In the world of construction, there are more than a few options when it comes to heavy machinery. But if you’re given a specific task that requires the smoothing and leveling of a surface, there are few better options than the old reliable grader.
A grader, also known as a road grader or a motor grader, is a piece of self-propelled heavy construction equipment used for the creation of flat surfaces. It’s most commonly used during the grading phase of a project, during which the surface of future construction is precisely leveled and refined to meet certain specifications.
Graders function by way of three axles, with two in the rear and one in the front. Traditional models were moved with attached equipment or simply by horses, but modern machines are either self-propelling thanks to axles, or they contain an engine — this is why they’re sometimes called "motor graders." Steering is executed by way of a joystick or a steering wheel.
Graders also feature a blade between the axles, and some are equipped with a second blade. Some models may allow for the attachment of supplementary arms, diversifying the number of completable tasks.
Motor graders, sometimes called road graders or simply graders, are heavy equipment used in several industries. When you decide to grade or level a surface, you will likely need to use a motor grader. These machines have three axles and an engine, and they use blades to complete the job.
Motor graders are useful tools in such a variety of industries because they are compatible with numerous attachments. Here are the various motor grader attachments and which jobs each one will work for:
Ripper attachments break into a solid area and loosen the dirt or soil. You can use a ripper attachment to prepare a site for the grading or leveling process, and it is also helpful for clearing land in mining applications.
Snow wings come in either masted or mastless forms. Use snow wings to easily clear snow on roadways. These attachments work in high- or low-speed applications.
The v-plow is a specific type of snowplow. It's a large size with two pieces coming together in the shape of a "V." You can use this attachment for areas with heavy snow that is difficult to clear with other attachments. The V shape allows the plow to push snow far on both sides.
Tire chains are helpful for gaining traction. They are especially useful during the winter months when a motor grader could experience sliding and poor traction.
A straight front blade is one of the most versatile attachments for a motor grader. You can use a straight blade for everything from snow removal to leveling and dozing. Straight front blades come in multiple sizes to match your application.
You could also attach a hydraulic broom to the front of your motor grader. These tools work well for jobs where you need to remove large, loose materials, such as rocks or debris.
There are many types of heavy equipment that are utilized in the construction industry. If requiring a machine to smooth or level a surface, the grader is the go-to option.
Graders are also commonly referred to as motor graders or road graders. They are large, self-propelled pieces of heavy construction equipment that are used in the creation of flat surfaces. During a construction project, motor graders are typically used in the initial grading phase when the ground must be leveled to meet required specifications, and they create a base for the subsequent construction. Graders are often built on three axles, with one in the front and two in the back. Whereas the original graders were pulled by horses and livestock, modern models contain engines, hence the name motor grader. They are typically steered by a joystick or steering wheel, and they come equipped with a blade between the front and rear axles. Sometimes, there is a second blade or additional arm attachments for added versatility and functionality.
In recent years, there have been many technological advancements to motor graders which have improved their functionality and increased their number of uses. Initially, graders were only used for paving and maintaining roads made of gravel or dirt by utilizing the blade to create a flat surface. Today, although they are still primarily used in the creation of roadways, graders can also create level surfaces for other construction projects and be put into operation for various other purposes as well. They may be used to level the ground for the foundation of a construction site or an unpaved parking lot before laying asphalt. They may also be used in the initial creation and the widening of ditches and trenches. Graders provide the great benefit of maintaining roads that have been damaged by heavy traffic as well.
Additionally, the versatility of motor graders can be increased dramatically by adding attachments. If a snow wing is attached to the machine, it is able to plow snow. Other attachments allow the grader to level soil to prepare for planting crops or to spread concrete to create new sidewalks and other walking paths. Using a scarifier allows the grader to remove the top layer of soil from the ground to resurface it with asphalt, gravel, or other similar material. The type of grader that is used for a particular job depends entirely on the materials being worked with and the size of the workspace. Whereas smaller spaces may be better suited for a smaller, single axle machine, larger spaces might benefit from a larger, multi-axle machine that makes wider turns and covers more ground more efficiently.