Quite a site

Site dumpers, while broadly-accepted in Europe, are pretty much a rarity in this country.  Somewhat of a hybrid between a wheel-loader and an articulated dump truck, they’ve proven valuable “across the pond” for moving material in limited-access areas — smaller construction sites, for example. 

Raising the visibility and awareness of this valuable tool here in the U.S. has proven a challenge, but as more and more contractors see the role site dumpers can play in small- to mid-size operations, it is likely the vehicles will have an increased presence in fleets across the country.  

One company playing a major role in promoting this proven — yet unsung — technology is Duval-Pilot Equipment Outfitters, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based dealer handling the TEREX line of site dumpers (as well as other equipment) for that region.  The company reports that it has made some nice inroads into getting several units into the field and is confident that the technology is what many other customers in the area need.

Staying on the Path
Because of its geographic location, on Florida’s east coast, one of the key markets Duval-Pilot sees for the site dumper is companies actively involved in golf course construction and/or renovation. According to Fred Jordan, the company’s equipment sales representative, golf course work differs from most other construction projects in that special care has to be taken to protect areas adjacent to the site in need of work.

“Golf course-related work virtually never stops in this area,” he says. “As growth continues, the demand for new courses continues to rise, as does the need to maintain and upgrade existing courses. We are fortunate that two of the most prominent golf course construction firms for this part of the country are headquartered right here in Jacksonville and we have already sold two units to one of them, MacCurrach Golf Construction (MGC).”

Jordan feels the site dumper has a number of features particularly well-suited to use in golf course renovation work, but none more critical than its ideal working width.

“In renovation projects there is so much in place now — landscaping, shrubbery, trees, and so on — that wasn’t there when the course was originally built," he says. "At the time, a larger piece of equipment probably worked well, now it doesn’t. In addition, equipment has to be kept off the well-groomed grasses, so access is often only available via the cart paths.  The site dumpers offer a width of just under seven feet, ideal for use on the eight-foot wide cart paths.”

Necessity Drives Innovation
One of the most popular uses for site dumpers in overseas applications is as an economical means to deliver ready-mix concrete to different areas on a jobsite. Much of that demand is driven, perhaps, by the generally smaller size of European jobsites when compared to those here in the U.S., prompting contractors to find alternative approaches to material movement and delivery. However, even here, contractors are finding that site dumpers can improve onsite efficiencies by quickly and easily moving loads of concrete (eliminating the need for more expensive concrete pumps), aggregate, sand and so on, into and out of areas inaccessible to even the smallest trucks in use today.
 
“Site dumpers — specifically the 9,000 lb. Model PT6000 — can handle nearly four cubic yards of material at a time when heaped; larger models like the PT 9000 can handle as much as six cubic yards,” Jordan says.  “In the past, MGC was using agricultural-style tractors pulling small trailers to haul material to and from areas being renovated on the course — effective but not very efficient.  They were looking for a way to reduce the cycle time for that material movement and the use of site dumpers has definitely done that for them.”

MGC president Allan MacCurrach concurs, saying that the site dumpers are easily 40 percent faster at moving material than their previous method.  “And given the fact that on an average golf course, more than 15,000 tons of sand alone is moved at one time or another, efficiency is everything, so we see these units as playing a key role in our projects.”

Feature Driven
Operators running the site dumpers for MGC cite two very basic but valuable features that improve production to that degree: ease of use and reliability.  Because the units dump from a forward position, material placement is faster and, to a certain degree, more accurate.  Several models available also feature a Power Swivel function which allows the material to be dumped sideways — again, a valuable feature in close quarters.  And because of their straightforward, yet hearty design, MGC also sees the site dumpers as being far less maintenance-intensive than other components in the fleet, a big plus in maintaining the tight schedules often confronting the firm.

“All those factors: the bigger payload, the ease of operation, the ability to stay within the confines of the cart path, have made a big difference for MGC,” Jordan says.  “And because he is such a high-profile company both here and elsewhere, we are confident that others in the area — contractors of all types — will see these unique pieces of equipment and appreciate what they could do for their own operations.”

MGC Does TPC
Jordan adds that MGC is preparing for one of the biggest challenges it has ever undertaken: the total renovation of the famed Stadium Course at the TPC at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.  One of the PGA’s premier courses, the upgrade will entail movement of more than 65,000 tons of dirt to create a venue designed to improve spectators’ views during tournament play.  The $25 million project is expected to begin immediately after the 2006 Players Championship in March, 2006 and be completed before the year is out — a very aggressive schedule.

“This is an ideal situation for equipment like the site dumper,” Jordan says, “And Allan MacCurrach is confident that they will rise to the challenge.  As dealers, we realize there’s a certain amount of education that goes into introducing any kind of different technology — and we are prepared for that.  But we know the payback for new customers will definitely be there.”