Pull Scrapers Upcoming Auctions

About Pull Scrapers

Pull scrapers, also called “pan scrapers,” “earth scrapers,” or “pull pans,” slice off layers of soil like a carpenter’s plane shaves wood. They’re commonly used for excavation, grading, landscaping, finishing, or leveling purposes, as well as for hauling and spreading dirt. Typically, an industrial or agricultural tractor, articulated dump truck, or other powerful vehicle tows the scraper behind it, in contrast to a self-propelled motor scraper. During the cut, the material is collected in a hopper (called the “bowl,” “bucket,” or “pan”) for transport, and can be unloaded and spread out at the fill part of the cycle.

Pull scrapers can weigh thousands of pounds, with capacities ranging from just a few cubic yards on up to 63 cubic yards (48 cubic meters) in the case of K-Tec’s giant 1263 ADT. Many have rear hitches and can pull other scrapers behind them to operate in tandem or in a train. The many users of pull scrapers include construction companies, earthmoving contractors, mining operations, feed lots, and farmers.

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K-Tec 1233 Pull Scraper

Pull Scraper Types

There are two main families of carrier-style pull scrapers. The ejector style uses a hydraulic ejector sometimes called a “pushoff wall” to shove out material during the unloading phase. John Deere says this style is better for wet, sticky soil, although it can be used for dry, loose material as well.

A dump scraper, also called a “carry-all scraper,” uses a hydraulic cylinder to overturn or pivot its bowl to dump out its contents. Deere says this style of scraper works best for light, loose material and sandy soils, as it doesn’t have an active ejector to push out sticky residue.

Most pull scrapers are of the direct mount or drawbar type, which have one gang of wheels in the rear. Direct-mount models put weight on the tractor’s rear tires, improving traction in slick conditions. On the other hand, wagon-style or dolly scrapers ride on front and rear sets of wheels that carry the full weight of the scraper.

Some pull scrapers are optimized for top-loading, in which an excavator fills the bowl from above. In a top-loading operation, the scraper basically plays the role of a dump trailer as it conveys and ejects its contents before heading back to the loading area.

Other variations include a dirt pan scraper, which attaches to and is raised and lowered by a tractor’s three-point hitch, and a drag or bottomless style with little or no bowl volume. In contrast to the carrier style of pull scraper (one with a bowl), a bottomless unit is used for leveling and finish grading rather than hauling dirt.

Trends In Pull Scrapers

The earliest versions of pull scrapers were horse- and mule-drawn equipment descended from the buckboard. James Porteous’ efforts in the mid-1880s culminated in the advanced Fresno Scraper, named for the immigrant inventor’s new home city in California. After World War I, Robert Gilmour “R.G.” LeTourneau developed more effective pull scrapers and also motor scrapers for several decades.

In the mid-1940s, Caterpillar helped to advance pull scrapers significantly by incorporating hydraulics. Although motor scrapers eventually became the predominant choice among users by the 1990s, pull scrapers have made a comeback in recent years due to the cost advantages they offer over motor scrapers, including better fuel efficiency and lower purchase prices. Additionally, advancements in agricultural tractors in terms of power and speed have made pull scrapers a more viable choice.

Today, some pull scrapers fold up to reduce their transport width, and a few can be towed lengthwise from one end. Some have axles that can be split for better tracking on slopes and contours.

Many new scrapers support laser or GPS receivers and valve upgrades for precision grade control systems. Deere’s AutoLoad system, meanwhile, automates blade height adjustments for single or tandem scrapers, resulting in a more consistent and level surface.

Find The Right Pull Scraper

You’ll find a huge variety of new and used pull scrapers for sale on MachineryTrader.com from manufacturers past and present, including Ashland, Caterpillar, Deere, K-Tec, Reynolds, and Rome, among others.