Equipment Guides

Practical plant hire guides for choosing the right machine, comparing equipment classes and understanding which fleet combination best suits mining, construction, roads, quarrying and earthmoving projects.

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Guide sections

Equipment comparison guides
Size selection advice
Plant hire decision support
Links to hire pages

Comparison Centre

Equipment Comparison Guides

These guides help users choose between common plant hire options before requesting a quote.

Equipment Size & Selection Guides

Excavator Size GuideChoose the correct excavator class from mini excavators through to heavy mining machines.Dozer Size GuideUnderstand D6, D8, D9 and larger dozer classes for earthmoving and mining work.ADT Size GuideChoose between 20 ton, 30 ton, 40 ton and 45 ton articulated dump trucks.Roller Size GuideChoose smooth drum, padfoot, double drum or pneumatic rollers for the right material.Lowbed Capacity GuidePlan plant transport by machine weight, width, height and payload class.Telehandler Size GuideSelect lift height, reach and capacity for material handling work.Crusher Selection GuideChoose jaw, cone or impact crushers for quarrying, recycling and aggregate production.Screening Plant GuideChoose scalping, inclined or finishing screens for sizing and material separation.

Excavators

20 Ton vs 30 Ton ExcavatorCompare digging power, bucket capacity, transport, reach and productivity for general construction, trenching and bulk earthworks.30 Ton vs 40 Ton ExcavatorA practical guide for contractors choosing between mid-size and heavy production excavators.

Compact earthmoving

Mini Excavator vs TLBCompare digging accuracy, loader ability, access, trenching and site support for smaller projects.

Earthmoving

TLB vs ExcavatorA guide to choosing between a versatile tractor loader backhoe and a dedicated excavator.

Dozers

D6 vs D8 DozerCompare pushing power, transport, ground conditions and project size when choosing a dozer.D8 vs D9 DozerCompare heavy crawler dozer classes for mining, quarry, bulk earthworks and production pushing.

Haulage

ADT vs Tipper TruckCompare off-road articulated dump trucks with road-going tipper trucks for material movement.

ADTs

30 Ton vs 45 Ton ADTCompare ADT payload, access, cycle times and loading equipment requirements.

Loading and excavation

Front End Loader vs ExcavatorCompare loading, digging, stockpiles, truck loading and material handling applications.

Front End Loaders

5 Cube vs 7 Cube Front End LoaderCompare loader bucket capacity, truck loading productivity and site space requirements.

Compaction

Smooth Drum vs Padfoot RollerCompare roller types for granular material, clay, cohesive soil and layer works.Double Drum vs Single Smooth Drum RollerCompare asphalt, road layers, site access and compaction requirements.

Roads and earthworks

Grader vs DozerCompare fine trimming, pushing, shaping and production earthmoving roles.

Skid Steers

Wheeled vs Tracked Skid SteerCompare surface protection, traction, ground pressure and attachment work.

Material handling

Telehandler vs TLBCompare reach, lift height, forks, buckets, digging and general construction support.Telehandler vs Front End LoaderCompare lifting reach, bucket loading, stockpile handling and site logistics.

Crushing

Jaw Crusher vs Impact CrusherCompare primary crushing, hard rock, demolition recycling and product shape.Jaw Crusher vs Cone CrusherCompare where jaw and cone crushers fit in a crushing circuit.

Crushing and screening

Crusher vs Screening PlantUnderstand when material needs crushing, screening or both.

Lowbed transport

20 Ton vs 40 Ton LowbedCompare lowbed payload classes for moving plant, excavators, TLBs, rollers and heavier equipment.

Plant Hire Advice

Plant Hire Advice CentreWet hire vs dry hire, pricing, fleet planning, downtime reduction and practical machine selection guidance.Wet Hire vs Dry HireUnderstand which hire option is better for your site, operators and project risk.Plant Hire ChecklistWhat to confirm before booking machines, attachments, transport and operators.How Many ADTs Do I Need?Plan truck numbers around cycle times, haul distance and excavator size.

Plant Hire Advice

Plant Hire Advice HubPractical advice for hiring equipment, planning fleets and reducing downtime.How Many ADTs Do I Need?Match ADTs to excavators, haul distance and production target.How Many Excavators Do I Need?Plan excavator numbers by work fronts, programme and output.Wet Hire vs Dry HireChoose the right hire structure for your site.

Project Solutions

Project Solutions CentreChoose equipment by project type including bulk earthworks, roads, mining, quarrying, pipelines and demolition.Bulk Earthworks Equipment GuidePlan excavation, haulage, shaping, watering and compaction fleets.Road Construction Equipment GuideChoose graders, rollers, water bowsers and earthmoving support.Pipeline Installation Equipment GuidePlan trenching, bedding, backfilling and reinstatement equipment.Quarry Equipment Setup GuidePlan crushers, screens, loaders, haulage and stockpile management.Demolition Equipment GuidePlan breaking, rubble handling, crushing and site clearing support.

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