Tips for Choosing the Best Heavy Equipment Options

With heavy equipment options, there’s a lot to know and understand — you may not realize what certain ones are or how they can help. That’s where we come in. While available options can vary by machine model and market, choosing the right setup also depends on how and where the machine will be used. That’s why it’s important to talk with your local Volvo CE dealer and let them see your jobsite firsthand. By doing this, we can act as an advisor, helping you select the right features for the specific types of work you do.

Here are some examples where a closer look at options can make all the difference.

Boost Efficiency and Productivity

• Fast Fuel Fill: Time is money, and if you have multiple machines that need to be fueled daily, this option is a game-changer. Instead of climbing on each machine and using a standard nozzle, the quick fill is a coupler system that allows a fuel truck to pump fuel directly and much faster. It also reduces the chance of introducing dirt into the fuel system, which helps prevent contamination (and likely downtime down the road).
• Downhill Speed Control: This is a fantastic feature for articulated dump trucks if you work on hilly terrain. It holds your speed automatically, taking the constant manual braking out of your operator’s hands.

• Operator Training: While heavy equipment operators don’t always want to read the manual, they still need quick answers. If an OEM offers an optional in-cab coaching app, it’s worth checking out. Operator Coaching via Volvo Load Assist actually comes standard on many loader models, but it’s still a great example of what I’m talking about here. It’s a convenient way for operators to quickly find information on controls or features, helping them feel more confident about their daily tasks.
• Long Boom on a Loader: A long boom provides additional dump height and reach, which is valuable in several applications, such as loading trucks with high sides or in waste and scrap handling. In these cases, the extra clearance or reach helps protect the machine and tires from potentially damaging materials. However, this configuration comes with a trade‑off in the form of reduced tipping load. For this reason, a long boom is typically recommended only when the additional height or reach is required for the application. If improved visibility of the bucket during fine grading is the priority, a grading bucket may be a better choice.

• Air Pre‑Cleaner Solutions: Air pre‑cleaners help filter the air entering the engine before it reaches the main air filters and can be effective in certain demanding environments. Today, cyclone‑type pre‑cleaners are generally recommended, as they are maintenance‑free and provide efficient air filtration, compared with oil‑bath pre‑cleaners, which require more frequent servicing. In fact, for articulated haulers, both oil‑bath and cyclone pre‑cleaners have been phased out, as the standard air intake systems are now highly effective on their own.
  For wheel loaders, both options are available, but oil‑bath air cleaners are primarily recommended for specific applications such as slag handling or other high‑temperature environments.
• Tailored High-Heat Slag Handlers: Steel mills are some of the harshest environments for both machine and operator, with conditions including extreme heat, toxic fumes and heavy dust. Purpose-built Volvo L150, L180, L220, L260 and L350H slag handlers provide the reliability, heat proofing and thermal protection needed to succeed in slag handling.
• Counterweights: If you add options like a larger bucket or a high tip bucket to a wheel loader or excavator, you may also need a larger counterweight in the back to balance your machine. Without it, a machine can quickly become unbalanced, which is unsafe for the operator and those around them.

Improve Operator Safety and Comfort

• Joysticks: Speaking of comfort, some high-end joysticks have numerous buttons and thumb wheels. This can be intimidating to an operator who doesn’t need all those functions. Just remember there are simpler joystick options available that may be a better fit for the job and make your operator more comfortable.
• Cameras and Smart View: When you’re operating a machine on a busy jobsite, blind spots are always a concern, and optional additional cameras should be a consideration. For example, systems like Volvo Smart View (which is standard on several models) use multiple cameras to provide a 360-degree view around your machine, eliminating blind spots. Some packages (like Smart View) can even differentiate between an object and a person and will alert the operator if something or someone is too close.

The bottom line is that a machine is more than just its basic specs. There’s a world of options available that can improve your crew’s safety, boost productivity and save you money in the long run.

From our perspective and across the Volvo dealer network, it’s not about upselling you on options. It’s about making sure the machine(s) you invest in get you what you need in the safest, most efficient manner. And the best way to know what you need is to have a conversation with your local Volvo CE dealer— let them see your operation and discuss your real-world needs. They can ensure you’re getting the right machine with the best options to help keep your business more profitable.