While wheeled excavators enjoy a significant market share in Europe, they have yet to break out of niche status in the North American market. But as you weigh all the available options to choose an excavator for your application, don’t overlook this important question: Are you better served by tracks or wheels?

In today’s world, anyone responsible for moving dirt or debris, or transporting tools or equipment within a job site, knows the key to success is multi-tasking. Employees are often expected to juggle multiple roles; the same goes for equipment. A single purpose-built machine is great for achieving a specific task, but excavators that are wheeled or tracked may offer the most return on investment.

Advantages of Track Excavators

Track excavators are built for high production digging. Sitting on top of tracks makes them very stable machines. The grousers also increase the traction of the machines, and track excavators have a much larger footprint and contact area than their wheeled counterparts as well. The weight of the undercarriage of tracked models is also very significant which adds to the stability of the machine. Finally, tracked models sit lower and have a lower center of gravity than wheeled models. All of these factors make track excavators more powerful diggers than wheeled models. Also, attachments such as crushers, sheers, and hammers can be added for demolition and work in quarries.

Advantages of Wheel Excavators

Wheel excavators are much more versatile than tracked models. By utilizing a quick coupler and various attachments, wheeled excavators are able to complete a wide variety of jobs ranging from digging to tree removal to cutting asphalt to moving concrete barriers to cleaning ditches. Even though they do not have the enormous digging capacity of tracked excavators, wheeled models are much more maneuverable and are able to work in places where tracked machines cannot. Being able to drive on roadways and hard surfaces without doing the damage that track excavators would do makes the wheeled models ideal for work in urban settings requiring travel over paved roads. Also, despite the fact that wheel excavators generally sit higher, stability is not typically an issue. With its outriggers deployed and its blade on the ground, the wheel excavator can be just as stable as the tracked model. Mainly on steeply sloped terrain, the higher center of gravity may present a stability issue.

Transportation and Operating Costs

Whereas a tracked excavator requires a heavy-duty truck or trailer to transport it to a worksite thus increasing expenses and decreasing productivity, a wheeled excavator can drive over paved roads and move much faster. Tracked excavators can only move about 4 to 6 miles per hour and do significant damage to hard surfaces and paved roads, but wheeled models can drive up to 22 miles per hour without damaging the roadways. Also, although wheel excavators tend to have a higher upfront cost, they typically have a lower long-term operating cost than tracked models. The wheels and brakes cost less, last a longer period of time, and are much easier to replace than the undercarriages of tracked machines.

Which is Best?

To conclude, although not as popular in the United States, the wheeled excavator is not just a niche machine as is often believed. The wheel excavator is a very versatile machine that is able to complete a large number of tasks and maintains low operating costs. It is suitable for operators in an urban setting or those whose budget permits purchasing one single, versatile machine. Those requiring high capacity digging in more unpaved areas are better off using a tracked excavator.

Wheeled vs. Tracked: How to Choose the Right Excavator for Your Job

Here’s a quick look at the differences — and which type of excavator gets the edge in certain situations.

Where tracks have the advantage

Digging depth: Track excavators can dig more deeply than their comparably sized wheeled machines because they sit lower to the ground. This also increases the center of gravity. Operators in a wheeled machine will need to use caution as to the degree of slope he/she works on. Over-the-front lifting capacity: Because tracked machines can swing tracks into position for greater stability to the front of the machine, they are able to lift more over the front than a wheeled machine can. Traction: The combination of track and undercarriage design, heavier weight and a bigger footprint means track excavators typically provide better traction on slopes, loose soil and uneven terrain. They also tread more easily in soft or wet underfoot conditions than wheeled models.

Where wheels have the upper hand

Lifting capacity: A wheeled machine will lift more because of the stability of the stabilizers. Plus, most wheeled machines offer a two-piece hydraulically adjustable boom. By retracting the boom (moving the load center closer to the excavator), you can greatly enhance the lifting capacity of the machine.

Over-the-side lifting capacity: A wheeled machine doesn't lose as much lifting capacity over the side as a tracked machine does. This is a big differentiating factor for those doing road work.

Roading and Speed: Not surprisingly, equipment on wheels moves faster and is more pavement friendly than equipment on tracks. Some wheel excavators can achieve a maximum travel speed of up to 22 mph, compared to approximately 3-4 mph for a tracked model. Speed may come in handy if you need an excavator to perform multiple tasks at an expansive site or drive the machine between jobs.

Maintenance: The absence of an undercarriage and tracks makes wheel excavators easier to maintain and can result in fewer repair issues.

Where wheels and tracks are evenly matched

Stability: Track excavators have a larger footprint and sit lower to the ground than their wheeled counterparts. That lower center of gravity and the substantial weight of the undercarriage provide extra stability and higher load capacity. However, with the addition of stabilizers, many wheeled machines can match or even exceed the load capacity of a comparably sized track unit.

Maneuverability: Wheel excavators are often used in urban and residential areas because their smaller footprint provides more agility when working in tight spots or navigating around crowded worksites. But track excavators often perform just as well in confined spaces, thanks to multiple size options.

Versatility: With the right attachments, both track and wheel excavators can take on a lot more than just digging tasks: think trenching, excavation, utility work, slope construction, compaction, demolition and more. Almost 400 different bucket and tool options are available for Cat® excavators, for example, making them versatile, profitable performers on most any job.