TWO Rokbak RA30 haulers are playing an important role in the largest ever pipe installation of its kind in Utah, America.
Contractor BHI has been tasked by Uintah Water Conservancy District to enclose a 78” High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe across a vast portion of the Steinaker Service Canal near the city of Vernal.
Due to a water shortage in recent years, the Uintah Water Conservancy District has been working to improve provision to the surrounding area. The existing channel is being converted into a pressurised pipeline to provide a firm water supply to land in the surrounding Ashley Valley, with the aim to minimise and eliminate loss of water through seepage and evaporation.
Upon completion, the canal enclosure will be the largest diameter HDPE pipe installation in the USA.
BHI is self-performing the entire scope of the project, which includes site preparations, excavation, pipe installation, backfill and restoration of the canal. The business needed articulated haulers that would be up to the challenge.
Rokbak dealer Rasmussen Equipment, of Salt Lake City, initially supplied two RA30s to BHI on a rental-purchase option. Rokbak said the haulers were received so positively that the purchase was completed before the end of the year.
The RA30s are tasked with transporting rock and rubble to excavate the area in order to install the pipe. Later they will support with the subsequent backfill.
“The RA30 is a top-performing machine,” said BHI operator Reese Shultz, who has clocked up over 2,000 hours alongside colleague Dustin Gardner in the two RA30s since work commenced in September. “It’s fuel efficient, powerful, and with features like the tailgate helping to maximise load retainage as well as multiple reverse gears enabling quick cycle times, it’s been designed for productivity.
“It also has excellent mobility, it’s relatively narrow which is hugely beneficial in confined job site spaces.”
Dustin Gardner explained that one of the first things he noticed was the ‘proper visibility’ from a ‘comfy seat, in a quiet cab and the HVAC system works really well’. He added, “It’s a real solid ride and it’s comfortable to operate over various ground conditions.”
Cushioned bump stops on the steering cylinders are designed to reduce strain on operators, while a 45° steering angle at either side creates a turning radius of just 27ft 9in.
The Steinaker Service Canal Enclosure project is due to run until April 2023.
