Both the Compact Excavator and the Trencher are highly productive and popular machines. They are also affordable. They are often used to lay long runs of pipe and cable in the ground. When compared, there are differences in how they perform in residential utility installation.

Price and Size
When it comes to utility installation in residential areas, the average depths dug are between 3 ½ and 4 feet. The common trencher that digs to this depth will probably have a 20-30 horsepower engine, and cost you about 40,000 dollars.

A compact excavator in the 2.5 metric ton class is the most common. It will include about a 30 horsepower engine, and costs around the same. It can dig around 8 foot deep. A trencher that could do the same would require closer to 100 horsepower and cost up to 90,000 dollars.

Maintenance Costs
With a compact excavator your daily costs are fuel and routine maintenance, though beyond that there are bucket teeth and rubber track to be replaced every 2000 hours of operation. On a trencher, you need to replace wear items such as the digging chain, teeth and sprockets frequently. Long term the 2 different pieces of equipment even out in cost when also considering productivity.

Productivity and Results
When trenching straight lines at an average depth, trenchers will win the race every time. With reasonable conditions a trencher will move 3 to 4 times faster than a compact excavator. They also excel in areas where there are many roots and logs (wooded sections). These will normally be very slow using a bucket to dig and be quite messy as well.

Versatility
There are many things that compact excavators can do beyond trenchers. There are extra attachments that make this even more noticeable, though they are slower than a quality trencher.

A trencher isn’t a one task machine. Most varieties can be fit with a backhoe attachment at the front. When confronted with pavement or rock, the Chain/Boom can be replaced with rock teeth and a wheel. In softer soil, you can also setup a trencher with a plow attachment that will plow cable in even faster.

So when you are on the market, put a lot of focus on your potential needs. Consider what the compact excavator can do for you and what the trencher can as well. Which one stands out better in your own terms for better?

Bulldozers are very useful and powerful machines with a blade to move things. It’s often the name used for any heavy equipment, though more specifically any tractor with a dozer blade. They are also a staple of the Tonka Truck line.

Usually, bulldozers are large and extremely powerful vehicles that have tracks rather than tires, similar to a tank. The track gives them better traction, and makes it more ideal for the ups and downs of rough terrain. Some have wider track for better weight displacement to help prevent their sinking into what they are working with.

They hold the ground real well, and use a torque divider between their 2 tracks to facilitate more or less dragging power. They are great for using their own weight to push heavy objects and even trees from the ground. The Caterpillar D9 can easily tow more than 70 tons. For this reason, bulldozers frequently are used to clear land rapidly, as well as level old houses.

The blade
Bulldozers utilize a heavy metal plate as a blade in the front to push and scrape with.

There are the straight blades that are short, without any other notable features. These are useful for fine grading land, and are often used before paving driveways.

The universal blade (U blade), is tall, has a large curve to it, and has large wings on the side to facilitate pushing much more ground, rough cutting of the sort.

Then there is the combination blade, which is a mix of the straight and universal blade.

Modifications
Innovation has led to many modifications on the original design to add new and more useful features to the line. Some amount to tracked loader tractors with more specialized blade and scoop like combinations. They scoop and load. These are very common within coalmining slate dump and reclamation projects. Another place you see a lot of this is in logging applications. In many of these cases they are also the means to load their product into trucks.

Smaller versions exist today too, since they fit smaller tasks and are more affordable. These units still boast power, and work great in areas with limited movement. Some of these are called calf dozers.

History
The first bulldozers were simply adapted from farm tractors. They’d add custom scoops that were more dozer blade than scoop and plow fields. They were used to dig canals, build earth dams, and many other earthmoving tasks. Eventually the plate gained the name blade. While many more specialized applications came along for other purposes, the bulldozer still remains with its own services as well.

The bulldozer blade scrapes away slices of ground, and moves it forward as it drives along. That’s the essence of the bulldozer. It’s usually the first piece of equipment on nearly any construction or excavation job.

Over time, many engineers worked to make even more improvements to meet even more demands of this important piece of heavy equipment. Some of the companies involved are CAT, JCB, Komatsu, Case, and John Deere, though there are many others. They do roar loud, and have a lot of power behind them. For this reason they got their name “bulldozer”.

Since their beginning, they have gotten bigger, better, and much more powerful. They’ve also been made more rugged and can go places they never did before. They handle better and more accurately. A lot of this has been accomplished by well designed hydraulics within their function. Many now also have a ripping claw at the back for loosening or ripping things. Winches there are found often as well.

Probably the most widely known manufacturer of bulldozers is CAT, which built its name on them. They are rough and tough, and get the job done. You probably saw one in your travels recently and will many more times in your life.

The backhoe loader is a piece of excavation equipment nearly everyone has seen. Most children have had a Tonka version even. It’s a tractor that has a scoop in the front that can push and life dirt, as well as a more maneuverable scoop and bucket with a near robot arm on the back. Due to their setup and move ability, they are extremely useful on construction sites and other places needing excavation.

The backhoe loader was invented in 1857 in Burlington Iowa. It was designed similar to the classic farm tractor. It was simply a loader in front of it, and a backhoe attachment in the rear.

While some may actually call it a tractor, most always refer to them as a backhoe loader, as they are seldom used for towing, and many don’t even have the usual PTO shaft. There will be a small operator’s seat at the back of the backhoe that swivels with the loader. Even removable backhoes will have these.

These machines are very common, and are useful for many tasks including moving materials, digging holes, and even changing automotive engines. In construction they are often used for breaking pavement, and paving the roads too.

There are often other ends that can be exchanged with the backhoe bucket for things suck as jack hammering rock, pounding holes, and digging wells even. There are also fancier, specialized buckets such as one that has a hatch that can open and drop the contents faster.

Retractable bottom loader buckets offer a lot of benefits in grading and leveling out sand. The forward assembly on a backhoe can be permanently attached, though some are also removable. Again, this bucket may be replaced with other tools as well. Some use couplers that use hydraulics to control them. Often you will also see those mowing roadsides that aren’t level as well, though these are getting replaced with other tractor attachments these days.

A number of backhoe loader manufacturers include: New Holland, Caterpillar, John Deere, Alice Chalmers, and Case. Many modern ones will have cabs as it may be required by OSHA, though not all of them. Also found in most new ones are air conditioning, radio, and many other features you will find in your automobiles.

The backhoe loader can serve many purposes, including excavation, road work, well drilling, driveway clearing and many other utility jobs found anywhere.
Hauling equipment and supplies, moving dirt fill, and digging trenches (then covering them), are just a few more things done with everyday backhoe loaders.

You will find though, that with all this power, and flexibility, they are also easy to operate. Though it is wise to pay attention to all safety instructions, and there may be operator certificates required when doing work for hire with them. Often they do qualify as farm use vehicles to, for those that want to know that.

Cranes are the towers that use cables, pulleys, and a scoop or hook to lift and lower a payload. They are very common in construction, shipping yards, and in the manufacturing of heavy equipment. Those in construction are usually mobile or temporarily affixed where they are being used.

There are 2 methods used to control them. Many are controlled by an operator in the cab of the crane, usually enclosed within a cramped space, but a little comfort. It turns and moves with the crane. The other is by remote control. Sometimes radio, or wired in some cases. The operator is responsible for the safety of the payloads, all personnel safety around it, and other structures that could be hit by accident.

Medieval cranes
In the middle ages, cranes were used to build the great cathedrals of Europe. They were built on top of walls as they built them. They were often powered by men that ran inside of 2 large wheels on each side. They were also used in ports and shipyards in this time.

Mobile cranes
The most common crane is a steel truss or boom that extends, mounted on a strong mobile platform. They ride along rail, or wheels. The boom is hinged in one or more places and can be moved outward by the use of cables and hydraulics.

Telescopic crane
These cranes have a boom that is a number of tubes fitting one inside of another and Hydraulics are used to extend and contract them.

Tower crane
These are a modern form of balancing crane. When it’s fixed to the ground, it offers a great combination of height and lift. They are often seen when building tall buildings.

Truck mounted crane
These are portable and very balanced specialized trucks built to be portable, balanced, and usable in many general purpose ways and are on rubber wheels. They drive to the worksite, and have outriggers that extend vertical or horizontal and stabilize the crane. These use hydraulics and support the whole truck along with the hoist.

Rough terrain crane
The rough terrain crane in some ways has a lot in common with the truck mounted crane, however it is built for off-road use, and usually has the engine well protected within it’s frame. They use the same engine for everything. The outriggers have more capability to level and stabilize than their normal terrain equivalents.

Loader crane
These cranes are much more conventional and are mounted to a trailer and look more like an arm. Sometimes they are also put on truck boxes. Most of them fold up so they can be stored out of the way.

Overhead crane
These cranes are typically found in factories, suspend from the ceiling and are used to hoist and move heavy objects from one area to another via trolley tracks. Some have very heavy weight limits for moving around large multi-ton parts. They move along beams that are on the ceiling. They provide a lot of mobility for parts throughout the factory in many cases, or may be limited to certain lines in other cases.

When used for excavation, cranes are often used to move machinery which is more ideal for various excavation needs and materials. They can quickly bring bulldozers, loaders, and more right where it is needed from above. In some cases, even support lighter things providing platforms for personnel.

When it comes to bridges and other suspended building sites, cranes are irreplaceable in terms of productivity. Often materials need to be held in place so workers can fasten them together (weld, bolt, and even cement them into place). Crane operators don’t start there, though once they get there, they are well paid, and do have some job security. Without that, there would be many more dangers.

Caterpillar
When Caterpillar introduced their D series, they delivered an excellent version of their 446 backhoe loader. It features 102 horsepower and a new operator station with optional joystick controls as well. It increased it’s capability by 10% in dig force on the backhoe as well.

Komatsu
Among their 5 model line of backhoes, Komatsu offer the WB140 and the WB150. Within them, there are several optional enhancements. The WB140 is 87 horsepower, and the WB150 94 horsepower. Their engines are Tier 2 emission compliant; they have faster hydraulic speed, and better components. They all can have optional excavator style joystick controls.

One variation of the WB150 has an all star wheel design, power shift transmission, and a anti-theft prevention system. All standard models include a four speed transmission.

Bobcat
Bobcat offers a compact line of backhoe loaders that received a power boost when they introduced their second generation of their B series. The 31.5 horsepower B100 found a 45% boost in bucket breakout force as well as a 27% increase in the force of its dipper.

Their 46 horsepower B300 also increased 44% in its dipper breakout force and 21% advance in the bucket. Their third model, the B250 is a 31.5 horsepower side shift unit is like a B300 with 4-wheel drive and steering.

Ingersoll-Rand
The BL-580 compact backhoe loader from Ingersoll-Rand can dig as deep as 12 feet with its backhoe. As a loader, it can handle an operating capacity of 3406 pounds and has a breakout force of 9370 pounds.

Their loader and backhoe both have auxiliary hydraulics utilizing a 2-way flow to fit a number of attachments. These include booms, breakers, augers, compactors, and a number of others available. They have hydrostatic four wheel drive, and all wheel steering to accommodate tight squeezes.

Case
Case’s M series backhoe loaders added a lot of features. First off they changed to their family 3 engines to meet Tier 2 emission standards. They feature quieter, more powerful (larger displacement) engines. With this, they have extra torque for faster lifting and lowering in their back loader tasks, as well as better lugging capability.

With the maintenance cycle of 500 hours between oil changes with easy access to the transmission mounted hydraulic pumps, the M series will impress many backhoe operators.

John Deere
The gem of the John Deer backhoe loaders is the 410H. It features 92 horsepower, the total machine control system that brings better control of the engine, transmission, hydraulics, and breaks. It will respond to a wide variety of job demands.

Terex
Since they acquired the Fermac line, Terex has maintained a full line of remarkable backhoes. The models include the 92 horsepower TX760B, the 100 horsepower TX860B, the 100 horsepower 860SX, 860 Elite, and the 970 Elite. The 760 and 860 both have four speed shuttle gearboxes and can travel at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

New Holland
All four of New Holland’s backhoe loaders use the same 4.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine, which meet Tier 2 emission standards. It is new and offers a number of upgrades. This came with the launch of the B series machines. They include less fatigue in operator control, and work great for both excavator and loader usage.