Trenching Production

denick

Now with a couple of pipe people around, I was wondering how you size todays machines for trenching production. Thirty years ago I worked two years for a top notch sewer and water company and the rule of thumb seemed that 1/3 to 1/2 of the machines digging depth was how a machine was sized for the job. A 14' backhoe dug 4' or 5' trenches. A 18'-20' excavator was on jobs 6' to 8' and so on for production work.


Nick

PipeGuy

Lift specs are a big deal for me. Regularly handling precast structures that weigh as much as 9 or 10 tons a piece demands an excavator that can handle those loads safely. Even handling a 4 ton piece at any distance demands a fairly stout machine. A 33 metric ton hoe seems to be a good fit for me in that regard. It also allows me to rip rock that a 16 metric ton machine wouldn't even budge.
On the other hand, a 16-20 MT machine can usually keep up tamping the backfil that the bigger hoe produces and offers some flexibility for close quarter work.

dayexco

the bulk of our work is 16' deep or less, occasionally get a few jobs deeper. we run 200 sized excavators. and 544G deere loaders. seems like a good match for us. still big enough we can handle 48" rcp storm sewer if need be.

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PipeGuy

I really like those deere loaders but don't buy them for a number of locally specific reasons.We run Kawaski loaders comparable in size to the Deere 624's. Knock on wood, they're good performers so far.

rino1494

Well, we only have 2 excavators, so we are limited to what we choose. We have a Cat 315 which I use for the underground electric, cable phone. Then I use our Kobelco 200 for the sanitary and storm. I've gone 19' deep with the 200 with no problems.

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