March 2010: Cover Story

Get a Move On
Site Dumpers Help Boost Productivity on Utility Projects
By Amber Reed

Tight site? No problem. Thanks to their compact size, site dumpers allow utility crews to maneuver in cramped quarters and are designed to traverse rough terrain. More than a motorized wheelbarrow, site dumpers are essentially a big brother to the power buggy — dedicated haul and dump vehicles. And they haul all types of materials, including clay, sand, gravel, spread fill, asphalt, turf and fertilizer, to name a few.

Site dumpers are used on both big and small utility projects, according to Lowell Stout, Senior Product Manager, Terex Construction Americas. In North America, utility contractors have a choice of forward dump or swivel-and-tip models with four-wheel drive and articulating steer capabilities. The multi-purpose power tip, or forward dump, excels at moving materials around restricted worksites.

The side-dump option, or power swivel, enables effective placement of the spoils or load to either side of the machine. The body can swivel through 180 degrees making it very useful for trench backfilling particularly on small sites and restricted areas. This feature also allows the operator to dump the load while moving forward along the side of the trench.

Terex, for example, currently offers three models of dumpers with the power swivel feature, says Stout: The TA2S, TA3S and TA6S. The TA2S has a 32.6-hp engine and 1.57 cu yd skip (think: bucket) capacity. The TA3S has 43 hp and a skip capacity of 2.45 cu yd, while the TA6S has 84 hp and a skip capacity of 4.6 cu yd.

Getting the Job Done

Backfilling with a conventional site dumper is fairly straightforward, says Stout. Once the dumper is loaded, it approaches the backfill location perpendicular to the trench and when in position dumps part or all of its load in the same manner a dump truck would. However, with a site dumper, the operator is facing the load and drives forward to the trench giving the operator a clear, unobstructed view of the trench unlike a dump truck that would need to be backed into position.
When using a site dumper on utility projects, says Stout, operators should always be aware of the soil conditions, as well as the surrounding infrastructures and landscapes they are working around — especially when near open pits or trenches. Banks can give way and cave-ins can occur if proper shoring is not in place.

Load capacity and weight distribution concerns are much the same for a site dumper as they are for any hauling or transport vehicle, says Stout. Operators should never carry more material than the published load rating of the vehicle, and when the skip is being dumped, the operator needs to be aware of the center-of-gravity change as the load is being raised so that he is not putting himself and the vehicle in a precarious position.

Small Package, Full-Size Potential

Utility contractors are beginning to realize the cost benefits of employing site dumpers, says Stout. Traditionally, most material movement around utility jobsites has been done with wheel loaders and skid steers. But, these machines are not designed as dedicated haul vehicles, so they are not as efficient or cost-effective to employ.

For example, loading machines are not able to transfer as much material in one pass as a site dumper can handle, thus reducing cycle times and saving on fuel consumption. Also, during transfer, loading machines will often spill materials and tear up sensitive turf, resulting in costly cleanup and restoration at the end of the project. Because of its light footprint and dump body design, using a site dumper minimizes those costs.

Site dumpers can be easily matched with skid steers or wheel loaders, as well as loader backhoes or excavators, to quickly load jobsite materials for transfer. This significantly reduces material movement cycle times and jobsite cleanup, maximizing production on the jobsite and resulting in a higher return on investment.

Amber Reed is a Technical Writer for Performance Marketing, West Des Moines, Iowa.

Got Dumper Questions?
Wacker Neuson Product Manager of Compact Equipment, Jay A. Baudhuin, has Answers

Utility Contractor: How are material dumpers categorized?
Jay A. Baudhuin: AEM currently does not track material dumper sales and therefore there is no industry standard to categorize dumpers. The current manufacturers who sell material dumpers in the United States use maximum payload to categorize the dumpers.

What is the load capacity range for dumpers?
Baudhuin: Material dumpers range from 2,200 up to 22,070 lbs in load capacity. Wacker Neuson currently offers the following range of dumpers in the Americas: 2,200- to 13,228-lb load capacity. In Europe, Wacker Neuson offers up to the 22,070-lb load capacity machine.

What benefits do dumpers offer over other material moving machines?
Baudhuin: Dumpers are extremely stable machines that have excellent maneuverability and work well in rough terrain conditions. Also with the swivel buckets, the machine allows for easy and accurate spreading of material even in tight areas.

The dumper also allows for more material to be moved at one time than other material moving machines.

What niche applications best suit dumpers?
Baudhuin: Dumpers are well suited for a number of applications. Some unique applications that we have been selling to are nurseries, golf courses, concrete contractors, municipalities and cemeteries.

Where does a dumper fit in on a utility jobsite?
Baudhuin: As a utility contractor begins to dig a trench, he can load the dumper with material instead of setting it by the side of the trench. This prevents having to handle the material twice. Backfilling a trench is extremely convenient with a dumper since the dump bed swivels.

You can easily load your fill material into the dumper and drive right up next to the trench, turn the dumper bed toward the trench and drive along the trench dumping the backfill into the trench.

Dumpers are relatively new to the North American market, how are they being received?
Baudhuin: The dumpers have been well received by our dealers and customers. Once contractors use them in their everyday work, they see the endless potential of these machines.

What size is the most popular in North America?
Baudhuin: The 6,600-lb load capacity (3001) machine has been the most popular so far for Wacker Neuson.

What challenges face the dumper on the road to North American acceptance?
Baudhuin: The biggest challenge is getting the contractors on the units to try them. They hesitate, asking why they need such a machine. After a half day of use, contractors quickly find that the machines are very versatile and don’t know how they got along without such a machine.

What options, accessories or attachments are available for a dumper?
Baudhuin: Wacker Neuson has introduced a cab version for the 3001 and 6001 dumper. Other accessories that are available are turf tires, 3-in. seat belt and mirror and lighting kits.

What are a few dumper safety tips?
Baudhuin: The two biggest safety tips are always wear your seat belt when running the machine and to have the operator get off of the machine when filling the dumper.

What is the price range for a dumper?
Baudhuin: The dumpers range in price from $24,000 to $55,000 depending on the size and accessories.

Attached to Movement
Using Loader Material Moving Attachments on Congested Jobsites
By Doug Zoerb

Moving material around a congested jobsite can be a challenge. In many cases, specialized material movers like wheel loaders, dozers and graders may be too large to access a tight area. Many contractors also find it impractical to own and operate so many different pieces of equipment. Frequently, the solution is a skid steer loader or compact track loader equipped with a variety of material moving attachments.

Bobcat offers nine compact track loaders with rated operating capacities from 1,100 to 3,100 lbs, and 14 skid steer loader models with rated operating capacities from 700 to 3,300 lbs. Altogether, more than 80 different attachments are available for these mobile machines, including at least a dozen designed for moving material.

Typical material moving attachments include: a backhoe; box blades with and without laser control; general purpose, rock and combination buckets; a U-shaped digger; dozer blade; dumping hopper; grader; and root grapple. In addition, there’s a trencher, trench compactor, packer wheel, tiller and even a tree fork and spade.

Other than a bucket, one of the most useful loader attachments is a pallet fork. It allows a wide variety of palletized items such as sod, brick and block to be lifted, moved and placed almost anywhere on a jobsite.

Another versatile attachment is the combination bucket. It can be used as a bucket for loading, carrying and dumping and as a grapple to handle odd-shaped objects. The clamshell can also be opened for dozing, leveling and spreading material. If you use your loader primarily for clearing brush and logs, a root grapple attachment might be a better choice. But if you also need to dig, spread or move material, a combination bucket provides more flexibility.

If you need to load trucks frequently, consider a loader with a vertical-lift-path design. In general, vertical-lift-path loaders have more lift capacity and reach than a radius-path loader and will let you load trucks faster and easier.

When it comes to loading a truck, make sure the worksite is clear and level and that there’s a good work surface. The truck should be as close to the material being loaded as possible. Make sure you choose a loader with adequate dump height and rated operating capacity for the size of your truck and the weight of the material you are loading.

While skid steer and compact track loaders work the same way from the operator’s perspective, each has advantages in certain applications. Compact track loaders have superior traction on soft, muddy surfaces and cause less damage to lawns because they spread their weight over a larger area. However, if your work tends to be more on hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt, a skid steer loader might be a better choice.

Big equipment certainly has its place. But on congested jobsites or sites with limited access or when the contractor needs to get the most from his equipment investment, skid steer and compact track loaders along with the wide variety of attachments offer greater mobility, versatility and value.

Doug Zoerb is a Technical Writer for Two Rivers Marketing, Des Moines, Iowa.

Added Reach The Long-Arm
Advantages of a Telehandler
Compiled by UC Staff

When it comes to moving materials on the jobsite, compact telescopic handlers can tackle the task with both precision and speed. While full-size telehandlers may offer a longer reach and greater lifting capacity, their smaller descendents offer more versatility, making them useful in construction, agriculture and landscaping applications. Their compact size and tight turning radius help them navigate around obstacles and deliver materials in confined areas where larger equipment would be unable to fit.

In fact, according to Jim Blower, Senior Product Marketing Manager for JCB North America, compact telehandlers can often take on jobs usually handled by other types of equipment.

“Compact telehandlers can be outfitted with a number of attachments, making them able to perform many of the same tasks as a skid steer loader, for example,” Blower explains. “While skid steers are also maneuverable and useful in crowded spaces, compact telehandlers have an extendable boom that provides greater reach if you’ll be lifting loads across obstacles or up to a higher level. Some compact telehandlers can even be used as a compact loader when outfitted with the appropriate bucket attachment.”

These long-reach compact tool carriers are popular with a variety of contractors and equipment owners. Utilizing a bucket, grapple, broom or man lift attachment, compact telehandlers can perform a litany of jobsite tasks in regular and elevated environments.

“Compact telehandlers are one of the most versatile machines that we sell,” says Greg McGibboney, Sales Representative for Associated Supply Co. (ASCO) of Lubbock, Texas. “While there will always be a need for other types of compact equipment like skid steers and mini excavators, compact telehandlers are becoming extremely popular because not only are they adept at moving heavy loads. They’re also smaller, faster and they can lift those loads much higher.”

For decades, large pick-and-place telehandlers (with three- and four-stage booms, going up to 50-plus ft) dominated the North American construction, bridge and masonry industries. Names like JLG, Gradall, Lull and SkyTrak could be found on big jobsites, lifting large pallets of construction materials into aerial work environments.

Compact telehandlers are designed differently than their pick-and-place brethren. Generally, maneuverability in tight spaces is a requirement of compact telehandlers. A compact telehandler is oftentimes more adept in ground-engaging applications than a full-size unit. The third boom section in a full-size telehandler is generally considered the weak point of the machine if it is used to perform jobs other than pallet work.

This third boom section (the inner-most section) is extended by a chain rather than by a hydraulic cylinder, thereby making it the section most vulnerable to damage if it’s stressed by use in ground-engaging applications, using a bucket, broom or auger. Compact telehandlers have only two boom sections, both powered by hydraulic cylinders. This difference really adds to the rigidity of the compact telehandlers and its boom.

“Compact telehandlers have the reach advantage over skid steer loaders,” continues Brian Boeckman, Product Manager of North American telehanders for JLG. “A few examples of when this feature comes in handy are when loading and unloading trucks, placing loads and backfilling. As the price points for large skid steers and compact telehandlers converge, the reach of a telehandler becomes even more attractive.”

Popular attachments include: industrial grapple buckets, which clamp down to grab a hard-to-handle load for easy, secure transportation; heavy-duty, multi-purpose buckets, equipped with a bolt-on cutting edge for heavy-duty material transfer applications; truss booms, used for overhead lifting as they provide extra reach (up to 6 ft) to lift framing materials over obstacles; and fork carriages, which shift from side-to-side or rotate to give the operator precise control of a load for pick-and-place applications; augers, an ideal tool for drilling holes; and brooms, which are used to sweep up after a job.

Wheel Loader Techie
The Latest on Machine Innovations
By Tim J. O’Brien

Wheel loaders have long proven their value for utility contractors who depend day in and day out on these versatile, productive machines. With a new generation of technology enhancements available, these workhorses are indispensable.

Wheel loaders are best suited for ground-level applications such as loading loose stockpiled material into trucks, carrying sand or crushed stone, handling pipe, back-filling trenches, moving trench boxes, removing snow and even setting manholes.
Contractors can operate wheel loaders on concrete and asphalt without damaging surfaces. The machines are ideal for muddy and slippery conditions, especially when equipped with technology to enhance traction. For example, Case-exclusive standard axles with limited-slip differentials transfer 47 percent of torque to the tire with the most resistance, allowing the operator to maximize tractive effort without losing focus on the job at hand. In other words, it transfers power from the wheel that’s slipping to the wheel that’s gripping.

A wide variety of available buckets and attachments ensures top productivity from wheel loaders. For example, a Case 4-in-1 bucket is well suited to dozing for backfilling or grappling for clearing operations. Other popular attachments are forks for carrying pipe, material handling arms, scissors for handling barrier sections and brooms.

New Technology Enhances Productivity and Comfort

Through the years, a number of technological enhancements have made the work of the wheel loader operator more productive and comfortable. Accumulators in the lift circuit, called Ride Control, improve wheel loader stability during travel and enable the wheel loader to carry full loads at higher speeds for greater productivity, as well as increasing operator comfort and safety.

Joystick steering provides a popular option for repetitive work such as truck loading. Case offers this option along with a steering wheel, so the operator can seamlessly move between the two, switching to the steering wheel for more comfort and control at higher speeds.

Power work modes available on some wheel loaders help the operator match performance characteristics to the work. For instance, Case E-Series wheel loaders offer three modes, including economy mode for precision or Max mode for hard digging. Economy mode also delivers the best fuel economy and extends tire life by reducing wheel spin.

Other devices that enhance a wheel loader’s versatility and efficiency include onboard scales and GPS or laser-guided grade control systems. Onboard scales can eliminate the time and cost of a weigh bridge. Guidance and grade control allow the wheel loader to perform rough grading and in some cases the final grade, thus eliminating the time and expense of assigning a dozer and/or grader to this part of the job.

Compacts Well Suited to Utility Jobs

Many utility contractors find the newer, compact-sized wheel loaders a good choice for specific jobsite conditions. These compacts have many of the features of their larger cousins, but are better suited to small jobsites and confined spaces or for jobs requiring lower ground pressure and disturbance. Compact wheel loaders are also an ideal tool carrier.

Compact wheel loaders provide maneuverability and speed, with bucket capacities in the 1- to 1-1/2-cu yd range. The Case E Series compact wheel loaders feature a two-speed hydrostatic transmission and can travel up to 20 mph.