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Deas Plant.
12-05-2003 21:07:37
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Re: what to buy track or wheel loader in reply to Jay White, 12-05-2003 18:17:16
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Hi, Jay. The short answer is NO but there are some 'howevers' here. If you get the RIGHT machine, properly set up and know how to use it, a GOOD 4 wd loader will do an awful lot of work. They DO have a bit of a handicap in less-than-ideal traction conditions and in rock. Having said that, I have done a LOT of work in lower seismic rock with 4 wd loaders with rippers. One of those was a late 60's Case W7E of only about 7-8 tons. Another was a late 60's Cat 950 of about 15 tons. Either one of these machines would handle a rip+push operation cutting a house site in heavy clay, soft to medium shale or even some weathered sandstones. The secret is to have ballasted tires and a bucket of dirt for extra traction. AND those rippers. A 4 wd machine will never beat a similar-sized track loader -- unless it's a Cat 4 wd against a Case track machine, LOL -- in really heavy going and that is not their job anyway. The 4 wd machines WILL dig very nicely out of a face or an excavation as well as out of stockpile. You may need to look at how far you want to move your excavated material - short haul = tracks, longer haul = 4 wd, - slopes on your sites - steep slopes usually = tracks, wet or dry ground, how much heavy rock, etc.. To come close to a 955-977 size track loader, you would be looking at something like a Cat 950 or a 966. Since I live DownUnder, I don't have much idea of the dollar value of these machines in the U.S. or Canada. If you are only digging for excavated holes or to load trucks, you could dispense with a ripper on a 4 wd machine but they ARE a definite advantage, even if you ain't ackshully using them, just for the counterweight effect. If you have any doubts, I'd suggest going for the track machine, but I'd also suggest having a good look around at what some people ARE doing with 4 wd loaders if you think there is a chance that one might do your job. A word of warning here. Some of what I have achieved with a LOT of the various machines that I have operated has been because I personally have refused to accept the limitations that others tell me a particular machine might have. I believe they call it 'thinking out of the box'. It is a definite advantage when operating mchinery but it does need to be tempered with a reasonable amount of common sense and a good 'pucker factor' nerve. Hope this helps. You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.
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