Conventional Or Reduced-Tail-Swing Crawler Excavators?

Evaluate the Right Criteria to Purchase the Best Excavator Type for Your Business

Most people would agree that crawler excavators are a staple product in any construction company’s fleet. The machines regularly handle the heavy digging, lifting and loading in a variety of construction applications. Given that there are two tail-swing types – conventional tail swing and reduced tail swing – how do you determine which is best for you?

There are several key factors that may influence your choice between conventional-tail-swing crawler excavators and reduced-tail-swing models. You may be able to improve your job site productivity by closely evaluating your typical job site conditions and implementing a reduced-tail-swing machine in your construction equipment fleet.

The most common excavator type is a crawler excavator with a conventional-tail-swing configuration. Conventional-tail-swing excavators have a rear counterweight profile that extends beyond the machine’s steel tracks when the house rotates, optimizing performance in digging, loading and lifting applications. However, some manufacturers offer excavators with a shorter/reduced tail swing to work on confined job sites without sacrificing performance. A reduced-tail-swing excavator configuration is ideal for working in limited or restricted spaces since the machine’s counterweight profile typically extends inches rather than feet beyond the machine’s tracks.

Before selecting a conventional or reduced-tail-swing excavator, you should consider the following: typical job sites, regular tasks, key machine specifications, attachments, machine efficiencies and maintenance considerations.

Jobsite Location

Excavators are routinely operated on a variety of small- and large-scale construction projects, from residential and commercial construction to infrastructure projects. It is important to properly match your machine to its work to maximize productivity. Conventional-tail-swing excavators are most often operated in excavating, grading and site development where space constraints are not a concern. They are also commonly used on infrastructure commercial building site projects to load material into trucks.

However, it is not always possible to put a conventional-tail-swing excavator on every job site. In many cases, space is limited and your crews and equipment are often maneuvering around several other pieces of equipment or permanent structures, such as buildings or bridges. For these reasons, excavators designed with a reduced-tail-swing configuration are gaining popularity. Reduced-tail-swing excavators are used primarily in congested urban areas, such as road and bridge construction projects where traditional excavators cannot fit as easily. For example, the reduced-tail-swing radius may allow excavator operators to work in one lane of a street or highway without blocking traffic in the adjacent lane. Reduced-tail-swing excavators are ideal when digging and backfilling trenches in a confined area.

The trend with reduced tail swing excavators is on the smaller side of the crawler excavator spectrum, typically between the 14- and 30-metric-ton size class. The smaller stature coupled with reduced tail overhang creates a popular combination for both transporting the excavator and operating it.

Available as an option for some reduced-tail-swing models, the crawler excavators may be equipped with rubber trackpads. This option may be popular if you are working on established surfaces, such as finished concrete or asphalt, to minimize ground disturbance when compared with traditional steel tracks on crawler models. It may also save you and your crews time because you may not need to lay down plywood or other types of mats to minimize surface damage.

Another option available for some smaller crawler excavators is a dozer blade. Simplify backfilling and use your excavator to fill, smooth and level trenches more efficiently. A smooth cutting edge on the excavator’s bucket allows you to clean right up to the edge of the dozer blade, reducing further cleanup later. In addition, the design of the dozer blade is suitable for moderate site grading, reducing the need for other equipment to complete the task.

Key Specifications

In addition to understanding how your excavator will be used, review the machine’s specifications and determine what configuration can meet your expectations. It can be difficult to narrow down the specifications of conventional and reduced-tail-swing excavators, but reviewing the machine’s specifications is as fundamental to purchase as a hands-on demonstration.

Core excavator specifications that should be taken into consideration, regardless of tail-swing-type, include:

• Arm breakout force
• Engine horsepower
• Hydraulic flow
• Lifting capacity
• Maximum digging depth
• Maximum loading height
• Maximum reach, ground level
• Operating weight

Attachment Versatility

You may think conventional-tail-swing excavators are more versatile than reduced-tail-swing models; however, reduced-tail-swing excavators can be just as versatile when paired with the right attachments. In addition to standard buckets, three of the most popular attachments include quick couplers, hydraulic clamps, and hydraulic breakers, which offer a low initial investment with a high rate of return.

Clamps, for example, enable precise movement and positioning and help secure material for superior loading and material-handling applications. When not in use, clamps can be retracted, making the attachment excellent for demolition, site preparation, and land-clearing applications, as well as when the excavator operator is using a lifting mode to lift and place materials such as culverts.