The world’s largest wheel loaders, from Komatsu to Cat

Ritchie Bros. sells thousands of wheel loaders each year, including ones like the big Caterpillar 980M pictured above. This massive dirt moving machine stands approximately 12.5 feet tall, has a 425-horsepower engine, and max bucket capacity of 5.25-16.0 cubic yards (4.2-12.2 m³). Yet, as big as the Cat 980M is, it’s nowhere near as big as the large looming loaders below.

The largest wheel loader in the world is the Komatsu P&H L-2350, originally built by LeTourneau, which the Guinness Book of Records lists as the biggest, with a 160,000-lb operating capacity and a 2,300 hp engine. Caterpillar’s largest wheel loader is the 994K, with a 1,739 hp engine and a bucket capacity of up to 32 cubic yards. Here’s how the biggest machines compare.

Which wheel loaders are the largest in the world?

Komatsu P&H L-2350

The L-2350 is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest wheel loader. Originally manufactured by the Texas-based company LeTourneau Technologies, the L-2350 is now part of the Komatsu product line. It has an operating capacity of 160,000 lbs (72,575 kg), a 2,300-horsepower engine, and stands 22 ft (6.7 m) tall.

Komatsu P&H L-1850

Also originally a LeTourneau machine, the Komatsu P&H L-1850 has an operating capacity of 120,000 lbs (53,431 kg) and can center load haulage trucks with payload ratings ranging from 240 to 360 tons. The L-1850 has a 2,000-horsepower engine.

Caterpillar 994K

The 994K is Caterpillar’s largest wheel loader on the market today. This massive machine has a 1,739-horsepower Cat 3516E engine, an operating weight of 534,852 lbs (242,604 kg), and a bucket capacity of 25-32 cubic yards (19-24 m³).

Caterpillar 993K

The Caterpillar 993K is the 994K’s little brother, but is still very powerful, with a 973-horsepower Cat C32 engine. It has an operating weight of 294,687 lbs (133,668 kg approx.) and has a bucket capacity of 16-31 cubic yards (12.2-23.7 m³).

Equipment for saleSponsoredSlingCedar Falls, IA TomorrowView listing

Where can you buy a used wheel loader?

While the record-holding L-2350 rarely comes up for sale, Ritchie Bros. sells thousands of wheel loaders every year, from compact loaders to large mining-class machines. Browse used wheel loaders for sale and create a free account to see recent sold prices.

See also

What is hotshot trucking? Requirements, trucks and costs