When to use machines with WHEELS VERSUS TRACKS

Here are some tips and reasons for whether to use wheeled or track machines and why.

Wheeled excavators are beginning to be used more often in North America, especially by county road departments and municipalities.

They can be utilized for common applications like ditch work, landscaping, utilities and virtually any other type of job that excavators are suited for, according to John Waldron, product manager, wheeled excavators, Volvo Construction Equipment.

As their popularity continues to increase in North America, manufacturers have been focused on changing the conventional wisdom that compact wheeled excavators are often viewed as unstable.

“The excavators can still work on uneven ground, without any damage occurring to their undercarriages,” says Geoffrey Andrews, manager of business development, Mecalac North America. “They’re very stable during operation, too, including when they travel uphill with loads.”

Compact wheeled excavators also feature increased safety features aside from a tight swing diameter and strength. The operator directly enters the cab from the side, and there’s no need to climb over the attachment and turn around before the operator sits in the cab seat. Some compact wheeled excavators have a load sensing hydraulic system, which enables operators to fully utilize all available engine power. In turn, they’re not only able to increase their responsiveness but their controllability as well, leading to high stability.

“Just because the excavators have wheels doesn’t mean they have to be solely operated with a steering wheel,” Waldron says. “After all, they feature Comfort Drive Control, which allows operators to control each of their excavators while using only the joystick, resulting in speeds as high as 12 mph.”

Technology enhances manufacturers’ tracked offerings

Regarding most tracks in construction equipment undercarriages, Andrews believes that North American operators tend to utilize extra wide integrators. Yet, in Holland, manufacturers create factory units on tracks, and the tracks can be bolted over a set of tires. Since the integrators that are developed overseas aren’t extra wide as they are in North America, they offer higher speeds, often traveling up to 1.5 mph faster than standard North American offerings.

As more and more North American operators seek out tracks that can be used in tight areas, Andrews notices they want more versatility. They implement creative ways to utilize tracks in construction equipment undercarriages, leading manufacturers to determine various methods in which they can use one piece of track equipment in multiple ways. Some manufacturers provide track sets for wheeled units or enable operators to bolt a chain over their tires, resulting in the creation of a compact track loader (CTL).

Andrews stresses that at one point, North American jobsites had a lot of room to utilize their large equipment. That is no longer the case now as contractors need to maintain smaller footprints. Some tracked models have optional rubber track shoes. Operators can use crawlers on surfaces like asphalt that they don’t want to damage. The rubber track shoes are detachable and can be used whenever operators need traction as well. Using a pad comprised of a durable rubber blend and placed on a steel plate, the track shoes reduce noise and vibration.

“The replacement of single rubber pads is also an easy, cost-effective way to maintain an excavator’s track system, which can be complicated and expensive to repair otherwise,” says Sejong Ko, product manager, large excavators, Volvo Construction Equipment. Which excavators are best to use—and when?

As operators consider the best times to utilize wheeled or tracked excavators, they will need to determine exactly which applications should be performed on the job and the intended usage of the equipment they will be using. Whenever operators use wheeled excavators, they’ll likely save money and time on maintenance and upkeep. Wheeled excavators are lighter than tracked excavators, enabling them to be used more easily, especially when they’re utilized in the proper conditions. At the same time, wheeled excavators are better equipped for long-distance travel, and operators arrive at their desired locations more effectively.

A common misconception currently associated with wheeled excavators, according to Waldron, is that by using them, operators will lose the stability they have while operating crawlers. That is not the case, as wheeled excavators are