 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||
|
By Greg Northcutt
|
|||||||||
"There just has to be a better way!" How often have you sputtered those words in exasperation at a grading, excavating, or related job that taxes your time and equipment, not to mention your back and muscles? If your answer is too often, it may be time to add a compact multipurpose machine to your fleet. Such a piece of equipment probably won't match in sheer volume the capabilities of a machine built solely to do one job very well. However, because of its much greater versatility and smaller stature, a multipurpose compact machine can lend a helping hand in many more situations than a larger machine dedicated to one purpose. The foremost example of such multitasking is the skid-steer loader. Developed more than 40 years ago, it was built, originally, strictly for one purpose: to save time and labor handling and loading material in cramped quarters. Over the years, it's evolved into a wide range of other uses—from tilling soil and mowing grass to grading dirt and blowing snow—thanks to the ability to attach dozens of different tools to the lift arms. It's a similar story with compact excavators, which can use a variety of attachments to do much more than dig and load dirt. Over the past few years, a number of other machines have joined the ranks of multipurpose compact construction equipment, including compact track loaders, mini-track loaders, compact loader backhoes, utility vehicles, and even a few hybrids that can work like no other machines to enable you and your crews to do more work in less time with less effort. A Sensible Choice
These compact, versatile machines can dig, carry, and load dirt; transport workers, equipment, and supplies over all kinds of terrain; or tackle any number of other jobs found in and around grading and excavation jobs. Better yet, in the right applications, they can do it in a much more cost-effective manner than hand labor or bigger machines and vehicles. "Contractors are doing more work in smaller areas where it makes more sense to have one piece of compact equipment that can do a multitude of jobs than using a larger, dedicated machine for each different single job," says Mike Lumbers, senior product manager of compact utility equipment for Ditch Witch. "A compact multipurpose machine can do most jobs that a larger dedicated unit can." Often, they employ sophisticated technology to do that. Allmand Bros. compact tractor-loader backhoes, for instance, feature load-sensing hydraulic steering. The steering circuit consumes minimal power until the operator turns the steering wheel. The rest of the time, the hydraulic power is available for digging and loading work to make the most efficient use of a limited amount of horsepower in a smaller engine. Big on operator comfort and ease of use with features like smoothly operating joystick controls and such options as enclosed heated and air-conditioned cabs, today's compact, multipurpose machines are built for productive, reliable, and durable performance. "In the past, many contractors assumed a compact loader backhoe was a toy," says Doug Dahlgren, product manager with Allmand Bros. "However, our compact backhoes are serious machines. They can work in tight locations where a full-size backhoe won't fit. They cost a fraction of the price of a full-size unit and can be transported on a trailer pulled by a light truck. The only limitation of our machines is that they can't dig as deep and don't have the bucket capacity of a full-size model." It's a similar story with today's breed of off-road utility vehicles.
"You can carry a lot more material per trip and travel a lot faster using one of our utility vehicles than a person can," says Jan Rintamaki, marketing manager for the utility division of Polaris Industries. "You can buy one of our vehicles, fully loaded with options and accessories, for $10,000 to $15,000. That's far less than the cost of a new pickup. Also, unlike a pickup, the utility vehicle eliminates the cost of an extra auto insurance policy because it's covered by general building liability insurance. A utility vehicle also burns a lot less fuel per trip than a pickup. What's more, because our utility vehicle isn't legal for use on the street, you don't have the risk and liability if an employee uses a pickup truck for unintended use at night or over the weekend." Regardless of the type of compact, multipurpose machine, these machines can offer an easier, better way to get the job done. Here are a few of your choices: Machine Works Like Nothing Else Unveiled in 2003, the Toolcat 5600 introduced the world to a totally new concept in multipurpose vehicles—the utility work machine. Bobcat Company designed and built the machine to combine the features of a loader, pickup truck, and attachment carrier. "There's nothing else like it on the market," says Lance Mathern, Bobcat marketing manager. The frontloader, with a 1,500-pound rated operating capacity, can be fitted with more than two dozen attachments, from an auger or tiller to a box scraper or trencher. The 18-cubic-foot cargo box provides a 2,000-pound maximum load capacity, including tools like a sprayer or spreader, and two hydraulic lift cylinders for dumping. Also, it offers a 4,000-pound towing capacity and a maximum total rated capacity (combined weight of load on the lift arm, cargo box load, operator, passenger, and tow weight) of 4,200 pounds.
The recently introduced B-Series offers a choice of standard 46-horsepower Kubota diesel engine or optional 56-horsepower turbocharged Kubota diesel engine. Featuring four-wheel drive and two-speed, hydrostatic transmission, the Toolcat 5600 has a top transport speed of 18 miles per hour. All-wheel steering provides a 17-foot turning diameter with little or no damage to turf, Mathern reports. The two-seat cab includes a hydraulic joystick for controlling the loader functions and an optional enclosed heated and air-conditioned cab. Mathern describes some of the Toolcat 5600's uses in the grading and excavating business. "You can equip it with a stump grinder, chipper, or utility grapple for clearing sites," he says. "You can use it with attachments like a six-way hydraulic dozer blade, a grader, a land plane, or a soil conditioner for finish grading work. Using the rear receiver hitch you can tow portable power units like an air compressor or light tower. And no matter what the job, you can carry all kinds of supplies and tools in the cargo box, including a spreader if you want to fertilize or seed the site. In the winter, it can earn money clearing snow with an angle broom, blade, or snow blower attachment. "The Toolcat 5600 may not be your primary machine for grading and excavating work, but it makes an ideal tool for doing a wide range of related jobs." More information is available at www.bobcat.com. Special Tools for Clearing Land
For some grading and excavating contractors, land clearing is a key part of their business. Often, that means not only clearing trees and brush but disposing of the logs, stumps, and other debris as well. Fecon Inc. offers several tools designed to increase the efficiency and productivity of various machines in getting the job done. They include: Wood-Grinding Attachment
for Skid-Steer Loaders With an overall width of 62 inches and a cutting width of 50 inches, the BH62SS can mulch 3- to 4-inch-diameter material and trees up to 6 inches in diameter. The 24 individual cutting tools, which can be changed easily with just one nut and bolt, have an average life of 300 to 500 hours. The attachment works in a two-way process. "Driving forward, you use the attachment to grind the tree down," says Heekin. "Then, driving backwards, you use the attachment in mulch mode to further process the tree. You can then leave the material on the surface to help control erosion until the site is developed, or you can incorporate the material into the soil," he says. Stump-Grinding
Attachment
Soil-Stabilizing
and Mixing Attachment Depending on model, the Soil Hog will incorporate these materials in an area roughly 14 to 79 inches (350 to 2,000 millimeters) wide to a depth of 14 to 20 inches (350 to 500 millimeters). More information is available at www.fecon.com. Tractor-Loader Backhoes for Multitasking in Tight Spots A full-size tractor-loader backhoe has been a popular multipurpose machine among grading and excavating contractors for years. While it offers the power and capacity needed for high-production jobs, its sheer size can work against it when space is limited. Make way for its smaller, much younger brother—the compact tractor-loader backhoe. Costing a fraction of a full-size machine, it can be hauled on a trailer from job to job by a pickup truck to save even more money. "It's nice to have at least one compact machine in your fleet when you don't have the working room for a full-size tractor-loader backhoe, says Allmand Bros.' Dahlgren. "It sure beats the heck out of using a shovel." Allmand Bros Inc. manufactures five models of compact tractor-loader backhoes. They range from the 20-horsepower, 3,115-pound gas TLB-220, appropriate for small jobs, to the 35-horsepower, 4,620-pound, TLB-535 diesel. Providing a 10-foot digging depth (2-foot flat bottom at a 9.5-foot depth), it's designed to meet the much more demanding needs of a grading and excavating contractor, Dahlgren reports. "Our sales are growing every year," he says. "It's a matter of contractors understanding what the machine can do and getting over the perception that it's a toy. The difference in performance and features of our machines compared to the early compact tractor-loader backhoes is like night and day. Our 535 model compares favorable to the smallest John Deere or Kubota tractor-loader backhoes." The TLB-535 includes the 10-foot Allmand backhoe providing a 6,000-pound bucket digging force and trenching buckets ranging in width from 10 to 36 inches. "A dual-cylinder, 180-degree hydraulic cushioned swing allows precise work in tight areas, while joystick controls provide simple, smooth operation," Dahlgren says. "The Allmand backhoe features oversized pins, composite bearings, and urethane lip seals in all moving joints. The result is a backhoe with no metal-to-metal contact and extended service intervals." Industrial-class components in the TLB-535 include an off-highway planetary rear-axle assembly and a servo-controlled hydrostatic transmission system that provides infinite control of the machine and reduces pedal effort for greater operator comfort. For added versatility, an optional quick-attach hitch for the loader accommodates many skid-steer loader attachments, such as pallet forks, while an optional auxiliary hydraulic package equips the machine to operate attachments like a cut-off saw, jackhammer, or crimper. More information is available at www.allmand.com. Mighty Mites Tackle Many Jobs in Mini Spaces Compact utility loaders also known as mini skid-steer or mini track loaders evolved from a motorized wheelbarrow developed in Australia in the early 1980s. The market in the United States has continued to expand steadily since the first wheel mini-loader was introduced in 1997. Available in ride-on, walk-behind, and a few seated models, depending on manufacturer, they offer a much easier, much more productive alternative to shovels, wheelbarrows, and the like in areas where no other machine can fit. Thanks to a wide range of attachment choices and powerful hydraulics, one machine and operator can replace a crew of laborers. Compact Power offers both wheel and track ride-on mini-loaders. It distributes Kanga wheel loaders in North America and, after buying Mertz Inc. earlier this year, also manufactures and sells Boxer wheel and rubber-track loaders. Both can be equipped with 35 or more attachments for use in a wide variety of small-space applications, reports Lisa McCarley, marketing manager for Compact Power. A typical landscape contractor will buy half a dozen or so attachments, she notes. They include such tools as an auger, a bucket, adjustable forks, a tiller, a trencher, and a leveler for carrying materials and backfilling trenches. The four Kanga models range from the 30-inch-wide Kanga Kid, a 942-pound unit with a 220-pound rated operating capacity and powered by a 13-horsepower Honda gas engine, to the new 7 Series Kanga loaders. These units have three engine options and four independent wheel motors, and offer a rated operating capacity of 550 pounds.
"All Kanga units come standard with a self-leveling feature for enhanced safety and performance when using a bucket or leveler," says McCarley. "The Kanga line is also offered as a system, which includes the loader, the desired attachments, and a trailer to transport them." Boxer loaders, available with either a 24-horsepower Honda gas engine or a 26-horsepower Perkins diesel engine, have a hydraulic flow of 14 gal/min and a hydraulic pressure of 3,000 pounds per square inch, and weigh 2,300 pounds or less, depending on the model. The strongest unit, the TD-327, has an operating capacity of 850 pounds and a tip capacity of 1,700 pounds. It's distinguished by an exclusive variable track. The undercarriage expands hydraulically to a width of 43.5 inches for maximum stability or retracts to 35.5 inches to fit through gates, doorways, and other narrow passages. Each model features three hydraulic pumps, one each to power the drive and operate attachments or the lift arms. Both the Kanga and Boxer models feature a crawl valve. "It adjusts hydraulic flows to match the ground speed of the tracks or wheels with the operating speed of hydraulic attachments for optimum attachment operation," McCarley says. More information is available at www.kangaequipment.com and www.cpiequipment.com. Hybrid Excavator Doubles as a Skid-Steering Tool Carrier Cross a mini skid-steer loader with a compact excavator and you get the unique, all-new Ditch Witch XT850. Designed for tight-space applications, this rubber-track excavator/tool carrier combines a skid-steer loader's zero-radius turning capability and wide choice of attachments with the digging capabilities of an excavator. The machine, which debuted earlier this year at just under 2 tons, is powered by a 26-horsepower, liquid-cooled Kubota diesel engine. The loader end of the machine features an 850-pound rated operating capacity (35% of tipping load) and a 69-inch dump height with a standard bucket. It can be equipped with more than 70 attachments, including such tools as an auger, a blade, a broom, buckets, a vibratory plow, and an earth saw. Independent hydrostatic ground drives control the rubber tracks. The tracks, which include an optional aggressive tread, exert a low ground pressure of 4 pounds per square inch. The excavator's dual-pivot 260-degree sweep offers the added versatility of offset digging. "You can dig against a footing or wall or dig a number of trenches from one spot without having to move the unit," says Lumbers. The maximum digging depth is 83 inches (2-foot flat bottom at 79 inches), while the maximum loading height is 72 inches. "Two joysticks control all of the XT850's functions," says Lumbers. "With a flip of a switch, you can alternate from controlling the ground drive, lift arms, and attachments to controlling the excavator. The controls are infinitely variable, so anyone can master operation of the machine quickly." The total XT850 package—the excavator/tool carrier, trailer, and attachments—weighs less than 10,000 pounds and can be towed with a 0.75-ton truck, he adds. Utility Vehicle Line Is Big on Work Capacity, Traction, and Accessories
Revamped for 2005, the Polaris line of Ranger three-person utility vehicles includes three models:
"The Ranger 6x6 is the only utility vehicle on the market in which all six wheels are powered for true six-wheel-drive traction capability," says Rintamaki. "It's designed for heavy-duty, off-road commercial work and leads the industry in cargo, towing, and payload capacities." Both the 6x6 and 4x4 Ranger models offer the Polaris On-Demand drive system. When engaged by a dash-mounted lever, it senses any loss of rear wheel traction and transfers full torque to both front wheels. All 2005 Ranger models feature the new Lock & Ride cargo system. Combined with the redesigned cargo box and a full range of Polaris accessories, it offers a fast, easy way to secure items, like chain saws, fuel cans, tool holders, and water coolers, for rattle-free transport. The new SpeedKey is an optional accessory for 2005 Ranger 4x4 and 6x6 models. Using radio frequency identification technology it allows owners to limit top speed based on color of the ignition key. The yellow key restricts maximum speed to 25 miles per hour. The black key allows the vehicle to be operated up to the full speed of 41 miles per hour. It's a first for the industry, Rintamaki notes. "It should be very useful for contractors, commercial operators, and anyone who wants to control top speed," he says. Options and accessories include ROPS- and FOPS-approved enclosed cabs with a heater, a 4,000-pound Warn winch, a 70-gallon sprayer, a pull-type mower, a gas-operated front-mounted power boom, and an electrically controlled, quick-attach Glacier snow plow. More information is available at www.polarisind.com. New Four-Wheel-Drive Utility Vehicle Transports 1.5-Ton Payload The AUSA Task M50 utility vehicle, which was introduced earlier this year, offers a 1,500-pound payload capacity, a four-wheel drive continuously variable transmission, and a top speed of 37 miles per hour. Powered by a 30-horsepower, Rotax-Bombardier gasoline engine, it has a 1,100-pound cargo bed load capacity and a 1,650-pound towing capacity. "Independent front suspension and patented semi-independent spring and hydraulic shock rear suspension keeps all four tires in contact with the ground at all times to provide more comfort and safety and a smooth ride for the operator and passenger," says Roberto Ruiz, a representative for AUSA Corporation. The Task M50 comes standard with ventilated front and rear disc brakes, ROPS, and a front accessory box. Options include an enclosed heated cab, FOPS, a bed liner, and an electric bed dumping kit. More information is available at www.ausa.com. Greg Northcutt writes frequently on construction and business issues. GEC - November/December 2004 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
