7 Benefits of Using Mini Excavators

It’s fair to say that the introduction of mini excavators in the construction industry is a revolution. Mini excavators have become very popular in the extremely cost-conscious building trade and in other sectors. They’re well known for their high performance, reliability, and excellent business values. They’re also very practical options in many ways, reducing operating costs and delivering measurable values.

The 7 Benefits

These benefits are the reasons why mini excavators have taken over from larger excavators around the world:

Agility: Mini excavators are highly manoeuvrable on any work site. They can access all areas and reduce positioning time compared with large excavators.

Ease of training: Mini excavators are very trainee-friendly. It’s easy to learn how to operate a mini excavator, which also reduces training costs and time.

Better access onsite: Mini excavators can move into tight areas and operate with ease. The traditional access issues with large excavators make the bigger machines quite unsuitable for some sites. There’s much less need to demolish to obtain access, too.

Less damage to the worksite: These lighter vehicles don’t dig up the soil or turn worksites into quagmires when it rains. The mini excavators leave a very small footprint on operating surfaces, reducing risks to driveways, gardens, etc.

Transport: The much smaller mini excavators are easy to transport by trailer, eliminating the expensive logistics of moving large excavators while delivering the extra benefits of their size and agility.

Multi-functionality and high productivity: One area where mini excavators truly excel is in their versatility and ability to deliver multiple onsite services using attachments. A mini excavator can actually do more than a large excavator in this regard.

Lower operating costs: Mini excavators save money in all areas of operation compared to big excavators. They can do the same work at a lower cost while delivering the same performance as large excavators in many different roles.

Business Benefits

The 7 benefits above all add up to a further, ongoing major benefit in the form of much better cost values for businesses. If you’re considering your options for buying a mini excavator, there are some added points for consideration

A mini excavator will deliver:

Reduced operating costs
Lower training costs
Improved functionality and versatility
No major access issues
Better transportability and logistics
Improved profitability through lower costs
Very high values in onsite performance across all types of work
Much better operational efficiency onsite

These net values, applied to a construction company over any period of time, equal major dollar values for businesses. A mini excavator is as much an investment as a piece of equipment. You can reduce overheads, improve performance, and add a range of capabilities to your business.

Brisbane’s Home of Mini Excavators

Allclass Construction Equipment has an impressive range of new and used mini excavators. If you’d like to find out more, call us or contact us online and discuss your needs with our mini excavator experts. We’re happy to assist and provide any guidance you require.

Posted by Allclass Construction on July 28, 2017

Excavator Attachments, Excavator Checklists, Safety Checklist

Safety Chains & Excavator Trailer Safety

Trailer safety is not a compromise, especially when you’re towing a trailer with an excavator. While it might seem like common sense to drive safely when towing, there’s a lot more to it when you’re carrying a heavy load. We have some tips and pointers for you to help you manage your trailer safely on the road.

Critical Safety Tips

The bottom line with trailer safety is making sure your trailer is secure and safe on the road. You need to cover all the angles:

Safety chains: Whatever load you’re carrying, you may need one or more safety chains depending on the loaded weight of the trailer. Chains must comply with Australian Standards as specified under relevant regulations and guidelines from the state traffic authority. Safety chains must be connected to the towbar.

Towbars: Towbars must be rated to at least the weight of the load. Underweight towbars are major risks on the road; they can’t manage the heavier load and may even detach while driving.

Braking systems: Braking systems may or may not be legally required for lighter weight loads, but they’re good value for safety on the road. Best practice is to have a braking system that is operable from the driver’s seat.

Towing vehicle requirements: The vehicle must not carry loads over the manufacturer’s rated towing capacity and the trailer’s towing capacity. If you try to haul a trailer over either the vehicle or the trailer’s capacity, there are very serious risks of instant failure.

Rear marker plates: If your trailer is over 7.5m long, you must have a Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle plate attached to the trailer. This is also a useful reminder to following vehicles that you’re driving a long trailer with a turning curve slower than they are, so it’s well worth fitting these plates.

Safe Towing: Things to Look Out for on the Road

Anyone who’s ever towed a heavy load will tell you that you can actually feel load problems within seconds of starting. The above points are the simplest ways to ensure that your vehicle and trailer perform well.

Major issues with a towed load include:

The sluggish or erratic performance of a trailer on bends in the road: This indicates that the trailer is lagging behind and that it may drift outwards or inwards towards traffic or the road edge. The trailer can also act as a counterweight, pulling against or away from the direction of your vehicle’s movement. At the first sign of performance issues, check the trailer.

Steering issues caused by the load: If the towing vehicle isn’t responding properly to steering, the load may be unsafe. The risk is that you may not be able to respond quickly enough to traffic movements or sudden events. Don’t take any risks with an unpredictable steering situation; you need a bigger, better trailer to manage the load.

Talk to Allclass Construction Equipment

If you’d like some expert help with trailer safety, or you’re looking for a new trailer to upgrade your mobility, Allclass Construction Equipment is your local source for top quality trailers. Call us or contact us online and speak to our experts.

Posted by Allclass Construction on July 28, 2017

Buying Equipment

Choosing the Right Mini Excavator Trailer

Mini excavators are the workhorses of the construction industry. Every construction firm has at least one. The major issue with these reliable and hardworking machines is transport. This makes a good trailer a must-have piece of construction equipment.

In this post, we’re going to give you some pointers about choosing the right trailer for your needs.

Trailer Essentials

Looking for a mini excavator trailer? You will need:

A trailer with good carrying capacity above the weight of your mini excavator. This extra capacity means that your trailer is strong enough to handle the added stresses of road travel, moving around sites, and other strains.
Preferably new: Trailers are placed under major stresses over their working life. Old trailers are OK for lighter workloads, but not for carrying important equipment like a mini excavator. You need a new trailer that which is in top quality condition, particularly if you’re on the road a lot, moving from site to site.
Good wheels: A good trailer has at least four wheels supporting the tail of the trailer. This gives better balance on the road and improves steering by managing the load of the mini excavator more efficiently on the road.
Solid carry frame: Whether you choose steel or alloy, the frame is a critical part of the trailer. The frame should also have a solid plate base for positioning your mini excavator with supports. This keeps the excavator steady and in place on the road.

Considerations: Safety, On Site and On Road Performance

You’ll have noticed from the above points that your choice of trailer is based on its ability to manage the load of your mini excavator on the road. This isn’t just common sense – it’s also a major safety issue.

Load movement and drift on substandard trailers are notorious for creating issues on the road. Heavy weights on trailers can cause significant performance issues for towing vehicles. Slow responses or wide drifting movement on a trailer is a recipe for trouble. A good trailer responds well to towing vehicle movement and doesn’t drift. This makes travel a lot safer and reduces the risk of accidents.

Performance problems with the trailer can also do damage to your vehicle. An erratic trailer can add strain to its steering, brakes, and suspension. That, in turn, can cause safety issues for the vehicle and added maintenance costs.

A good trailer is a useful asset for getting your mini excavator on the ground and working with minimal fuss. Get the advantage by choosing a safe, manoeuvrable trailer that can position your mini excavator wherever you want.

Ask Allclass Construction Equipment about Trailers

If you need a top quality trailer for your business in Brisbane, call Allclass Construction Equipment or contact us online and ask us about our trailers. We’re happy to provide you with any advice, guidance, and services you need.

Posted by Allclass Construction on July 4, 2017