Across heavy construction and large-scale earthmoving, the crawler excavator has earned its reputation as a true workhorse. Its ability to dig, lift, and push through tough ground makes it a core machine on major mining and construction projects throughout New Zealand.
Across heavy construction and large-scale earthmoving, the crawler excavator has earned its reputation as a true workhorse. Tracks let it go where other equipment can’t, and its ability to dig, lift, and push through tough ground makes it a core machine on major mining and construction projects throughout New Zealand.
Porter Group has supplied reliable crawler excavators to New Zealand contractors for decades. That experience gives us a solid understanding of why crawlers perform the way they do and what sets them apart from other machines.
Crawler excavators run on a tracked undercarriage instead of wheels. This changes how the machine behaves on the ground. Tracks spread weight across a larger surface area. So, the excavator can stay stable and controlled on soft, uneven, or sloped terrain.
This design works particularly well with a higher operating weight, giving the crawler the footing it needs on challenging ground. It's a key difference from wheeled excavators, which rely on tyres for support and perform best on firm, sealed surfaces.
Here are some of the other areas that set tracked excavators apart:
Crawler excavators deliver high digging force, strong breakout power, and the ability to work at depth without losing control.
They’re ideal for bulk earthmoving, trenching in hard ground, formation cuts, and other demanding applications where performance needs to stay consistent from the first bucket to the last.
The machine’s weight is spread evenly across the tracks, which keeps it predictable under heavy loads. Operators get steadier, more controlled movement when lifting or placing material, even when the machine isn’t sitting on perfectly level ground.
That stability is especially useful when loading trucks on uneven surfaces, where control is everything.
Crawler excavators can run buckets, rippers, breakers, grabs, and other attachments used across civil and earthmoving work. Being able to switch tools quickly lets crews dig, break, clear, or handle material without interrupting the operation.
This versatility can boost site productivity, improve efficiency, and keep work moving on projects where the tasks change often throughout the day.
Crawlers are engineered for long hours in tough conditions. Their heavy-duty frames, reinforced components, and strong undercarriages are built to handle dust, mud, rock, and remote locations.
Newer models also use advanced technology to manage heat and reduce wear, helping them stay reliable over demanding shifts.
Crawler excavators aren’t the right fit for every project, but there are situations where they clearly outperform wheeled excavators. They make the most sense when:
Porter Group supplies a full range of crawler excavators across new, used, and hire fleets. Each model can be matched to your project specifications, so you get a crawler that performs exactly the way you need it to.
As one of New Zealand's leading suppliers, we back every excavator with local service, genuine parts, a full suite of attachments, and flexible finance options. These support systems help manage costs, maximise uptime, and give operators the safety and control they need on challenging sites.
Need help comparing models or choosing the crawler excavator with the right features for your next project? Contact us today!
