HAULING As the name implies, rear-eject bodies use an ejector blade to discharge material. HAUL TRUCK OF ALL TRADES How rear-eject equipment offers increased versatility for aggregate applications I 28 BY JOSH SWANK n aggregate, as in any industry, selecting the right tool for the job is the key to efficient operation. Using a screwdriver to hammer in a nail might work, eventually, but only after a lot of wasted effort. For a number of primary applications, such as drilling, screening or hauling ore, single-purpose machines help producers maximize productivity and output by doing one task and doing it well. When it comes to support equipment, though, the solution lies in a multi-tool. While select underground operations realize the value of rear-eject haul trucks for moving ore, many large-scale pro-ducers might consider these machines a one-trick pony – suitable for haul road maintenance, but not much else. Rear-eject bodies, however, offer a number of productivity-enhancing benefits. And when paired with the PIT&QUARRY February 2021 right combination of attachments, they can revolutionize applications such as reclamation, haul road maintenance, stemming and more. KEEPING IT LEVEL In certain underground applications, including aggregate, gold, oil shale or salt, rear-eject haul trucks are an essential link in the production line. Producers simply drive the vehicle in, load and return to the surface. This much could be done with a traditional end-dump vehicle, if size allows. But it’s the next step – offloading – that sets the rear-eject apart in terms of productivity. As the name implies, rear-eject bodies use an ejector blade to discharge material. Without moving or raising the truck bed, the blade pushes material toward the rear of the truck. As the blade moves to the rear of the body, the unit’s tailgate lowers. To reduce maintenance and the risk of breakdown, some rear-eject models incorporate the tailgate mechanism in the sides of the body. These units use simple mechanics, supplemented by gravity, to lower the tailgate without the need for additional hydraulic cylinders. Some manufacturers also design their rear-eject bodies to feature a unique sweeping action that virtually eliminates carryback – even with materials prone to sticking to the sides or floor of the truck bed. This effective dumping action makes rear-ejects an ideal solution for increased productivity in a number of challenging hauling applications. When considering the efficiency benefits of a rear-eject body in hauling, time savings is probably the most obvi-ous. It takes roughly 12 seconds for an end-dump body to lift, a few seconds for the material to flow out, and another seven seconds to drop back down. With a rear-eject, there is no need to lift the body, saving producers at least 19 seconds per offload. The rear-eject’s stationary body also pitandquarry.com ALL IMAGES: PHILIPPI-HAGENBUCH
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