Rugged - a word that has to be used when describing machinery needed for the landscape industry. Rugged because any machine has to withstand constant use at a constant hard pace and sometimes by some pretty unsympathetic operators.
I thought I would take a look at two machines that are available to the landscaping industry that are designed to move heavy weight and material across pretty unfavourable conditions from the start of the day to the end.
I have used both of these type machines during landscaping projects.
The Muck-Truck (info taken from the Muck Truck site)
"This pedestrian, motorised, 4WD mini dumper has a 5.5hp Honda engine and will go anywhere a tracked machine can."
It says in the literature that it can go anywhere a tracked barrow can go. This is something that I would not agree with. We found time and time again that the tracks on our Honda tracked barrow would spread the weight and tackle the stickiest of terrains and of course inclines too with out sinking or spinning.
I would agree that the design of the Muck-Truck is well up to specification needed for heavy duty work but I do not like the idea of running up a platform to empty into a skip. Emptying heavy waste into a skip under controlled test conditions is one thing but you have to take into consideration the variations of site labourers too.
The Monday morning hungover 'expert' who is not paying attention and slips off the ramp or drives straight into the skip without thinking, is a condition that needs some assessment. The loading ramp will add 25% to the basic buying price too.
But at just under £2,000 it is an investment that easily recouped and well worth it if you have to move a lot of heavy material on difficult or inaccessible terrain.
There are a number of attachments including a ball hitch for moving trailers or a leaf vacuum too.
Honda Power Barrow
This has to be my favourite. I owned one of these which we modified ourselves by welding on a Saxon trailer body and a hand pumped hydraulic ram for lifting the body.
That was back in 1990 but the design has moved on a great deal with the latest versions having a hi-lift tip which means that the operator can tip the load from ground level without the need for ramps etc.
By definition of the high lift system there is a need to ensure that you are always working with a slope and not across it. With narrow tracks (60cm extreme) and high weight there is a high centre of gravity which means tipping over can happen easily. Bear in mind though that when empty, your barrow and engine are very light to lift straight back on its tracks.
The standard model (lo-tip) is very good for tipping from ramps. We had two serrated walkways )which came out of the demolished Crosby Doors factory in Farnham) which we modified with hooks that would grip over the skip rim. Driving up was doubly easy with the grip and if the operator got nervous he only had to let go of the two drive/steer handles and the machine would stop dead.
We also found that with tracks it is easy to track across lawns (occasionally) without causing unnecessary distress to the surface. The tracks spread the weight easily and if the there was a need for regular tracking across a lawn we would simply lay down ordinary scaffold boards.
Both the Muck Truck and Power Barrow are at a great height for tipping a mixer load of mortar or concrete into but bear in mind, when travelling long distances in the Power Barrow the vibration tends to settle concrete down quite firm.
If you are going up a slope with the Honda barrow there is a possibility that any liquid materials such as gravel or concrete will tip backwards. Providing that you are working with the slope it is possible to elevate the barrow body so that the load remain level.
Just use the hydraulic release valve to ease the load down when you are getting back on the level. Make sure that the operator does not release the barrow body all in one go otherwise it may result in some damage.
My Verdict
Very much horses for courses but I would plump for the Honda Power Barrow over the muck truck. I feel there is more versatility with the tracks and, when on a loose surface will turn 360 degrees without moving off of the spot.
Have you any user experiences of the above machines? - let me know what you think.
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