Questions we are asked
What road and civil contractors ask us before they choose a roller.
Price
How much does a used road roller from China cost?+
Ours run from USD 26,000 for the seven ton Dynapac to USD 33,000 for the 22 ton XCMG, as they stand at Qingdao. All three are under 1,300 hours.
What is the cheapest roller you have for sale?+
The Dynapac CC211 at USD 26,000. It is a seven ton double drum machine with a German Deutz engine and 823 hours, which makes it the lowest priced machine anywhere in our stock.
Why is a used roller cheaper than a used excavator?+
A roller is a simpler machine with far less hydraulics in it, and it works at low engine load, so it wears more slowly. That combination keeps both the purchase price and the running cost down.
Is a road roller a good first machine to buy?+
For a contractor moving into ownership it often is, because the price is low, the maintenance is straightforward and road and civil work provides steady demand for one.
Single drum or double drum
What is the difference between a single drum and a double drum roller?+
A single drum has one smooth or padded drum at the front and wheels at the back, and it compacts soil and base layers. A double drum has smooth drums front and back and is built for finishing asphalt.
Which roller do I need for asphalt?+
A double drum machine. Two smooth drums pass over the mat evenly and leave a finished surface, whereas a single drum will leave you chasing the finish and reworking sections.
Which roller do I need for road base and subgrade?+
A single drum, and the heavier the better if your layers are deep. That is the work our 22 ton and 14 ton XCMG machines are built for.
Should I buy a 14 ton or a 22 ton roller?+
If your contract specifies deep lifts or you are compacting fill on a highway job, take the 22 ton. If you are doing yard bases, smaller roads and pipeline backfill, the 14 ton does the work for less money and ships for less too.
Buying and shipping
How is a road roller shipped overseas?+
A seven ton roller fits inside a container, which makes it the cheapest machine we sell to ship. Larger rollers travel on a flat rack or a bulk vessel because the drum will not pass through a container door.
Is a roller cheap to ship compared to other machines?+
The small ones are the cheapest thing in our stock to move, because they box up. The heavy single drum machines cost more, and their weight matters as much as their size when the freight is worked out.
How many hours can a used roller take before it is worn out?+
Rollers work at low engine load, so hour counts that would worry you on an excavator are still early life on a roller. What matters more is the drum surface, the bearings and the vibration system.
Can you supply several rollers for a road contract?+
Yes, and equipping a road contract with more than one machine is normal work for us. Ordering together usually improves the price per machine and the freight.
