Having the right equipment for your construction project is essential, especially if your project involves moving materials. Just any equipment won't do, though. You need to find the right size and type. Knowing how to choose the best equipment for your project can be difficult, which is why we put together this construction equipment size guide.
The size of the equipment you need will depend on the specific project you're working on. How much material your project requires you to move is a significant factor in deciding if you need heavy or compact equipment. When making this decision, it's important to consider how much space you'll have while completing your project.
This article looks at examples of small vs. large construction equipment and the benefits of renting heavy construction equipment from The Cat® Rental Store.
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Heavy construction equipment is useful for a wide range of projects, which is why using it can be more than worthwhile. Let's look at some of the most common heavy construction equipment and their uses.
Articulated trucks are often referred to as dump haulers or articulated haulers. They are great for forestry, construction, mining and quarries. Feel free to go off-road with this equipment because of its all-wheel drive. Articulated trucks are perfect for driving over rough terrain, slippery terrain and inclines. They also tend to be bigger than dump trucks, so they are often used for hauling in construction or quarries projects.
It doesn't matter if you're hauling a water load, dumping or doing forestry work. Articulated trucks have different body options to suit all of your needs.
If you need an articulated dump truck, we have one that includes a state-of-the-art Cat ACERT™ engine with high power and up to 20% torque. You'll be comfortable and productive in these machines due to their relaxing cabs, automated features and high body volume.
You can use asphalt pavers to load, spread and compact hot mix asphalt. Start by loading asphalt in the front, and the paver uses flight feeders to move the asphalt to the rear, spreading it out with augers and then leveling and compacting it with a screed.
At The Cat Rental Store, we have various asphalt pavers for you to choose from. We offer 12 different pavers that vary in size and paving ranges. Most pave an area 2.55 to 5 meters wide, although we also have machines that pave as wide as 6 meters and as narrow as 1.75 meters.
Backhoe loaders are one of the most versatile heavy machines you can use. Backhoe loaders are useful for the following:
The Cat Rental Store has backhoe loaders with multiple center-pivots, various dig depths and specialized loader attachments. If you rent a backhoe loader from us, you'll get a low-hour machine that can perform various challenging jobs. Rest assured that we routinely inspect and service our machines so they can support you in your project.
Also called asphalt smiling machines, cold planers effectively perform various functions on roadways, such as:
Our Cat cold planers come with an advanced rotor drive system and high-precision controls. The following are just a few of the different models we have available for you:
Whether you need to decrease the size of waste materials in a landfill or make sure the soil won't shift under a new road, a compactor is an excellent tool to utilize.
A road roller, or a roller-compactor, is typically used to compact asphalt, concrete, soil, and gravel, making it perfect for agricultural projects or construction projects concerning roads and foundations.
Our inventory of compactors and rollers at The Cat Rental Store includes compactors of all sizes, from large ride-on double drum rollers to heavy rammers. We also have ultra-durable landfill compactors at The Cat Rental Store that can withstand the most severe environmental conditions. If you need a roller with large double drums and maximum compaction capabilities, the Cat tandem vibratory roller can help you there. Our versatile pneumatic rollers are great for compacting natural soils and materials with lime or cement.
If you're familiar with mining or construction projects, you're probably aware of the substantial power of large dozers. Typically, they are used for the following:
At The Cat Rental Store, we have large bulldozers that can handle significant amounts of materials. No matter what you need your Cat dozer for, we have one that's built just for that. For example, there may be models more helpful for particular jobs, such as snow plowing or tearing up asphalt.
You can use draglines for dismantling and transporting materials, especially if you're conducting an open-pit operation. For example, you can use draglines to move overburden from mines. Our dragline rentals are built for reliability and safety and can help your business stay profitable and productive.
With our expansive network of dealers across the world, we can provide you with heavy machines when you need them right away. For example, we have the 8750 dragline with a large bucket capacity to handle any mining condition.
If you need to do some mining or exploration, large drills are extremely helpful. For example, they are suitable for sampling subsurface materials, construction settings or drilling wells.
Whether you need a rotary drill or a track drill, we have you covered. Not sure which one you need? Our rotary drills are reliable, accurate, robust and durable. We also offer these drills with various engine sizes. A Cat track drill focuses more on speed and efficiency with its advanced hydraulic systems and fast drilling speeds. If you need to get a job done quickly, a track drill will help you do so.
Electric rope shovels are well-known for being efficient and cost-effective loading tools. They are an excellent choice for mining projects with their long operating life.
If you need an electric rope shovel that can handle dipper payloads up to 120 tons and work for up to 120,000 hours, we can help you out. Our electric rope shovels have high digging accuracy and reduce operator fatigue.
Soil compactors are for heavy-duty projects, such as dozing or compaction. The following industries use soil compactors:
The ride-on soil compactors we have for rent are made for heavy-duty compaction. Our vibratory soil compactors provide high speeds, excellent grading capabilities and great compaction performance.
Here at The Cat Rental Store, we carry a large Cat compactor rental fleet with machines that are durable and advanced in their technology. Rent with us and make your project easier.
You can use feller bunchers for harvesting trees. They allow you to cut and remove trees from an area. You can even hold more than one tree at a time with a feller buncher, allowing you to maximize efficiency while keeping performance steady.
Whether you need a track feller buncher or a wheel feller buncher, we have what you need. Both of these machines can hold multiple trees at once, but our wheel feller bunchers can cut up close and operate on wheels.
If you need to reach trees from a distance, we have feller bunchers with long arms and attachments. Some of these attachments can even reach up to 28 feet.
Although heavy construction equipment is ideal for a wide range of big and small projects, compact equipment can come in handy. Let's look at some of the most common compact construction equipment and their uses.
Compact track loaders perform various digging and construction jobs. The following industries often use them:
This piece of compact equipment can handle some heavy lifting and long-distance travel. Landscapers, agriculturists and snow removers typically utilize compact wheel loaders.
Mini excavators are typically used for construction projects. Have a smaller construction project to take care of? Consider renting a mini excavator for the following:
This small vehicle is typically used in construction and landscaping to perform various functions. You can outfit skid steers with various attachments to make them suitable for multiple jobs. They also come in a variety of sizes.
Telehandlers typically live on construction sites. If there are obstacles in your way, a telehandler can help you reach above and over them, whether you're working outside or inside. You can use them when changing light fixtures, repairing utilities and painting walls and ceilings.
You can use pump equipment for water removal. Renting this type of equipment is a good idea because you won't have to pay maintenance and storage fees just to finish a small project or after recovering from an emergency.
Screening plants can separate rock, soil, sand, gravel and other construction and demolition materials. You can even get a portable unit for easy transportation.
If you're trying to decide between small vs. large construction equipment for your project, consider the following benefits of using heavy construction equipment.
If you're looking for a machine that you'll need to spend a lot of time in, that machine needs to be safe and comfortable. Some of the machines you may be in all day might include an excavator, backhoe, wheel loader, skid steer or dozer. Add in the long stretches of time you'll spend in the machine with temperature changes and visibility changes, and you'll want a safe and comfortable option.
Most larger machines have enclosed cabs with heating and air conditioners as well as glare-resistant glass, which can help increase both comfort and safety. Many new large-sized machines even have ergonomically designed controls and seats and restraints that will protect you while keeping you comfortable. Some newer large machines also have integrated sound dampening for hearing protection and built-in dust filtration systems.
If you prioritize your or your employee's safety and comfort above all else when getting a job done, then a larger machine might be your best bet.
A machine's bucket capacity is vital when choosing the size you'll ultimately rent. Typically, the larger the machine, the larger the bucket capacity. Consider how much time you need have to load materials and the kind of environment where you'll be working. If you have a big job to do and a strict schedule, you'll want to rent a heavy machine with a large bucket capacity, especially if you're working with soil, gravel or other large aggregates.
The job you're doing requires strength from you and your machines. If you're trying to decide between a smaller dozer and a larger dozer, you'll need to consider the level of strength you need your machine to have.
If you're looking to move large amounts of material, then a large machine might serve you better than a smaller machine. Also, if you're working with wet, heavy material, a larger machine is going to help you out better than a smaller machine would.
If you need brute strength and a high level of pushing power, then you'll want to go for a heavy machine over a compact one. For example, if you're dozing a large volume of wet material, you're going to need that extra strength and pushing power.
You'll need to consider the conditions you'll be working in when deciding on the size of your dozer. If you have many transportation options and plenty of room to move around on your job site, then heavy equipment will be appropriate for you to rent.
If you need a longer tail swing, you'll need heavy equipment. Longer tail swing radiuses provide you with a better leverage factor and higher outputs than smaller equipment can offer. This is because the distance beyond the center of the machine's turret is greater than it would be in a compact machine.
Ultimately, heavy equipment with a long tail swing will leave you with longer operating dimensions, more productivity and more comfort.
We've talked about the different uses for certain heavy construction equipment, but let's explore the many benefits of renting it. Here are some of the advantages of renting your heavy equipment:
If the project you're working on calls for large construction equipment, your best bet is to rent it from The Cat Rental Store. We have the right equipment for any job you might have and skilled team members who will help you select the right equipment for your project from our wide range of Cat machines.
The following is a list of benefits you'll enjoy when working with us:
If you want to rent your equipment from a knowledgeable and flexible company, contact us for a quick quote or find a dealer near you and pay us a visit!
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