Tips for Choosing the Right Long-Reach Excavator for Your Jobsite
A long-reach excavator is not like a standard crane, as the long-reach type of equipment will be used for reaching horizontally and not vertically. The crane arm will unfold rather than move up and down telescopically, and since most long-reach excavators are needed to reach into water or other treacherous conditions, they will usually have treads rather than tires to keep them steady. This can slow down their movement but prevent them from sinking into the soft soil.
If you're ready to rent a long-reach excavator for your jobsite, you might note a few tips for choosing the right one. Each type of excavator will be used for different applications, so note a few factors that will help you determine the best choice for your jobsite.
1. Weight of front end
Most long-reach excavators that you choose will be designed for a specific application, whether it's standard digging, heavy lifting, or demolition. Each will have a different weight on the front end. Those meant for standard digging will have a lighter front end so that they are balanced during the dig process as the bucket goes deeper into the ground, but when it comes to heavy lifting, an excavator will have a heavier front end for added strength. The same is true for demolition; you need an excavator that can handle the wear of tearing down construction, and this calls for added weight and durability.
Always choose an excavator based on the application and needed weight of the front end; this is the most important feature of the piece. Opting for one based on price alone can mean an excavator that is too lightweight to lift certain loads or tear through heavy construction.
2. Length of front end
While you need a long-reach excavator that can handle the jobsite at which you'll be working, you don't want one with a boom and arm combination that is too long. This is because the longer the arm, the less digging force the excavator can exert. You may also need to have a smaller bucket size and only lift smaller loads in order to maintain the stability of the excavator. Depending on the job size, this can mean a longer operating cycle. Choose the arm length that fits the job, but don't opt for one too long, assuming that longer is better.
Remember that the bucket itself will add length to the arm. Include its size when determining the right reach for an excavator you choose. For more information, talk to a company that regularly offers services with long-reach excavators, like Wingbrook Marine.
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