Wheeled vs. Tracked Mini Excavators: Differences in Stability, Mobility and Maintenance

Doosan wheeled vs tracked excavators

You see them everywhere these days. Mini excavators hard at work on construction jobsites. These machines perform tasks ranging from digging foundations to clearing land and countless other jobs. But did you know there are two main types: wheel and tracked? While they are both compact machines, they differ in their undercarriage.

Mini tracked excavators are designed with robust undercarriages. The rubber tracks provide superior traction and stability necessary for navigating uneven terrain and challenging landscapes. Mini wheel excavators have the flexibility and speed ideal for urban environments and city streets due to their wheels and outriggers. Andy Jeong, mini excavator product manager and compact engineer at Develon, compares and contrasts the two excavator types in terms of stability, mobility and maintenance on jobsites.

Stability Considerations

Develon mini excavator digging in the dirt

The undercarriage on a tracked mini excavator provides enhanced maneuverability and stability in a variety of operating conditions, including soft and muddy soil and hard, rocky ground.

“The mini excavator undercarriage consists of rubber tracks, rollers, idlers and sprockets,” says Jeong. “It distributes weight evenly and maintains excellent ground contact, which helps when operating on rough, uneven or sensitive terrain.”

Just like a mini tracked excavator relies on its undercarriage for stability, a mini wheel excavator depends on its tires and outriggers in digging and lifting applications. As far as digging performance goes, both tracked and wheel mini excavators perform similarly. When the outriggers are down, mini wheel excavators have just as much stability as mini tracked machines, according to Andy.

“Outriggers are designed to work like legs, helping to spread out the weight of the machine,” he says. “They are operated hydraulically from inside the excavator cab and can be individually controlled to level the machine when working on uneven terrain or slopes. Wheels also distribute the machine’s weight evenly, resulting in lower ground pressure. This reduces the risk of sinking into soft ground and minimizes damage to sensitive surfaces.”

Dozer Blades

A dozer blade comes standard on both mini wheel and tracked excavators to enhance stability when lifting heavy or uneven objects.

“The mini excavator’s dozer blade can be used to replace a secondary machine when leveling or backfilling material and can stabilize the machine during digging applications. Mini wheel excavators can be equipped with a front dozer blade with two outriggers in the rear or four outriggers, two of which would replace the blade.”

Some mini wheel excavators, like the Develon DX100W-7, have a two-piece variable angle boom that bends in the middle, giving operators optimal visibility to both sides of the machine and additional flexibility when digging.

Mini excavators are making big waves on jobsites all over North America. Click here for the latest news on these machines and the companies that make them.

On the Move

DX100W7 Wheeled Excavator Working

Mini tracked excavators suit construction and landscaping jobs well, as they travel on sensitive surfaces, minimize ground disturbance, and navigate around obstacles effectively. Generally speaking, mini excavators with rubber tracks provide a smooth, quiet operating environment for workers in the cab.

On the other hand, wheel excavators excel in tight conditions, like urban environments and roadways. They can work in one lane of traffic, minimizing the need to close an entire section of highway.

Wheel excavators are also known for their quick movement and ease of driving from one location to another without the need for a truck and trailer. Operators can adjust the wheel excavator travel speed by selecting between three transmission speeds for increased productivity on a variety of jobsites.

“Operators can select the high travel speed, which can reach up to 23 mph,” says Jeong. “However, if they are working on rough terrain or cleaning out ditches, they may choose the slowest setting with a maximum speed of 3.6 mph [1st gear plus turtle mode].”

A popular application for wheel excavators is roadside vegetation management. Public works departments often use a wheel excavator with a mower or mulcher to cut back or remove vegetation along roads and trails. A wheel excavator can easily move along the road on the shoulder or on a wide trail to efficiently remove unwanted brush, grass and weeds near paved surfaces.

Maintenance Needs

Doosan DX100w-7 wheeled excavator digging in a ditch

You should maintain both mini tracked and wheel excavators regularly to ensure their longevity, performance, and safety. Pay particular attention to the mini tracked excavator undercarriage, including rubber tracks, rollers, idlers and sprockets. Inspect the rubber tracks for any cracks, cuts or tears. Verify that the machine’s track tension is correct.

In contrast, focus wheel excavator maintenance on wheels, tires, outriggers, and suspension. Check for cuts and damage to the tires, including any sidewall damage. Make sure the tires are inflated to the correct pressure.

“Consistent inspections, proper lubrication and timely replacements of worn parts are essential practices for maintaining mini excavators,” says Jeong. “Adhering to the manufacturer’s maintenance guidelines in the owner’s manual, as well as visually inspecting the machine on a regular basis, will help extend the lifespan of the excavators and optimize their performance on jobsites.

“It’s also a good idea to remove any dirt, debris or foreign objects from the undercarriage of a tracked or wheel mini excavator. Operators should regularly clean the undercarriage to extend the life of the components.”

Before adding a mini tracked or wheel excavator to your fleet, evaluate stability, mobility, transportation, and maintenance factors. That will determine which machine fits your business best.

Retracting for Tight Jobsites

Develon Z17 mini excavator digging dirt

When jobsite conditions require a narrow machine, a retractable mini excavator undercarriage can be the best option. This feature is available for select mini excavators, including the Develon DX17Z-7. Operators can retract the DX17Z-7 excavator tracks while traveling through narrow spaces like gate openings. They can then expand the tracks once they reach their worksite. The expanded tracks offer ideal power and performance for digging and lifting.

Allison Grettenberg is a public relations and content strategy specialist with Two Rivers Marketing.

Tags:

See Discussion, Leave A Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.