The debate on tracked vs. wheeled pavers has been around for a long time. There are many reasons why both types of machines excel, but there are also many reasons why one is more suited to a particular situation than the other.
Both types of machine have been around for a while, and the advancement of technologies has now led to the rubber tracks being improved considerably to give them a longer shelf life and better rideability that is much more similar to the wheels nowadays.
Wheeled Pavers are great for the mobility; they can offer quick job-to-job movement without actually having to haul the machine, which can be a key factor for some contractors. The speed of tracked machines used to let them down; however the speed has increased considerably over the years thanks to powerful separate drives fitted into the sprockets for crawler tracks on Vogele pavers. Engine output is now translated into pave speed with no loss of power making them much more desirable - as not only does it not take as long to complete a job, but it also does not take so long for pavers to be moved from site to site.
Vogele's Wheeled Pavers are highly manoeuvrable thanks to options such as pivot steer, giving them the ability to turn in very tight spaces without a fuss. In addition, Vogele's tracked pavers also have the maneuverability due to having electronically controlled separate drives installed in the sprockets of the crawler tracks, which permits constant straight movement and precise steering through curves. Overall, it can be said that both pavers can easily adapt to the varying situations they are presented with.
Wheeled pavers such as the Vogele 1803-3i that AP Pavers provide are best suited to overlay work on an existing surface. This is because there is a solid base to work on, and therefore the extra traction and flotation that a tracked paver provides is not necessary, and they will not become prone to getting stuck.
Long crawler tracks with large footprints provide for maximum tractive effort, more so than with wheels, allowing the tracked paver to progress well at a constant speed even when operating on difficult terrain. Tracked Pavers such as the Vogele 1800-3i are incredibly versatile, probably more versatile than the wheeled equivalent. Weight is spread evenly across the tracks; distributing the pressure across the paver, and therefore they perform better in soft sub-base conditions. On the other hand, great care must be taken when paving on soft surfaces with the wheeled counterpart so that it does not spin down into the material and get stuck.
The only real downside of the tracked machine is that the expense of the undercarriage is higher when it comes to the additional cost upfront and including any maintenance down the road; nevertheless the track style undercarriage gives the machine a very stable footprint, which in turn, normally transfers into a more consistent mat.
Ultimately, you can rely upon AP Pavers to provide you with your preference between these pavers. We have both tracked and wheeled, in a variety of sizes available for immediate hire. With over 30 years experience in this industry we can offer expert advice if you are unsure of which paver is better suited to your job, so that you can rest assured knowing that you have chosen the right machine to complete the job to the highest standard.