If its new products are any indication, Takeuchi’s Pendergrass, Georgia, distribution plant will be quite busy in the months to come. With a nod to surveys showing that landscaping, golf maintenance and nurseries make up 39 percent of the compact wheel loader market Takeuchi has unveiled its TW Series of four compact wheel loaders tailored for smaller, compact jobs.
“We’re really looking at compact wheel loaders as another high growth market,” says Mike Ross, national product and training manager for Takeuchi. “In order to compete in this market, it is critical that we offer the customer several sizes and options to fit his needs,” Ross says.
“Landscaping companies should consider breakout forces, lifting capacities, axle strength and traction forces when selecting a compact wheel loader,” Ross adds. “Compact wheel loaders provide the lifting capacity, maneuverability and speed that skid steers just don’t have for material moving applications. They are going to take away part of the skid steer market.”
40-degree wheel articulation ensures high maneuverability
Ideal for maneuvering in backyards and on commercial properties, the wheel loaders feature forward, neutral and reverse functions that can be controlled on-the-go with a joystick-mounted thumb switch. Center pivot steering allows maneuverability with 40-degree articulation left or right, while ensuring that the rear tires follow the same track as the front tires.
“For landscapers and nurseries, these machines excel in loading pallets of sod and rock, as well as heavy root balls and trees,” Ross says. “They’re also ideal for loading gravel and other aggregate with the large-capacity buckets we offer.”
All of the new wheel loader models – the TW50, TW60, TW65 and TW80 – come standard with a hydraulic quick attach coupler, making attachment changes more efficient. Available landscaping attachments include augers and grapples.
There are two bucket options for the TW50, TW60 and TW65: the 1.05-cubic-yard construction combination bucket and the 1.11-cubic-yard general purpose bucket. The TW80 has a 1.3-cubic-yard general purpose bucket.
Optimized lift geometry for landscape applications
A Perkins 404CT-22T diesel engine powers the TW50 and TW60 (same engine, but the TW60 has a Turbo) models, giving them 8,992 and 11,600 pounds of bucket breakout force, respectively. The TW65 and TW80 have a Deutz F4L 2011 engine, which translates to 11,600 and 15,287 pounds of breakout force, respectively. All machines have a maximum travel speed of 12.4 mph.
A 100-percent hydraulic inching pedal that is separate from the brake system allows reduced travel speed while providing full power to the hydraulic system, which, in turn, means less heat on the brakes and longer component life.
Automatic bucket positioning keeps the bucket at the same angle throughout the lift pattern and 100-percent differential locks are standard on front and rear axles. The TW50 and TW60 come with four-post open canopy operator compartments, while the larger TW65 and TW80 models are equipped with heated cabs. All operator compartments are spacious, and designed to minimize operator fatigue while optimizing productivity. All feature full suspension seats and logically placed entry and exit grab handles and steps.
The TW60, TW65 and TW80 are all equipped with Z-pattern lift linkage, “which provide exceptional bucket and lift arm breakout forces,” Ross says. “We anticipate the TW50 to be one of our best sellers with its parallel lift linkage. The lifting pattern makes it easy to load and unload pallets of sod or bricks on a landscaping project.”
