Choosing the right unit

Choosing the Right Truck: Your Guide to Non-Destructive Digging (NDD) Equipment

When it comes to non-destructive digging (NDD) trucks also known as hydro excavation trucks or vacuum excavation trucks, selecting the right machine to purchase is crucial for efficiency and cost of operations.. 

At Vacvator, we have supplied the hydrovac excavation industry with quality, robust Australian-built vacuum excavation trucks since 2006.

Hydro excavation trucks provide a safer and more precise alternative to traditional mechanical digging methods, using high-pressure air or water to dislodge the soil matter and vacuum to remove the spoil quickly and neatly. Below, we detail the capabilities of various truck models to help you choose the right truck for your specific industry needs.

Model Overview: Task-Specific Features

1. 4000 NDD Series

The smaller truck footprint makes this unit manoeuvrable in tight spots whilst still maintaining the highly productive performance of larger Vacvator units.

Industries: Start ups, Water, Waste Water & Sewer Utilities; HDD Contractors; Roads; Refineries; Electrical Infrastructure; Telecommunications; 

• Key Tasks and features:
  • Potholing and trenching utilities
  • General site cleaning
  • Safe installations and excavations around sensitive infrastructure
  • Telecommunications including clean pits and manholes
  • Pit removals

2. 8000 NDD Series

Vacvators purpose built, high performing large, volume NDD truck is designed for productivity for serious users

Industries: Water, Waste Water & Sewer Utilities; HDD Contractors; Roads; Refineries; Electrical Infrastructure; Mine Sites & Crushing Plants

• Key Tasks and features:
  • Comprehensive utility locating and potholing
  • High capacity and performance for handling large or complex jobs
  • Large volume cleanup work
  • Small footprint with reduced turning circle, maximising manoeuvrability 
  • Quiet operation at 82dba at -28hg

3. 8000 Duo-Jet

This dual purpose truck delivers NDD as well as drain cleaning capabilities

Industries: Water, Waste Water & Sewer Utilities; HDD Contractors; Roads; Refineries; Electrical Infrastructure; Mine Sites & Crushing Plants

• Key Tasks:
  • NDD and high pressure drain cleaning
  • Comprehensive utility locating and potholing
  • High capacity for handling large or complex jobs
  • Includes a 250 ltr jetting pump at 2200psi and a specialised hose reel for drain cleaning up to 1.5 m diameter pipes, making it also suitable for tasks that require powerful jetting and drain maintenance.
  • 180 mtrs of high pressure jetting hose for those long pulls

4. 8000 Duo-Dry

Designed to give the operator the option to excavate with air, delivering the spoil into the tank as dry material

Industries: Water, Waste Water & Sewer Utilities; HDD Contractors; Electrical Infrastructure

• Key Tasks and features :
  • Wet and dry excavation, go from high pressure air to water at the flick of a switch.
  • Handle large volumes of fine dry material through Vacvators unique reverse pulse filter cleaning system
  • Suitable for delicate operations that require dry conditions
  • Efficient in potholing for soil testing and dry material clean-up

5. 6000 Combo

Vacvator has combined the capabilities of its standard NDD, Duo Jet and Duo Dry into one multifunctional truck

Industries: Mine site and Tier One ready, Water, Waste Water & Sewer Utilities; Roads; Refineries; Electrical Infrastructure and large scale construction

• Key Tasks and features:
  • 6000 ltr spoil and 5000 ltr water
  • Versatile combination unit in both wet and dry applications using high pressure water or air at the flick of a switch
  • Includes High pressure water jetting for effective water main repairs and clean-outs
  • Ideal for comprehensive excavation tasks
  • Manage large volumes of fine dry material

6. 9000 Combo

The flagship of the Vacvator fleet, the TMC90-500BPJ has been designed to provide brut strength and performance to handle the toughest of jobs, in the worst of conditions to get the job done.

Industries: Large-Scale Construction; Mining; Major Infrastructure Projects. 

• Key tasks and features 
• 9000 ltr spoil tank, 5000 ltr water
• Performs large-scale non-destructive digging (NDD) and dry vacuum excavation, suitable for expansive and open sites
• Wet and dry excavation, go from high pressure air to water at the flick of a switch.
• Handle large volumes of fine dry material through Vacvators unique reverse pulse, cleaning filter cleaning system
• Filter and Cyclone self cleaning purge system
• Includes a 345 ltr jetting pump at 2450psi and a specialised hose reel for drain cleaning up to 2.5m diameter pipes, making it also suitable for big jobs that require powerful jetting and drain maintenance.
• Provides substantial volume handling with advanced filtration, perfect for high-demand excavation and material management

When selecting a hydro excavation truck, consider the following factors to ensure you get the model that best fits your operational needs:

• Task Requirements: Evaluate what specific tasks the truck will be used for i.e. potholing, trenching, or clean-up operations.
• Industry Demands: Different industries may require unique capabilities such as handling dry materials in telecommunications or heavy debris in mining.
• Truck Capacity and Efficiency: Larger models like the 6000, 8000 and 9000 series provide more power and capacity, benefiting extensive heavy-duty operations.
• Versatility and Adaptability: Consider trucks that offer versatility in wet and dry conditions, especially if your projects vary in scope and requirements.

Choosing the right hydro excavation truck involves understanding your industry needs and the projects you take on. By selecting an NDD truck that aligns with your operational requirements, you can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure safety on the job site.

For more information or to discuss your specific needs, contact us here or visit our office at 107 Cathcart Street, Goulburn NSW 2580.