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Loader Sets
Loader Comparisons

Loaders

loaders  
Construction equipment is a perfect Technic theme, and loaders make up the largest number of this category.  The loaders vary widely in style, size, and complexity from only palm sized to among the biggest Technic sets of all.  Most feature buckets which raise and dump, but a couple have grapple claws instead.  Some have rear wheel steering, while a couple have an articulated chassis.  The development of LEGO® pneumatics really added a lot of realism to this type of vehicle; several include pneumatic functions.  Later models used mechanical linear actuators instead.

I think my favorite is the venerable 8459 which was so popular that it was re-released twice.  On a budget, either 8271 or 8453 are excellent.   The newer loader, 8265, is huge and includes 3 linear actuators, but the Volvo 42030 is the biggest and most motorized model.

Sets
8235 Front End Loader
8235
8265 Front Loader
8265
8271 Wheel Loader
8271 		8283 Telehandler
8283
8418 Mini Loader
8418 		8443 Pneumatic Log Loader
8443
8446 Crane Truck
8446 		8453 Front End Loader
8453
 8459 Pneumatic Front End Loader
8459 		8828 Front End Loader
8828
 8848 Power Truck
8848 		 8853 Excavator
8853
42023 Construction Crew
42023 		42030 Volvo L350F Wheel Loader
42030
42032 Compact Tracked Loader
42032		 42049 Mine Loader
42049
 

Feature Comparison
Set
 Steering Engine Loader
 Other
8235
 Rear rack and pinion
 None
 Front bucket pivots about rear, raises via worm gear, dumps via link
 None
8265
 Articulating chassis
 V-6 driven by differentials, 4 wheel drive Front bucket raises via linear actuators, dumps via linear actuator
 None
8271
 Rear rack and pinion None
 Front bucket raises via worm gear, dumps via worm gear
 None
8283
 Front linkage driven
 None
 Front bucket raises via worm gear, telescopes via worm gear, dumps via worm gear
 None
8418
 None
 None
 Front bucket pivots about rear, raises via worm gear, dumps manually
None
8443
 Articulating chassis, mid axle rack and pinion
 None
 Front pneumatic grapple, pneumatic luffing boom and jib
 None
8446
 Front  2 axles rack and pinion, multi rate
 None
 Rear grapple spring loaded via crank, boom rotates and extends via cranks
 Lifting cabin via damper
8453
 Articulating chassis
 None
 Front bucket raises via worm gear, dumps via link
 None
8459
 Articulating chassis V-6 driven by differentials, 4 wheel drive
 Front bucket raises via pneumatics, pneumatic dump
 Air storage tank
8828
 Rear rack and pinion
 None
 Front bucket raises via worm gear, dumps via flex system
 None
8848
 Front rack and pinion
 None
 Front bucket raises via lever, dumps manually
 Dumping rear bed
8853
 Rear rack and pinion
 None
 Front bucket raises via linkage, dumps via linkage
 None
42023
 Articulating chassis None
 Front bucket raises via worm gear, dumps via link None
42030
 Motorized articulated chassis via servo
 Inline 6 driven by differentials, motorized 4 wheel drive
 Front bucket raises via motorized linear actuators, dumps via motorized linear actuator 4 channel remote control system
42032
 None
 None
 Front bucket raises via worm gear, dumps via link None
42049
 Articulating chassis Inline 2 driven by 1 rear wheel
 Front grapple raises via linkage, opens via worm gear
 None

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