The Tail of Two Swings

By Allison Grettenberg

Photos by Develon

When stocking your rental fleet, you might face a critical inventory decision: the balance between conventional tail swing crawler excavators and the versatile reduced tail swing models. Choosing the right mix is a strategic decision that directly impacts your fleet utilization rates, customer safety and overall success.

This article details the differences between these two machine configurations and the technological features that make them safer so you can take the most informed approach to stocking your rental fleet.

The Counterweight Difference

The primary difference between these two excavator types is the design of the rear counterweight and how it manages space during a swing. Conventional models feature a rear counterweight profile that extends a few feet past the tracks when the upper house swings, resulting in a wider swing radius but providing better balance.

“These machines are great for heavy lifting, digging on slopes or working on uneven terrain where stability is needed,” says Brian Kim, heavy excavator product manager at Develon. “Conventional tail swing excavators often have larger maximum dig depth and longer reach for lifting heavy loads or digging with a larger bucket.”

RTS excavators are designed with a smaller counterweight, which extends slightly beyond the tracks when the upper house swings. This design means operators can swing the machine without worrying about the rear profile colliding with nearby objects, structures or traffic in tight quarters.

Three Key Questions to Ask

When customers are at your rental center, selecting the right excavator means matching the machine’s strengths to their job’s needs. Kim recommends asking these three questions:

1. How tight is the work area and how close will operators be to obstacles? If operators are working in alleys, next to a building or on the side of a busy road, the reduced tail swing model is ideal. Its design allows them to swing close to obstacles without contact, helping them complete the job efficiently and safely. Conventional models are best for open sites like a quarry operation or a large construction site where there is more room.

2. What kind of stability and balance do operators need?
If the work involves lifting heavy loads, excavating material or operating on a grade or loose soil, the conventional model provides better counterweight distribution and enhanced stability, ensuring safety and confidence during operation. It would likely win out in this scenario.

3. Do operators need maximum digging, lifting or reach capacity for this job?

For jobs that need a deep dig depth or involve lifting heavy loads, the conventional excavator is the best choice. Reduced tail swing models have better maneuverability in tight quarters.

Safety Considerations

Regardless of tail swing type, a safe jobsite is an efficient job site. Modern crawler excavators, especially in the rental market, are equipped with advanced technology that enhances visibility and operator confidence.

“Being safe on job sites really starts with visibility first and foremost because operators can only avoid what they know is there or what the machine can detect,” says Kim.

Consider equipping your excavators with advanced rental fleet safety technology to address operator blind spots:

● Camera Systems: At minimum, machines should have rear view and sideview cameras to cover the biggest blind spots: directly behind the machine and to the right where the boom often blocks the view.
● Around View Monitor (AVM) Systems: These systems stitch together images from multiple cameras to create a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the excavator and its surroundings.
● Object Detection: Moving beyond simple cameras, ultrasonic or radar-based sensors are mounted around the machine to detect obstacles and provide audible and visual alerts. These are useful in low-light conditions or when camera lenses are dirty.

Next-generation systems are moving toward AI-powered human detection.

“There are some detection systems that will recognize the shape and movement of a person, not just an object, and trigger a warning if they enter a defined danger zone around the machine,” says Kim. “This technology helps improve productivity, as the operator can work more confidently, swing faster and position the machine more accurately.”

Rental Center Support

Safety technology is only effective if customers know how to use it. That’s why it’s important that rental staff help with the following:
● Pre-Delivery Walk-Throughs: Demonstrate the key safety and control systems, covering how alerts work, how to toggle camera views and how to adjust sensitivity levels.
● In-Cab Resources: Provide small laminated quick start guides in the cab that cover basic operation and safety features.
● Support and Documentation: Provide ongoing support. Every machine should contain manuals that detail operational and safety procedures.

Don’t just guess what to stock. Balance your fleet based on what local contractors need.

“If a branch is in a busy city, they’ll carry a higher percentage of RTS models,” says Kim. “If they’re serving highway construction, they’ll have more conventional excavators on hand. Rental centers aim for high excavator utilization rates, and minimizing downtime is critical for the profitability of the business and the success of their customers.”

Choosing the right mix of conventional and reduced tail swing excavators puts you directly in control of your rental center’s profitability and utilization. By strategically balancing your inventory and using these tips to guide your customers, you can confidently recommend the excavator that delivers the right power and stability or maneuverability and compactness.

Allison Grettenberg is PR and content strategy supervisor with Two Rivers Marketing, Des Moines, Iowa.