How often have parents told their children that enough is enough? It’s usually said to stop the littler ones from getting too excited, tormenting the neighbor’s cat, or getting generally out of hand. There’s a similar saying, too, not heard as often, except in the offices of doctors and dieticians. Enough is as good as a feast. Both sayings are true and both could refer to the equipment we use in our daily work. It’s not long ago that all excavators seemed huge, that dozers seemed better if they were enormous, that the more a loader could carry the more desirable it was. Then along came compact equipment.
Contractors have realized that smaller versions of those huge dozers, excavators, and loaders can achieve as much as they need for their projects. How often do most contractors have to doze and grade 25 acres? Many, many projects involve an acre or two, or less. Think how much a skid-steer loader can do! Now there are loaders that make skid-steers look big, but they can do the necessary work, and that is what really matters. A similar evolution has happened in cars. Compare the big, gas-guzzling cars of yesteryear with today’s fuel-efficient models; they are just as comfortable and much more affordable to run. The momentum that drives contractors to invest in compact equipment is the same as the one that drives most of us to buy our personal cars. We need the machine to do this and that, and we need to be able to afford the fuel to make it do this and that. Compact equipment has not earned its popularity because it’s cute! It works, and it’s still affordable.
Skid-steer loaders were considered the most compact machine you could get, and most of the leading manufacturers produce skid-steers, but now we have the mini-skid-steer, like those from Vermeer. There are four models, with power from 23 to 35 horsepower and weights from 1,950 to 2,950 pounds. The most obvious advantage to a machine like this is that it can get just about anywhere, whether the work site is commercial or residential. The dump height for the smallest of the four Vermeer mini-skid-steers (the S400TX) is almost 6 feet, so you can load that big pickup easily with bricks or equipment. The operator stands on a platform at the rear of the machine, so visibility is excellent for all the jobs undertaken. With an array of attachments available, the jobs onsite suggest themselves immediately. You can get several types of buckets, augers, forged forks, a Harley power rake, a grapple bucket for scrap, a vibratory plow, a tiller, rootcutter, sweeper bucket, or auger. For the largest model (S800TX) you can also have a dozer blade with an optional tilt, a hydraulic boring attachment (for installation of wiring or irrigation line under driveways and sidewalks, for example), a hydraulic hammer to break concrete, a power shovel, a snow blower (for another winter like the one just gone!), and a trencher. Vermeer mini-skid-steers are not toys. They work hard, produce good results, and reinforce the concept that, for most construction work, enough machine is enough.
Along with compact equipment, I would class machines like Case’s N Series backhoe-loader models. With backhoe loaders already popular as multiple-use machines for many everyday construction jobs, these models have been praised for another interesting reason. “It will save me from using an excavator for lifting,” commented Dennis Zentner of DRZ Contracting in British Columbia. “The 580SN WT backhoe also performed well on grading, trenching, backfilling, heavy lifting, hole-patching, and rock breaking.” The lifting capabilities have been compared with those of a 5-ton excavator, and it offers superior dig depths. There’s another advantage to having such a machine. If it does the work of an excavator, too, you won’t have to transport an excavator to the site. There are four models in this Case N Series group, ranging in horsepower from 79 to 108 horsepower. “This new series is stronger everywhere,” notes Rob Marringa, marketing manager at Case Construction Equipment. “One new feature that is a real game changer on the N Series is the Case exclusive Power Lift. Power Lift channels the hydraulic power directly to the boom with the touch of a button. As a result, our backhoe lifting capabilities outperform competitive models by as much as 39%, while running at low engine RPMs.”
Compact does not mean cheap or inferior quality. Compact equipment costs less than bigger models, but that does not mean that innovative, useful technologies have been omitted. Gehl Co. (part of the Manitou group) introduced a most valuable monitoring tool for its compact equipment. It’s known as the Gehl VitalTRAC fluid analysis program. Its use can prevent that most awful of machine ailments: downtime. Is there anything worse, when a project is going on schedule and looking good, than having an operator tell you that a machine has suddenly gone wrong, just like that? “The VitalTRAC fluid analysis program helps to determine the root cause of an engine failure and may even prevent unnecessary installation of new parts on an engine that is likely to have those parts fail again,” explains Michael Jerred, Gehl Co. customer satisfaction manager. “Even greater value can be achieved by consistently using the VitalTRAC fluid analysis program to monitor and help extend the life of the engine and other equipment systems.” Users can expect some valuable benefits from use of such a program, if they routinely test oils, coolants, hydraulic oils, gear oils, and fuel, in conjunction with a well-planned preventative maintenance program. Component and machine life can be extended, you’ll get more uptime, you’ll have a proactive way to prevent equipment failure, you’ll get the best fluid change intervals, and the resale value of the machine will be greater. All of those benefits mean a more productive and efficient use of your machine. Gehl started manufacture of equipment in 1859, so they do have some good experience on which to build for their machine care!
The first criticism heard about smaller cars and smaller construction equipment was that they couldn’t possibly be as safe as the big stuff. There seems no evidence to support that claim. Take Volvo’s skid-steer loaders. When you raise the seat bar/armrest, you disengage the hydraulic circuits, lock all controls, and activate the parking brake to prevent accidental movements. To check the coolant expansion tank, you are safe because there’s a translucent, at-a-glance level check, while the engine fan guard keeps debris our and the operator safe. The simple acts of getting into and out of the cab are safe and straightforward. Volvo has made service and maintenance especially straightforward and safe for these skid-steers. But what about their performance? The compact loaders have liquid-cooled, 16-valve Volvo engines, well known for delivering sheer strength amazingly quietly (and meeting Tier III environmental standards). To get the full benefit of the many attachments available you can use an optional high-flow system that gives extra oil flow and hydraulic power. One reason for the excellent machine life is the (huge!) dual-element air cleaner. That feature also reduces maintenance and lengthens service intervals. To emphasize further the solidity of these compact Volvo machines, there is the solid, one-piece steel mainframe. You should look at the specifications for the several models in the Volvo series of skid-steer loaders to check the speed with which they work for lifting and loading, and the heights they can reach safely with the loads.
At the Conexpo this year, John Deere attracted a lot of attention with a couple of big machines, but the company also fields a team of most practical compact workers. I’d put the 50D excavator in that class. It uses 39.9 horsepower, has a zero tail swing, digs to almost 12 feet, offers 8,273 pounds of breakout force, and has an operating weight of 10,428 pounds. Its size lets it go into close-quarters work and it comes standard equipped with a backfill blade, mechanical quick couple, auxiliary hydraulics. You can use many of John Deere’s Worksite Pro attachments to make it a powerful, compact excavator. Mike Brock, owner of Brock Construction, has a similar John Deere excavator, a 50C ZTS. “It can fit into tight areas,” says Brock. “It’s compact but it has enough power to lift 5,000-pound rocks. It’s got longer tracks and a wider stance than other brands, so it doesn’t tip too easily! It’s a much more stable machine.” The John Deere 35D excavator is smaller. It operates well in confined areas and can work around some awkward obstacles. It has a quick coupler and auxiliary hydraulics, plus the ability to use those Worksite Pro attachments. “The 35D is very versatile,” attests Bud Whittaker, president of LakeMaster in Muncie, Indiana. “It’s small enough to do most of the work we do and has become an absolutely necessary piece of equipment on the job.”
Renowned and respected for some of the biggest equipment in the world, Caterpillar also produces compact machines, and they are as popular as their bigger brothers. The Cat B-Series 3 loaders (SSL for skid-steer loader and MTL for multiterrain loader) have been made more reliable, safer, and easier to operate than their predecessors. That easier-to-operate aspect may become particularly important as we search nationally for skilled employees to rebuild our failing infrastructure. The 242B3 and 257B3 have been called “power dense” machines because they maintain a nimble size and offer such good maneuverability. One design refinement in these B-Series 3 models is the “dead-engine lower valve,” single electronic control module (ECM). The dead-engine lower valve encourages safe operation by providing easier-to-use, more positive means of lowering the lift arms if the machine should run out of fuel or the engine stall with the lift arms raised. It gives a safe exit for the operator. The single ECM, relocated to the back of the cab, means easier access for maintenance via the Cat electronic technician port. Among other benefits, on the 226B3, the new ECM allows automatic activation of the optional high-flow auxiliary hydraulic system, when a high-flow work tool is connected.
Dismiss any thoughts you have that compact means less capable or up-to-date. Cat’s 242B3 skid-steer loader and 257B3 multiterrain loader have been given considerably more power to enable them to perform like much larger machines, but even in confined spaces. The engine (C3.4 DIT) also runs at a lower more fuel-efficient speed (2,500 rpm) that is 500 rpm less than the engine on the prior B-Series 2 engine.
Davids Among the Goliaths
While the biggest manufacturers of construction equipment, like John Deere, Caterpillar, Komatsu, Volvo, Case, JCB, and Doosan, have won their coveted leadership positions by good products and good service, there are smaller companies that manufacture excellent equipment, especially compact machines. There is not room to mention them all, but let’s agree here and now that some compact equipment from smaller manufacturers has achieved great success in their chosen range. Yanmar would be a good example. Perhaps most famous for its engines, Yanmar has produced some excellent compact equipment, too. Consider the CBL40 compact backhoe loader. Its single-frame chassis is just like that of larger TLBs to support any heavy loading or backhoe operation. The seat direction for the operator is changeable, while seated, to give good control for both loader and backhoe. Clearance for the loader (with bucket dumped) is 7 feet, 3 inches; lift capacity to maximum height is 2,866 pounds; breakout force by the bucket cylinder on the loader is 4,850 pounds. For the backhoe end of the Yanmar CBL40, the maximum digging depth is 10 feet; truck-loading height is 8 feet, 4 inches; boom-swing angle is 180 degrees; and maximum digging force with the bucket is 5,798 pounds. Compact, but powerful.
Wacker Neuson, known especially for its compacting equipment, has some interesting skid-steer loaders as additions to its existing compact line of wheeled and tracked excavators, wheel loaders, and dumpers. Kobelco, maker of some popular large excavators, assures us that its compact excavators offer the same quality, reliability, and performance. All Kobelco compact excavators meets the Tier IV Stage A engine requirements. For additional digging depth, extra-long arms are available. The operating weight of the 27SR (including bucket) is 5,555 pounds, with 21.6 horsepower. The 35SR weighs 7,960 pounds (28.4 horsepower); the 50SR is 10,275 pounds with 39.3 horsepower; and the largest of the compact group is the 555RX, weighing 12,295 pounds and offering 39.3 horsepower. The Kubota U25S excavator has zero tail swing and a maximum dumping height of 10 feet, 6 inches. Its digging depth is 9 feet, 3 inches, with a maximum digging radius at ground of 15 feet, 4 inches, and a lifting capacity (depending on lift pint height) up to 1,660 pounds.
When the Weather Is Working Against You
Bobcat can claim as much glory as any other company in the history of compact equipment. Today the company has an array of compact equipment, from mini-loaders to skid-steer loaders and excavators, all compact, all efficient and popular. One reason that these machines attained popularity was a reminder from their manufacturer that, with tracks instead of wheels, they could extend your contracting season into the unfriendly months of the year, especially if your business is in the northern part of the country where snow, sleet, and mud can stop most contracting work. I have spoken with contractors who claim an extra two months work and income from their tracked Bobcats.
“The weather was a problem last winter, even down here in southern Illinois,” said Jeromy Fricke, general manager of operations for Samron Midwest Contracting Inc., based in Murphysboro, about an hour’s driving north of the southern tip of Illinois. This contractor was involved in concrete work for the construction of a new football stadium for Southern Illinois University. “We’ve had to thaw the ground before every concrete pour,” adds Fricke. “Then we used electric concrete blankets powered by a 100-kW generator to cure the concrete. We had to keep it warm for seven days.” Samron’s work at the stadium in this inclement weather included all foundations and footings, structural concrete for the new bleachers and all sidewalks and steps. That’s about 100,000 square feet. An enormous challenge was the mud, not only for the pouring but also for the excavation for footings and foundations. The solution in the mud was compact equipment. The contractor used a Bobcat M-Series E80 excavator and paired it with two T320 compact track loaders. “We used to use a backhoe loader to dig all our footings and foundations,” explains Fricke. “But, with the backhoe, we had to dig with the back bucket and haul the dirt with the front bucket. We spent half a day hauling off the spoil. Now the Bobcat excavator works with a loader, and we move the dirt as we dig. That’s turned out to be the most efficient way to do the work in these conditions.” The tracked machines operated easily on the poor surface and didn’t tear up the ground. The tracks kept the crews from disrupting the subgrade, and eliminated the need for costly repair or replacement.
While tracks are excellent for mud and sloppy ground, there are times when wheels seem to be more suitable-in city streets, for example. Wheeled excavators have been extremely popular outside the US for municipal work and, in fact, for any projects where the excavator has to travel on streets from section to section. Doosan, among its great range of construction equipment, including those Bobcats, offers the DX series of wheeled excavators. While a little bigger than the general concept of compact, the maneuverability of the DX190W qualifies it in this class. The front axle offers wide oscillating and steering angles for transport but can be locked rigid for better digging and lifting performance. An electronic power optimizing system (EPOS), connected to the engine’s electronic control via a data transfer link, harmonizes the operation of the engine and the hydraulic system. That minimizes fuel consumption. Smaller than the DX190W is the DX140W, with many of the same benefits for the contractor-good breakout force, good digging reach, and practical digging depths. New finance and leasing options are now available from Doosan for these machines, and others.
Also in Doosan’s family we find wheel loaders of all sizes, including the compact Mega200/200TC. Basic details show that its operating weight is 24,250 pounds and its bucket capacity 2.32 cubic yards. The best place to get specific technical information is at your Doosan dealership or the Doosan website, but several attributes of this loader struck me, and I’ll mention them here. Look at the standard equipment to see that compact equipment lacks none of the sophistication of bigger machines. That equipment includes (among many items) air conditioner, pull hitch, automatic electromagnetic return to dig, front and rear working lights, ROPS cab, and all the lights you’ll need for travel and work. And there is optional equipment, too, including items like a limited slip differential axle, wheel chocks, and the auxiliary hydraulic function.
Among the numerous machines and vehicles in the JCB range of construction equipment, the skid-steer loaders, tractor-loader-backhoes, and excavators are well known and favored. JCB has a good line of wheel loaders, too, and they vary in size from compact to very large. The smallest in the line is the 406, with net power of 58 horsepower, a 1-cubic-yard shovel capacity, and a generous dump height of 8 feet, 2 inches. The JCB 406 weighs in at just over 11,000 pounds. For good operation and performance, it offers hydrostatic transmission, with high efficiency and speed control. The machine has two preset speed ranges. At the low speed (0-4 mph), you get precision in control while the high speed (0-12.5 mph) will serve you well between job sites. The hydrostatic drive on this loader also gives you dynamic breaking as the accelerator is released. Operators of the 406 have commented that the ride feels stable; a good reason for that would be the sturdy (5-inch diameter) center pivot that allows both articulation and oscillation movements. At the same time, the heavy-duty plain bearings in the lower pivot carry the weight of the loader while the articulation movement is restrained by the tapered roller bearings in the upper pivot. Clearly, this compact loader is not inferior in construction! For the cab, the design of the engine and cab mounts give a low 101-decibel external and 73-decibel in-cab noise level, and the visibility is excellent. It’s easy and safe to get in and out of the JCB 406 loader. For service, the intervals are 1,000 hours-about double those of competitors-while the efficient, oil-cooled engine has no radiator. That means fewer parts and lower service costs. As a final thought on the good value of this loader (even if it is classified as compact!) the oil-immersed disc brakes give reduced maintenance and greater durability.
Compact equipment can, then, be the solution to some of your problems. There is an abundance of machines available today and the key question seems to be: Can a less expensive compact machine do what I need for my projects? If a compact excavator, loader, grader, or telehandler can do everything you need, get one. As your parents told you, enough is enough.
