Ozziquip AL40 mini articulated wheel loader 2023 Review

I was recently in Guanaba in the Gold Coast to check out the Carter CT16-9B mini excavator, distributed by Machinery Direct, and they also had on site an Ozziquip AL40 pivot-steer loader for me to have a look at.   

With Ozziquip being a brand that I had not encountered until now, I was interested in getting a better understanding of the piece of equipment. Once the machine was unloaded and parked in a safe spot, I set about having a look around to satisfy my curiosity.

Adam White from Machinery Direct was kind enough to show us around the machine and explain a few of its features, some of which are usually only found on loaders in higher price brackets.

The construction of the loader seems quite sturdy with strong clean welds and grease nipples easily accessed throughout the machine.

A fibreglass engine cover on the rear of the machine can be unlatched and completely removed to allow access to the serviceable items through the top of the 38hp, 3-cylinder motor. The sides can also be removed in order to gain full access to the power plant.

The 4-in-1 bucket is more like a skid steer loader setup with a long floor making for a deep fill area. It looks well-constructed and is easily interchangeable via the hydraulic multi connector quick-hitch.

The boom is made from box section steel and can be extended with the flick of a switch from 2.5m to 3m, enough to reach over the side of most tipper bodies.

The machine has headlights and indicators so it can be operated on the road under a conditional registration.

The operator cabin features a ROPS and FOPS rated canopy and comes with a suspension seat that was fairly comfortable. I did find the operating area slightly tight for my ample frame especially with the armrests down but regardless, I was held in the saddle quite well while operating.

The steering wheel and joystick control were ergonomically located within easy reach. The multifunction hydraulic joystick features thumb switches that allow the use of different hydraulic attachments.

The rest of the dash comprises a switch bank for lights, hydraulic settings and wheel-locking of all four wheels in slippery conditions. A small screen displays fuel level, RPMs and oil pressure. A throttle lever completes the simple but effective set up.

After some consultation with Adam, we decided to tidy up a pile of excess sand previously used in equestrian arenas that had been exposed to the elements and flattened from frequent horse use. 

I cranked the AL40 into life and proceeded to pull the throttle lever to full revs. I spent a bit of time getting accustomed to the forward and reverse foot pedals as it has been a number of years since I drove a machine with this type of setup. However, after a few minutes, I found my groove.

I spent a few minutes driving around the paddock - up, down and across the sloping sections to get a feel for the machine’s stability while performing some sharp turns. One benefit of these pivot steer loaders is that you don’t go tearing up the ground while performing these manoeuvres unlike their skid steer counterparts.

The AL40 has a self-leveller that ensures the attachment levels out when lifted to minimise spillage if buckets are used or to keep loads level when forks are in use. However, it doesn’t level the bucket out when it sits flat on the ground so I had to resort to some old school techniques to achieve good straight cuts through the sand.

Once I had sorted out my bucket positioning, I set about trimming up the field and heaping the sand into a nice pile. The dirt had become really compact and hard from being exposed to the weather but the teeth of the bucket were still able to cut through with relative ease to obtain a good bucket fill.

Although the bucket self-levels when lifting, I had to be careful not to crowd it back too far when elevating as I would lose dirt over the back and on to the lifting arms. I put this down to operator error and I only did this a couple of times before taking a little more care to alleviate the problem. A small guard on top of the back of the bucket would be useful to reduce spillage from the back and help the machine cope with the extra load weight.

I extracted a full bucket of sand and extended the boom fully out to test stability. Although the rear end was on the lighter side, I didn’t feel as if the machine was going to tip forward even with the load elevated to maximum height.

Wheel spin didn’t seem to be an issue throughout the test. With some of the sand very compact and hard to dig, the machine was still able to cut through and load full buckets of sand with all four wheels firmly planted on the ground.

This machine is packed with standard features that are usually only available as optional extras on other similar machines on the market. The AL40 was nice and easy to operate as one would expect with a low hour machine. 

The quick-hitch design is Dingo and Kanga compatible which allows operators to use a wide range of attachments across brands with the AL40.

The auxiliary set up has two remotes and a return with a 67l/min flow rate, so operators should be able to run almost any implement with this triple pump system.

The telescopic self-levelling boom is an excellent feature on a machine like this. It always helps to have that bit of extra reach whether it’s loading a high sided truck, stacking goods with forks or getting a bit more height with an auger. That, along with a safe working load of 800kg, allows the small machine to take on almost any job.

The hydrostatic transmission and 4WD direct drive motors supplied smooth acceleration and good torque through the wheels to the ground, enabling good bucket fill and a commendable performance overall.

The all-purpose AL40 loader is priced at just under $30,000, and is an affordable little unit that can be used across a wide range of industries. Customers ranging from farmers to contractors and even the local building supply yard will stand to benefit from having the AL40 on their books.  

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Max. Speed: 12km/h

Max. Lift Height (Extended): 3000mm

Max. Lift Height (Retracted): 2480mm

Max. Turning Angle: 45 degrees

Min. Turning Radius: 2480mm

Max. Power: 28.5kW/38hp

Hydrostatic Oil Flow: 78L/min

Auxiliary Hydraulic Flow: 67L/min

Operational Weight: 1860kg

 Transmission: 4WD Hydrostatic

Rated Lifting Capacity: 800kg

Overall Dimensions: 2600mm Long x 1240mm Wide x 2230mm High    

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