There is no shortage of options when it comes to heavy equipment in the construction industry. But even the most seasoned site personnel and machinery operators might be surprised to learn about equipment they aren’t familiar with.
In this article, we’ll take a look at nine lesser-known but super-valuable pieces of heavy construction equipment. If, after reading, you think you might be in the market for one or more of these bad boys, give us a call at
Wagner Used Equipment. We offer used, high-quality heavy construction equipment at a fraction of the cost.
Boom Lift
Boom lifts usually come in one of two designs: Articulating booms (a.k.a. Knuckle booms) and Telescopic booms (a.k.a. Straight booms). As their name suggests, articulating booms operate like a network of joints, incorporating work platforms with various interlocking and maneuverable sections. Given the “articulation” in use, the operator will be able to reach areas that might otherwise be obstructed or impossible to access.
Telescopic booms do not articulate like their knuckled counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they’re not extremely valuable. Also called straight booms, these pieces of heavy equipment allow for the greatest amount of horizontal outreach, allowing the operator to reach distances and heights that an articulating variety may not be able to accommodate.
Telehandlers
When a telescopic boom lift won’t do the job, you’ll likely need to bring a telehandler into the mix. What separates the telehandlers from the straight booms boils down to the attachment added onto the equipment. Although both telehandlers and boom lifts are capable of and great at getting workers into high-up nooks and crannies, the telehandler is better employed for versatile tasks that require multidirectional range of motion. For this reason, it is commonly affixed with attachments like spreader bars, high-vertical forklifts, and jibs. Furthermore, there isn’t always a platform with personnel on it when the telehandler is in use, unlike a boom lift, which by definition is always manned.
Skid Steer Loader
Skid steer loaders operate through differential steering, allowing tight turns that can be executed without compromising the heavy load undergoing transportation. Although they come in a variety of sizes, skid steers can be nearly universally used for similar genres and diversities of tasks, such as snow removal, demolition (minor and major), brush clearing, and farming. Learn more about these incredible pieces of machinery by reading our blog about the best ways to use a skid steer.
Skid steers are one of the most versatile pieces of heavy equipment available, and they are one of the most frequently seen on job sites. From helping to knock down buildings to hauling away felled trees, there's almost nothing these power houses of used construction equipment can't accomplish. Skid steers are used in every industry, and are great pieces of used equipment to own. Here at Wagner Used Equipment, we carry every size of skid steer, from small to large. We also carry a wide variety of skid steer attachments, so you can accomplish even more with this great piece of Cat equipment. Visit Wagner Used Equipment today to see all of our used heavy equipment for sale!
Articulated Hauler
Unlike a traditional hauler, an articulated hauler has a pivot point that allows it to dump loads with greater mobility. It can also navigate tight turns betters, and most models are equipped with heavy-duty 4-wheel drive.
Harvester
Also known as a combine, a harvester is used to collect and gather crops. Rather than merely collecting crops like grain and corn, however, this machine “combines” the processes of threshing and winnowing, taking care of two time-consuming tasks in one fell swoop. When all is said and done, the ready-to-go crop is shot out of a discard chute. Reaping the benefits of what you sow has never been as easy as it is with a harvester.
Harvesting has come a long way since humans first began to settle down into towns and begin farming in earnest about 12,000 years ago. Back then, harvesting was a painstakingly slow, back-breaking job that was accomplished mostly by hand and with some simple tools. It took many days and weeks of lots of workers to harvest fields just to store enough to last through the winter.
The grains and crops had to be cut down first with cutting tools, such as the scythe. Then the grain that we could eat had to undergo a separation process from the part we could not eat, or the chaff. This was done by literally beating the stalks in a process called threshing. Then the seeds had to undergo even more processing by being cleaned of any clinging debris left behind so that the grain could then go to the mill to be ground up into flour for baking. However, before the will, a mortar and pestle was used, another long, laborious process by hand that involved beating the seeds as well to a pulp. As you can imagine, people spent most of their time procuring food from processes such as this.
Luckily for humans, the Industrial Revolution came along, ushering in both technology and machinery that gradually made harvesting easier and easier. The first machine that we would call a combine was invented by an American in 1834. Horses provided the power, but this sped up the harvesting process greatly. By 1860, most American farms had a harvester and the first commercial combine harvester was invented in 1885. Steam power was used and soon tractors with engines. Now, electronics are used to measure the amount of grain harvested.
Wagner Used Equipment offers many great used combine harvesters available at a Cat dealer near you in Colorado, New Mexico, or west Texas. Reach out to our team to learn more.
Cold Planer
Cold planers are used for grinding up asphalt which is then transported into a dump truck for fulfillment of its intended purpose. They’re a great option for sustainability-minded construction professionals since they allow asphalt to be repurposed rather than ending up in a landfill. You can learn more about environmental sustainability and construction materials here.
Cold planers are used equipment that is used to remove pavement or concrete from roads, bridges, and other surfaces that you drive on, such as parking lots, or anywhere pavement is poured. These pieces of used equipment are also used to make the rumble strips that warn you when you hit the median or before you drive off the side of the road.
Skidder
Skidding is the process by which logs are cut and transported from the fell site to a landing, so it follows suit that a skidder is designed to cut and haul trees from the forest and to their destination. Most typically, they’ll only go as far as a loading site, where the lumber will then be placed on a more formalized mode of transportation that can cover longer distances.
Skidders are amazing pieces of logging heavy equipment that are primarily used to pull up tree stumps, push over small trees, and grade logging roads to make it easier for logging trucks to get in and out. Modern skidders come in two versions: cable skidders and grapple skidders. A cable skidder uses a cable and a winch system to pull the trees towards the skidder. They are then dragged to the loading area. This type of skidder is falling by the wayside because it takes two people to operate — one in the skidder machine and one who is hooking up the logs with the winch. Grapple skidders, on the other hand use grapple buckets instead of a winch and grabs onto the log to drag it.
Early skidders again turned to horse power. Tongs were used to lift the log off the ground while the horses pulled the log once in place. Steam power replaced horse power before the advent of the modern heavy equipment with an engine.
Wagner Used Equipment offers skidders for your Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas logging operations. Get in touch with a friendly Cat dealer representative to learn more!
Knuckleboom Loader
Like a skidder, a knuckleboom loader is commonly used in the forestry industry. These loaders are classified as specialized forms of boom lifts, but they are designed to work with large logs. Thanks to its pin-mounted grapple rotators, the logs on a knuckleboom loader can be positioned and moved onto trucks or landings according to the operator’s desired direction.
If you've never seen a logging site in action, it's truly a sight to see, and you will be blown away by the power and efficiency of Cat heavy equipment.
Knuckleboom loaders were tailor-made for the logging industry and, in fact, are the heart and soul of a logging site. These used heavy equipment for sale are capable of picking up huge trees, stripping them of their branches and placing them on trucks for transport. They work great in tight spaces and low clearance, which is what you need when you are working in a field of trees. These used equipment can go all day long under a skilled operator, making short work of a job that used to take weeks in the early days of lumbering.
Wagner Used Equipment offers knuckleboom loaders at affordable prices. Check them and all of our used heavy equipment for sale in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas out today!
Light Tower
We’ve covered a lot of information in this article, so why not end on a light note? If you’re in need of a light source for your project, either because you have to work at night or your site doesn’t have regular access to natural light, then a portable light tower should be your go-to tool. Thanks to its attached generator and wheels, this piece of equipment can go wherever you go while quite literally keeping things in perspective.
CHOOSE WAGNER USED EQUIPMENT FOR ALL YOUR HEAVY EQUIPMENT NEEDS
Wagner Used Equipment has been providing used construction equipment and other heavy equipment to our customers since 1976. We understand that heavy machinery can be quite pricey, which is why we want to ensure you get a great used piece of heavy equipment at a great price. We offer great financing deals as well to those who qualify, helping you get the used heavy equipment you need to get the job done. In addition, we sell new Cat equipment and offer a superb Caterpillar service department that can help you maintain and repair your heavy equipment.
Caterpillar is the trusted name in used equipment and heavy equipment. For almost 100 years, we've been supplying many industries with the heavy equipment they need in order to get the job done. These industries include construction, mining, waste handling, paving, municipal, agricultural, governmental applications, demolition, and so much more. Every day, Cat equipment helps build America's infrastructure and homes and supply us with the items we need to lead the extremely comfortable life that we lead. Powered by small, medium, and large businesses who each bring you a valuable service, Wagner Used Equipment ensures these heavy machines keep on trucking.
If you have a trade or wish to place a piece of used equipment on consignment, give us a call. We can explain to you our process and get you started right away. Wagner Used Equipment also offers heavy equipment rentals for those one-off jobs that you might not need a permanent piece of heavy equipment to add to your storehouse. We have embraced technology and offer many services online, from online payments to Cat part ordering online. You can also download our app that will allow you to access your account and shop all our used equipment.
Whether you need one of the amazing pieces of heavy equipment mentioned above, or you are looking for something else, we're here to help. Our amazing sales team in Colorado, New Mexico, or west Texas can answer all of your questions. Contact us today to get started!