A slinger truck is a specialized vehicle designed to deliver and place aggregate materials as well as soil, mulch, sand and more. What makes them unique is the high-speed conveyor belt system built into the truck. This conveyor allows operators to throw or ‘sling’ materials exactly where they’re needed, often in areas that are difficult to access with traditional equipment. The slinger unit is typically controlled by an operator using a wireless remote control system. Some older models have operating stations with manual controls for this.
Unlike standard dump trucks that simply dump materials in a pile, slinger trucks can spread materials in a controlled and precise manner, reducing the need for manual labor and additional equipment. A good slinger operator can save a lot of time on a job by accurately placing or spreading materials, reducing the need for additional equipment.
What Types of Jobs Are Slinger Trucks Used For?
Slinger trucks are all about precision and efficiency. Here’s what they’re commonly used for:
- Backfilling Foundations
- Once a foundation is poured, it needs to be backfilled with drain rock and other material. The rear of a home can be difficult to access, making this a challenging job. Slinger trucks can throw material over the foundation and backfill it, reducing the manual labor required.
- Efficient Spreading
- Slinger trucks can efficiently broadcast material over a large area. This is ideal for jobs where there isn’t a machine on site to move material around. Basically, the truck can do the job of a truck and a machine, which can save time and reduce costs on some projects.
- Landscaping
- This is another area where slingers excel. Trying to load mulch, soil or other landscaping materials into various garden beds and different areas can be labor intensive. A slinger can often throw the material accurately to where it is needed.
- Drainage Projects
- Perimeter drains, French drains and curtain drains can be good projects for slinger trucks. Often large quantities of drain rock or crushed stone need to be spread into a long ditch. A slinger truck makes short work of this kind of thing.
There are many other applications for these useful tools, but I think you get the point. In a nutshell, slinger trucks can easily put material where other trucks and machines can not. This can save you money on manual labor and machine time.
Ready to hire a slinger truck for your next project in Victoria, BC?
Slinger Truck Advantages
Slinger trucks offer several key advantages over traditional methods of material handling:
- Speed and Efficiency
- They place materials faster than manual methods, reducing project timelines.
- Cost Savings
- Slinger trucks act as a truck and a spreading machine. With less need for manual labor and additional machinery, slinger trucks help lower overall project costs.
- Accessibility
- Their ability to reach tight or otherwise inaccessible spaces makes them ideal for challenging sites.
- Precision
- Minimized material waste and more accurate placement mean you get the job done right the first time.
Slinger Truck Disadvantages
While slingers are incredibly useful for many applications, there are some downfalls to using a slinger. The first is up-front cost. While they can save money in the long haul, they are considerably more expensive than a dump truck. It’s important to understand your costs if you’re going to use a slinger to be sure that it’s the best call for your project.
Second, they’re inherently complex. Dump trucks have only a lift cylinder, whereas slinger trucks have dozens of moving parts. Multiple material chutes, complex hydraulics and a conveyor belt with rollers and bearings make a slinger more prone to failure than a dump truck.
Conclusion
Slinger trucks are an invaluable tool for many commercial excavation projects. They save time, reduce costs, and ensure materials are delivered with pinpoint accuracy. Whether you’re prepping a foundation, backfilling a trench, or tackling a large-scale landscaping job, slinger trucks can make the process faster and more efficient. Their increase in popularity over the last decade speaks to how versatile these trucks are on a jobsite.
Want to bring in a slinger truck for your next commercial project? We have a state of the art slinger that is ready to roll onto your job site and get the job done. Contact Erdem Excavating today to talk more about hiring our slinger truck.
