Battle of the Residential Front End Loaders? Not Really. Well, sort of. 

Thank you for your generous thoughts. Ed

More videos are in the works. Thanks for watching. Ed

Yes, it worries me sometimes that some of these people have never operated any kind of loader. They don't realize that the higher they lift a load the less stable the tractor becomes. Your comments are helpful as many will see them. Thanks, Ed

I might make a supplemental video focusing on on that. I hade 3 points I was trying to make in this video - steel used in manufacture, center of gravity and weights. I probably didn't cover any of them as good as I should. I find most viewers like videos under 10 minutes. This one is over 14 minutes. Yes, I think you are right. I will make a video focussing on the stresses placed on the front axle and tires. I appreaciate your comments. Thanks, Ed

I have never been able to stress the actuators to there limit. Really, I don't want to try. The actuators are rated at over 1300 pounds (6000 Newtons) each. I use 2 of them on the lift arms. Bringing them to full limits would damage the tractor and loader. Also, I run them at 24 volts not 12. There is a plastic gear inside the actuator running off the steel worm gear shaft on the motor. The plastic gear turns the long steel screw shaft to power the actuator movement. There is a second plastic part more like a threaded nut that moves up and down to provide the stroke movement. These plastic parts will strip out at some point when the actuator approaches it's tested limits. Some say this is cheaply built - I say these are fail safe devices to prevent major damage. In either case the actuators I use all sold for about $45.00 each. Compared to the $350.00 actuators - dollar for dollar the cheap ones seem to out perform the more expensive ones. And I can buy about 8 of the cheaper actuators for the same money as the more expensive ones. I am sure that the lead will provide excellent weight. There are dangers involved with lead. I don't know if there are any regulations where you are about using lead, but if you do use lead I would encase it in some epoxy or similar tough material. The concrete block I used was poored solid and weighs 60 pounds. It is rare but at times I use 2 of them. Thanks for your comments, Ed