Should You Pull a Scraper with an Articulated Dump Truck?
Everyone’s looking for an edge. A more efficient way of doing things. A way to increase utilization of the assets they have without adding to the fleet.
In short, everyone’s wants to make money while spending less money, which brings us to the question in our headline.
Naturally, articulated dump truck (ADT) manufacturers have their opinions — and allied equipment to help.
"Volvo articulated haulers pair well with a wide range of K-Tec products," says Tyler Smith, Volvo's product manager for articulated haulers.
"Each Volvo model matches with a K-Tec scraper model for earthmoving efficiency. The K-Tec scraper solution enables any Volvo ADT to be converted into a single-operator mass excavation machine in less than 10 hours and is fully reversible."
K-Tec has four ADT scrapers that can replace dump bodies to convert units into earthmovers, with a fifth size coming in 2027. They range from 28 to 63 cubic yards.
K-Tec says the conversion from dump box to scraper hauler is simple and all modifications done to the truck are 100% reversible.
In a presentation entitled "Think Outside the Dump Box" given at Conexpo in March, Shaun Eidse, director of product at K.A. Group [K-Tec], said that jobsite conditions and constraints should cause contractors to think differently about ADTs.
How to choose the right ADT for you
"Every jobsite changes. Weather, ground conditions, inspections, permits, sequencing, and subcontractor delays can all shift the original plan. When that happens, equipment that was once essential can quickly become idle," Eidse said.
“Every site has the same enemy: idle iron. The machine that was perfect for one role gets parked.”
"For contractors, parked equipment is more than an inconvenience. It is a machine that is not producing revenue, not supporting the schedule, and not helping the crew move the job forward," he said. "That is why planning for multiple uses matters. If an articulated truck can transition from hauling, to pulling a scraper, to supporting water, fuel, service, or equipment transport, it can continue earning throughout more phases of the project."
The Deere system
Designed as an additional method of earthmoving, the John Deere 3812 large scraper, paired with the 460 P Tier or 460 E-II articulated dump truck, offers a 38-cubic-yard capacity and can be used in scraper loading or top loading applications.
The 3812 is the first ADT-drawn scraper to enter the John Deere lineup and features scraper controls that fully integrate with the 460 P Tier and 460 E-II ADT to push productivity and ease of operation.
Once the ADT is in scraper mode, the operator simply goes to work as the ADT and scraper pan are integrated as one seamless machine. Meanwhile, the ADT automatically optimizes engine torque curves and differential locks and selects a maximum cut gear to maintain momentum and boost productivity.
Further integration includes scraper brakes, Deere-encoded cylinders, and a scraper pro package that enables push-button sequencing, additional cameras, scraper position, and productivity feedback to the operator all through the new high-resolution display.
Lastly, the hitch and platform design allow conversion between an ADT with a dump bin or pulling a scraper, giving customers the fleet flexibility and additional utilization of their equipment.
Komatsu offers the ability to pull a scraper on its newest model, the HM460-6, according to Bruce Boebel, Komatsu's director of products and service.
"A scraper configuration allows contractors flexibility to switch between a scraper or a dump body, depending on the jobsite layout and application, for the most efficient operation," Boebel says.
Not everyone is on board with converting an ADT to an earthmover. It's always best to talk to your dealer before modifying an ADT or investing in allied equipment.
A dissenting view
"No, Develon ADTs should not be used to push/pull a scraper," says Jay Patel, product manager at Develon.
"Develon ADTs are engineered exclusively as haul trucks. Using them to push or pull scrapers without significant aftermarket modifications can cause structural or drivetrain damage and is not a recommended or approved application."
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.