What is the difference between a tandem roller and a soil compactor?
Tandem rollers and soil compactors are both types of compaction rollers used to compact different types of materials. However, they're designed for slightly different purposes. Understanding whether you need a tandem roller or soil compactor is pivotal for ensuring you have the right machinery to create the supportive surface your construction project requires.
Tandem rollers and soil compactors are both types of compaction rollers used to compact different types of materials. However, they're designed for slightly different purposes. Understanding whether you need a tandem roller or soil compactor is pivotal for ensuring you have the right machinery to create the supportive surface your construction project requires.
Tandem rollers: From 1 to 17 ton
With two smooth steel drums, a JCB tandem roller is designed to compact asphalt. However, it sometimes also gets used to compact soil. As a result, a tandem roller is designed to compact area, not volume.
Soil compactors: From 7 to 21 ton
On the other hand, a soil compactor has a front steel drum (smoother for granular soils and padfoot for cohesive soils) and a rear axle with rubber tyres. This makes it ideal for compacting volume, not area.