Tips for Choosing the Right Earthmoving Equipment

  • Editorial Team
  • Heavy Construction Equipment
  • 27 June 2022

On a jobsite, there are many earthmoving tasks, but usually contractors pick one machine that can get all the jobs done. However, picking a single earthmoving machine to fulfill all the requirements is challenging. The goals of the project and degree of complexity of every earthmoving operation determine which earthmoving equipment is ideal for the job at hand. You need to make sure that you choose the right earthmoving equipment for your project’s successful completion. The following are a few of the key considerations that will make it easier for you to select the appropriate earthmoving equipment for your project.

Determine the Equipment’s Main Function

Clearing, excavating, and grading tasks are a common part of all earthmoving jobs. Identifying the equipment’s function is the first thing that you need to take into consideration when choosing an earthmoving machine. Although some earthmoving machines do work on site preparation, there are some machines that work exclusively on excavation. Before you start looking for track hoes for sale, figure out if they will be able to get the job done.

Examine the Site’s Soil Conditions

One of the most crucial factors that you need to consider before selecting the earthmoving machinery for your project is the soil type. Engineers, for instance, advise using a scraper for soil that is sleek and spreads quickly, but for places with sandy, loamy soil, wheel tractor scrapers are the better option. If you are going to be working on a building site with rocky, hard soils, wet soils, or wet clay material, your choice should be an articulated truck. In these types of places, a scraper is inoperable. Therefore, one needs to be aware of the type of material that will be transported before selecting the earthmoving equipment.  

Examine the Equipment’s Adaptability and Versatility

Different factors like the climate affect the soil’s condition. Therefore, the machinery that will be used to work with the soil needs to be adaptable and flexible enough to handle a variety of soil conditions. This is a factor that you should take into account when selecting earthmoving machinery.

One such piece of earthmoving machinery with outstanding versatility and adaptability is the articulated hauler. Areas with limited traction are where this equipment performs best. If the site is prone to dealing with significant changes in the weather, an articulated hauler might be the best option.

Find Out the Hauling Distance

Small machinery is appropriate for shorter transporting distances. However, heavy and more durable equipment is needed when the hauling distance is longer and there is a greater amount of earth that needs to be transported. Smaller machinery is not going to be able to withstand the weight or pressure over a greater distance. A small machine may end up breaking down if it is forced to operate across a greater hauling distance.

The Cutting Work That Needs to Be Done

The choice of earthmoving equipment is also influenced by the depth and duration of the earth cutting that is required for the project. If the length of the cut is shorter than 100 feet, a scraper will have trouble loading the earth. However, articulated transporters can move with ease in the same scenario. If your site has enough space for outlining then a scraper would be your best option.