What Works Best?
How Long Do they Last?
Where can I Buy Them?
These are questions we get asked frequently by contractors and landscapers looking at purchasing a mini or midi excavator. While most midi excavators use rubber tracks, there is another great option. The robust design of steel tracks coupled with the long lasting rubber track pads results in great performance and durability. In a seasonal climate where mud freezes overnight, severe stretching of a rubber track can result in turning minor splits or abrasions into splits and premature track failure.
The typical life span of a rubber track ranges from around 800-1,200 hours while rubber pads on a steel track can last anywhere from 2,500 - 3,000 hours.
Benefits of steel tracks with rubber pads include:
1) Reduces vibration in the entire undercarriage system resulting in extended life from track chain, rollers, and sprockets.
2) Ease of maintaining clean undercarriage due to less buildup of soil on the grouser pads.
3) Asphalt and concrete surfaces are not compromised like they would be with steel tracks.
4)Shuttling between multiple locations on a large project are done with ease and less mess.
Benefits of Rubber Tracks:
1) More cost effective
2) Stand up well to the regular wear and tear of the 1-6 tons machines because they are not typically used in the harsh conditions that larger machines would work in.
3) Asphalt and concrete surfaces are not compromised
When purchasing a mini or midi excavator, it is important to consider the pros and cons of each of these track types while keeping in mind your specific situation and how you will use the machine. If you have any questions regarding these two options, feel free to give us a call and one of our team would be more than glad to help you make the right investement!