Long-Reach Excavators Impact Businesses

Roger Wilson (left) and David Barr

When David Barr and Roger Wilson arrive at a jobsite they are often reminded of the impact a single piece of equipment can have on a business.

For these Sterrett, Ala., excavating contractors, their high-production Bobcat® 341 excavators, purchased from Loader Services, Birmingham, have opened up new income-generating opportunities.

Keeping up with the builders

After spending most of his 25-year career doing general skid-steer loader work, Barr began installing sewer and water lines in new residential developments. At first he used a large, rubber-tired backhoe.

“As lot sizes began to shrink and access became more difficult, I figured there must be a better way to do these projects,” he says. “I was working for a developer that was building 400-500 garden homes a year, often with zero lot lines. The backhoe had a difficult time keeping up.”

Then Barr found the ideal machine for this type of work—a Bobcat 341 excavator. He purchased his first unit two years ago and added another last year.

“Production improved dramatically,” he says. “Instead of two or three installs a day, I can now do as many as eight. As a result, I can maintain a pace that fits the builder’s schedule. No more wasting time moving outriggers or doing a lot of repositioning. No more getting stuck in soft ground.

“With the 341 I can stay in one spot, spin around and dig from both directions,” Barr continues. “With the 20-ft. reach of the 341 it doesn’t take all that long to dig an 8-ft.-deep trench from the street to the home (25- to 40-ft.-long in most cases).”

Barr says the power, reach and digging depth of the 341 is ideal. “It’s the best machine for my type of work.”

Smaller and faster

More jobs and more productivity mean more profits. That’s the payoff a Bobcat 341 excavator is providing Roger Wilson. He’s the owner of R.C.W. Excavating, a company that specializes in home additions, basements and retaining walls.

During his 22 years in the business, Wilson has always had plenty of work. “However,” he says, “as lots became narrower and backyards smaller I began to lose jobs because my equipment was too large. I was using a 42,000 lb. trackhoe and it really limited the areas where I could work.”

He evaluated a number of compact excavators before choosing the long-reach 341. “As an owner of an 863 skid-steer loader I was familiar with the quality built into Bobcat products. Plus, the 341 offered better breakout power than other excavators in its size class.”

Once he started using the 341 on jobsites Wilson discovered several other features that validated his choice—easy-to-operate controls that are quick and responsive, comfortable enclosed cab, low machine weight and many attachment choices.

“The 20-ft. reach has been a big benefit,” he says. “It has allowed me to excavate additions behind houses where access is very limited. I haven’t found a site I can’t reach. In addition, I can now dig footings. That’s something I wasn’t able to do previously.

“The 341 enables me to do more work in less time. I couldn’t ask for a better excavator.”

Clamping Down

Both David Barr and Roger Wilson rely on the Bobcat® hydraulic clamp. They say it’s the ideal attachment for picking up all kinds of materials and odd-shaped objects. “At first I didn’t think I would use it,” says Barr. “Now I wouldn’t want to be without it. I use the clamp to unload pipe and lumber off trucks.” Adds Wilson: “The clamp is very handy. I use it to place rock when building retaining walls. You can’t beat this attachment.”