Scraper Hire

Scrapers are powerful machines that are typically used for mining, construction and agricultural projects. Scrapers are capable of hauling, loading, dumping and digging during complex earthmoving projects. While they may look similar to graders, scrapers differ by having a hopper and a gate with a blade at the bottom. As the blade scrapes up dirt or other materials when the machine moves forward, the material is forced into the hopper. Once the hopper is completely full, the material is taken away to be disposed of.

Check out more info on scraper hire here.

The scraper hire you opt for will largely depend on a few variables. The size and scope of your project, as well as the surface you’re scraping, are going to drastically impact the scraper you hire. There are four main types of scrapers for hire in Australia - these include:

• Elevating scraper hire
• Single engine wheeled scraper hire
• Dual engine wheeled scraper hire
• Pull type scraper hire

The most common scraper hire option is the single-engine wheeled scraper. This machine is perfect for basic earthmoving applications, although an added effort is required to operate it as more often than not, you will be required to not only pull the tractor but you will be required to push the trailer as well in order to gain enough force and momentum to rip up tough soil. Elevating scrapers are ideal for removing dirt and soil as well as mixing, homogenising and completing fine finished works. Pull type scrapers are just as the name suggests, an unpowered trailer that needs to be fitted to a tractor in order to be propelled.

Check out more info on the perfect scraper for your project here.

In Australia, you aren’t currently required to obtain a license to operate a scraper. However, if you’re looking to use the machine in a professional setting, the person conducting or undertaking business on the worksite must determine whether you’re competent in operating the machine.

Learn more about licensing and necessary scraper skills here.

Scraper hire rates in Australia can fluctuate depending on the size of the machine you’re hiring, whether you need an operator and how long the project is scheduled for. Check out the average scraper hire rates below:

• Elevating Scraper Hire - Wet hire $205.00 - Dry hire - $175.00
• Open Bowl - Wet hire - $270.00 - Dry hire - $240.00
• Open Bowl Twin Power - Wet hire $280.00 - Dry hire $250.00

For a more detailed breakdown check out our Rates content higher up the page.

In short, yes - there are some other machines used throughout the agricultural, mining and construction industries that effectively do the same job as a Scraper. However, they’re not anywhere near as efficient. If you had an excavator, skid steer loader, backhoe, bulldozer, motor grader or trencher at your disposal, it’s likely you could achieve similar results to scraper hire. However, using 3 machines will cost you more, take longer, and look pretty silly.

Learn more about machine options here.

There are a number of reliable scraper manufacturers in Australia, although three stand out from the rest. All three of these options are tried and tested in Australian conditions - the most common brands you’ll see across construction sites in Australia include:

• Caterpillar
• K-Tec
• John Deere

Learn more about the best scraper brands by clicking here.

iseekplant has a nationwide network of quality scraper hire suppliers operating in all Australian capital cities from Brisbane to Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne to Darwin, Perth and Adelaide. We also offer scraper hire solutions in all major towns and cities from Cairns down to Townsville, Mackay, Toowoomba, Ballarat, and then across the country to Geraldton and Mandurah.

Scrapers remove unnecessary dirt, gravel and other materials from surfaces. The scraper's advantage over other earthmoving machines is it's capability for moving wet soil, heavy soil and other tough soil conditions. It can not only scrape, but also dig, haul, load and dump. A scraper uses less fuel than any other earthmoving machine - 30% less with improved transmission. Construction and mining jobs can use scrapers, though they have a disadvantage moving on rough terrain. You can apply a range of scraper attachments to offset this disadvantage.

A basic scraper consists of a gated wagon with a blade for the bottom. The wagon pushes forward while the blade scrapes material, forcing it into the wagon. When the wagon fills up, the gate closes and it's time to carry and dump the material somewhere else. The best way to imagine this is like a carpenter's plane as it shaves off wood. A scraper can either be self-propelled or towed.