cause accidents for yourself or your employees.
For example, if you buy a mini skid loader with a tipping capacity of 1200kg, this does not mean you will always be able to place a 1200kg weight on a pallet and simply transport it around safely.
To address this problem, companies will often operate their mini skid loaders within the rated lift capacity. Rated lift capacity is simply the maximum weight that your skid loader can pick-up and operate with minimal chance of the mini skid loader from breaking down or tipping over.
Working out Rated Lift Capacity
To work out the rated lift capacity, Companies such as Vermeer will use what is called the SAE standard. SAE rating are the standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers for measuring and evaluating the performance of automotive and machinery components. The SAE will perform vigorous tests to ensure the loader meets specific demands in various conditions.
Usually, rated lift capacity is 50% of the skid loader’s tipping capacity. However, for mini skid loaders, the SAE rating will fall within a mark closer to 35% of the mini skid loaders lifting capacity. Deciding to opt-out of using the SAE rating is generally considered as bad practice, as the different models and brands of skid loaders each have their own design that can influence the rated lift capacity.
Understanding Safe Working Load (SWL)
To understand a loaders safe working limits, you may also find companies using what is called a Safe Working Load (SWL). SWL is the is the maximum load limit you can operate your mini skid loader in ideal conditions without any problem or malfunction.
Working out Safe Working Load
Safe working limit is usually determined by a competent, external person. Instead of going off a percentage of the tipping capacity, safe working load can be roughly determined with the following metrics:
Safe Working Load = Minimum Breaking Load/Safety Factor
Minimum breaking load: Similar to tipping capacity, minimum breaking force is the force that must be exerted to cause the skid loader to break or tip.
Safety factor: An appropriate figure that summarises the skid loaders model, risk to breaking and expected working conditions (weather, corrosion, dynamic loads, last inspection)
Difference between SAE Rated Lift Capacity and Safe Working Load
As you may have realised, safe working load is a much more complicated process to work out in comparison to SAE rated lift capacity. Arguably, this is one of the main reasons why safe working load is being used less and less in the UK.
SAE rated lift capacity has been adopted as the standard European wide term to ensure the safety of you, your team and you skid loaders. Although safe working load has somewhat been replaced with rated lift capacity, you may find construction companies in the UK continuing to use SWL instead of rated lift capacity for their mini skid steer loaders.
Skid loaders by Vermeer:
Determining both rated lifting capacity and safe working load can be complicated processes that both usually require some external body to accurately determine. However, Vermeer have recognised this issue and felt it necessary to ensure all of our mini skid loaders are SAE rated. If you are interested, feel free to browse our selection of mini skid loaders.
If you have any further questions, or want to reach out to enquire about one of our skid loaders, feel free to contact us either through our contact form, through telephone: 01933 274400 or via email: sales@vermeeruk.co.uk.
You might also like to take a look at our 7 tips to prepare your machines for winter here.
Vermeer Corporation delivers a real impact on the way important work gets done through the design, manufacture and support of high-quality industrial and agricultural equipment that helps connect people to the necessities of life, manage natural resources and feed and fuel communities. With a reputation for being built tough and built a better way, that equipment is backed by localized customer service and support provided by independent dealers around the world. To learn about Vermeer Corporation, products, the dealer network, financing options and careers, visit vermeer.com.