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Trenchers To Compact Excavators
Both of these machines are
affordable, popular, highly productive, and they both have helped
lay a lot of cable and pipe in the ground. While they both can do
the work, there are differences as to how they perform when stacked
up against each other in residential utility installations.
Size and price
The average dig depth for utility installations in residential
applications is between 40 and 48 inches. The basic trencher that
digs to the above depth will boast a 20 - 30 horsepower engine and
cost around 40,000 dollars.
The most popular type of compact excavator is the 2.5 metric ton
size class, and it uses a 30 HP engine and costs around the same
price. The biggest difference in the two surfaces when you need the
trencher to dig deeper. The 2.5 metric ton excavator has no trouble
at all digging to 8 feet or more, although a trencher that can dig
that deep will require an engine with around 100 horsepower and cost
upwards of 90,000 dollars!
Life costs
Not counting the bucket teeth and the replacement of the rubber
tracks at 2,000 hours, fuel and routine maintenance are your only
daily costs with a compact excavator. The digging chain, teeth, and
sprockets on the trenchers are considered wear items and need to be
replaced often. Even with the high consumable costs of trenchers,
the differences will tend to even out when productivity is taken
into effect.
Productivity
For straight line trenching at an average depth, trenchers will flat
out lead compact excavators. Under reasonable conditions, a trencher
can work three to four times faster than that of a compact
excavator. Another area where trenchers really excel is wooded
areas, where tree roots and logs can make for slow and sloppy
digging when using a bucket.
Versatility
When it comes down to it, compact excavators can do a lot of things
that trenchers can't, especially when they have attachments on hand.
If you are digging with a compact excavator, you can't go anywhere
near as fast as you can with a good quality trencher.
Keep in mind that a trencher isn't a single minded machine either.
Most styles of trenchers can be outfitted with a backhoe attachment
that attaches to the front end. Whenever concrete, rocks, or asphalt
stands in the way, the boom and chain can be replaced with rock
teeth and a wheel. In soft soils, you can set up a trencher with a
plow attachment and plow in cables faster than using any other
available method.
When it comes down to choosing, keep in mind that it all depends on
your needs. There are some cases where the compact excavator is best
to choose, while there will also be jobs in which the trencher is
going to do the best work. |
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