Newest Half/Pack small but maneuverable

Dec. 1, 2007
The newest member of the Heil Environmental family of Half/Pack front loaders is also the smallest. Heil offers a 20-cubic-yard Half/Pack on a single-axle

The newest member of the Heil Environmental family of Half/Pack front loaders is also the smallest. Heil offers a 20-cubic-yard Half/Pack on a single-axle chassis with a tag axle.

A standard 28-cubic-yard Half/Pack front loader has a wheelbase of 210 inches — the 20-yarder's wheelbase is just 185 inches. The smaller unit retains the 12-cubic-yard hopper, curved body, patented clamp-on arms and interlaced subframe of the larger models. It is a full-eject unit with a flat tailgate featuring Heil's Shur-Lock hydraulic tailgate lock system. Shur-Lock enables the vehicle operator to unlock the tailgate, discharge the load, and then secure the tailgate, all without leaving the vehicle cab.

Because of its small size, the 20-yd Half/Pack is exempt from federal excise tax. This exemption provides private buyers the equivalent of a 12 percent price reduction.

Heil developed the smaller model in response to a request from Allied Waste Services. Allied needed a single-axle front loader because local ordinances of some cities in which it operates forbid the use of tandem-axle vehicles, in order to reduce wear on the streets. To comply with these ordinances, Allied uses its new 20-yd Heil Half/Pack front loaders for residential collection.

The city of Laredo TX has also purchased two of the small Half/Pack front loaders as part of a pilot project it is conducting to improve commercial collection downtown.

For more information, visit www.heil.com.