[Machinery 101] Everything About Loading Machines

Welcome to the next lesson in the Farming Simulator Academy. In this tutorial, we explain the differences and use cases of loading machines.

Areas Of Application

With loading machines like front loaders or skid-steer loaders, you can transport, load and unload goods on your farm and at factories: harvested crops, bales, pallets, manure, bigbags, etc.

Types Of Loaders

All the loading machines help you with a whole set of tasks. Especially when running a greenland operation or tend to animal husbandry. But, some machines are a bit more specialized:

• Front Loaders are all-rounders for loading/unloading.
• Telehandlers are used if you need to get in high places like a high-rack storage.
• Wheel Loaders are used for heavy stuff like logs and containers in forestry.
• Skid Steer Loaders are agile and perfect if you're loading in narrow spaces.
• Forklifts help you to load and unload pallets or bigbags.

For the most common tasks, like picking up bales or loading and unloading big bags and similar goods, a front loader will do the job just fine. You can either use a front loader vehicle or tractor with a front loader attacher. Learn more about it here!

Tools To Combine With Loaders

There is a whole set of tools that are used in combination with the different loaders. For some tools, you can choose from different manufacturers. In most cases, you don't have to pay attention to the manufacturer when buying, because the tools of one manufacturer can also be used with all related loader types.

Tools For Frontloaders

• Bale spike: used for transporting bales.
• Round bale fork: used to transport round bales.
• Bale handler: used for transporting wrapped silage bales.
• Bale King: used to transport several bales at the same time.
• Universal bucket: used for filling trailers or unloading bunker silos.
• Pallet fork: used to transport pallets.
• Bigbag Lifter (Single/Dual): used for transporting bigbags.
• Log fork: used to transport logs.
• Manure fork: used to transport manure.
• Fork with grapple: used for filling trailers with manure/silage. Used in bunker silo.
• Silage cutter: used to transport manure/silage. Used in bunker silo.
• Beet cutter: used for cutting sugar beets.

Tools For Telehandlers

• Bale fork: used to transport bales.
• Wrapped bale handler: used for transporting wrapped bales.
• Universal bucket: used for filling trailers or unloading bunker silos.
• Pallet fork: used to transport pallets.
• Log fork: used to transport logs.
• Manure fork: used to transport manure.

Tools For Wheel Loaders

• Bale fork: used to transport bales.
• High-dump bucket: used for filling trailers.
• Universal bucket: also used for filling trailers.
• Rock bucket: specifically used for stones.
• Pallet fork: used to transport pallets.
• Bigbag Lifter: used for transporting bigbags.
• Log fork: used to transport logs.
• SitePro: also used to transport logs.
• Silage fork: used to transport manure/silage. Used in bunker silo.

Tools For Skid-Steer Loaders

• Bale spear: used to transport bales.
• Wrapped bale handler: used for transporting wrapped bales.
• High-dump bucket: used for filling trailers.
• Pallet fork: used to transport pallets.
• Fork with grapple: used for filling trailers with manure/silage. Used in bunker silo.
• Brush & log fork: used to transport logs.
• Stump grinder: used for grinding down tree stumps.
• Hydraulic breaker: used to break rocks.

Tip: Always keep the power requirements and weights of attachments in mind!

Tip: Click on "combination" when browsing the dealership before choosing a tool. Possible combinations are shown for each attachment. 

Well Done!

Congratulations, you have successfully finished another lesson and now know about different loader types! Keep at it, and you'll be a top-notch virtual farmer in no time with Farming Simulator Academy!