As humans, we have used compaction rollers for thousands of years in one form or another. As of the 21st century, we refer to the compaction roller as a steam roller, road roller or roller compactor amongst many other names; this reflects the history of this long existing machine and its general use throughout its development.
Within the following Surplus Record buyers guide, we shall cover some of the basics regarding how some of our available compaction rollers function and some of their primary purposes. Additionally, we shall include some tips and tricks to help with the purchase process of new and used rollers alongside some notes that buyers should be aware of when they are on the lookout for used rollers for sale.
What is a Compaction Roller and how does it work?
The name is quite self-explanatory in terms of what a compaction roller actually does. A compaction roller is an industrial automobile which is used to compress various materials such as soil, gravel, concrete, asphalt and more for purposes like road construction and foundations. A compaction roller is controlled by an operator who controls the direction of the roller by manually driving or pushing it. There are many variants of the roller although the basic idea always remains the same, the roller travels in a forward motion and uses the weight of the machine’s steel drum to compress the material by rolling over it. The variants of rollers most commonly seen available include double drum compaction rollers, single drum vibratory rollers, soil and landfill compactors, and combination rollers.
On the Surplus Record catalog one can view a range of used Compaction Rollers types from known manufacturers including:
Uses and Applications
Rollers are generally used for tasks such as:
- Compacting earth for construction purposes
- Smoothing out pavements and concrete
- Compacting and smoothening earth, soil, gravel, rock and asphalt for road construction purposes
- For landscaping purposes
Rollers are commonly found and used within:
- Road work businesses
- The mining and mineral industries
- Landscaping businesses
- Small to large construction projects
- Farms
- Private properties (generally with a lot of land)
Important Considerations Before Buying Used Compaction Rollers
Use and Maintenance history
Although the majority of compaction rollers are designed for very heavy use, the regular maintenance and proper use of the machine is important. Try to do a thorough background check on the piece of equipment before purchasing it by visually inspecting the machinery, viewing a service record or testing the machine out on the job, if possible.
Machine Type
There is quite the variety of different roller types available for purchase. These could include the list previously mentioned (double drum compaction rollers, single drum vibratory rollers, soil and landfill compactors, combination rollers) amongst many other options. Each roller type is better suited to a specific rolling task, for example:
- The double drum is a great asphalt flattener however it does lack traction for other more specialized works.
- The single drum is better suited to more specialized projects where the smaller size of the machine is advantageous. They prove to be excellent tools for pavement and highway works as well as for general construction purposes.
- The soil/landfill compactor can be utilized for moving materials (as there is generally a bucket/scraping attachment on the front of the machine) and compacting those found beneath the machine at the same time. This makes them very useful for landscaping and landfill works where it is commonly required for the operator to complete such tasks.
- The combination roller is the perfect option for all round light-duty purposes, due to its small size. They can be used by small businesses for concreting and construction purposes as well as for landscaping works.
Additional features
Many rollers will come with unique features to suit different levels of quality and comfort. These can include: airtight cabs with aircon/heating, walkie talkie systems, seat warmers, radios, rear and side view cameras, power control settings and more! An aircon unit would likely be most appealing for those rolling out in hotter climates like the South. Select a roller with additional features to suit the type of work you will be conducting. Do you roll regularly with heavy machine usage? Try an airtight cab. Do you roll more irregularly? Perhaps the features are not very important.
Surplus Record: Tips and Tricks
To assist further when searching for used Compaction Rollers for sale on our platform, we have attached our best tips and tricks.
- Make use of our location settings: At the top of the page, when on the list for your desired piece of equipment/machinery, enter your desired location and you’ll be taken directly to what we have available in your area.
- Look for an auction: On the listing page, select the blue checkbox on your right which says “Auction” and you’ll be taken to our available products for sale via auction.
- On a budget: Select the toggle “Sort by Relevance” and then click “Price low to high” to view our cheapest to most expensive products for sale.
- Don’t forget the search bar: Already know what you are looking for? Utilize our search bar at the top of the website to find specific listings out of hundreds available.
Quick Access: Compaction Rollers
- Holt CAT Heavy Machinery | Texas
- Foley Equipment | Kansas
- Wheeler Machinery | Utah
- Kelly Tractor | Florida
Quick Access: Industrial Roller Manufacturers
Our top manufactures available at Surplus Record for used rollers include:
Need More Help? Or further information about Compaction Rollers? Then head on over to the “Wanteds” section of our website and select “Buy” at the top and “General Equipment” for the industry. Fill out the form and a dealer who specializes in Roller Equipment/Machinery will get back to you ASAP. It’s free to do, and our dealers are happy to help!
