Comparing-trenchers-to-compact-excavators

Comparing Trenchers To Compact Excavators

Both of these machines are affordable, popular,

highly productive, and they both have helped lay a

lot of cable and pipe in the ground. While they

both can do the work, there are differences as

to how they perform when stacked up against each

other in residential utility installations.

Size and price

The average dig depth for utility installations in

residential applications is between 40 and 48

inches. The basic trencher that digs to the above

depth will boast a 20 - 30 horsepower engine and

cost around 40,000 dollars.

The most popular type of compact excavator is the

2.5 metric ton size class, and it uses a 30 HP

engine and costs around the same price. The

biggest difference in the two surfaces when you

need the trencher to dig deeper. The 2.5 metric

ton excavator has no trouble at all digging to 8

feet or more, although a trencher that can dig

that deep will require an engine with around 100

horsepower and cost upwards of 90,000 dollars!

Life costs

Not counting the bucket teeth and the replacement

of the rubber tracks at 2,000 hours, fuel and

routine maintenance are your only daily costs

with a compact excavator. The digging chain, teeth,

and sprockets on the trenchers are considered

wear items and need to be replaced often. Even

with the high consumable costs of trenchers, the

differences will tend to even out when productivity

is taken into effect.

Productivity

For straight line trenching at an average depth,

trenchers will flat out lead compact excavators.

Under reasonable conditions, a trencher can work

three to four times faster than that of a compact

excavator. Another area where trenchers really

excel is wooded areas, where tree roots and logs

can make for slow and sloppy digging when using a

bucket.

Versatility

When it comes down to it, compact excavators can

do a lot of things that trenchers can't, especially

when they have attachments on hand. If you are

digging with a compact excavator, you can't go

anywhere near as fast as you can with a good quality

trencher.

Keep in mind that a trencher isn't a single minded

machine either. Most styles of trenchers can be

outfitted with a backhoe attachment that attaches

to the front end. Whenever concrete, rocks, or

asphalt stands in the way, the boom and chain can

be replaced with rock teeth and a wheel. In soft

soils, you can set up a trencher with a plow

attachment and plow in cables faster than using

any other available method.

When it comes down to choosing, keep in mind that

it all depends on your needs. There are some

cases where the compact excavator is best to

choose, while there will also be jobs in which

the trencher is going to do the best work.

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