Scraper that thinks it’s a grader

by Nick Drew | Sun 12 Apr 2015

Scraper that thinks it’s a grader

Every now and then a product comes along as a result of somebody trying to re-invent the wheel. This latest example captured on video was highlighted to me by our good Swedish friends Robert Carlsson and Uffe Dahlman.

Based in Irvine, California, Brent Engineering Inc, is a multi-faceted business which is primarily engaged in large civil engineering works, both in the private and public sectors. In support of this side of things the company also has a design and engineering division, which manufactures bespoke speciality equipment, not only for use on their own jobs but also for other clients. One of its latest creations is a motor scraper conversion to a grader, based on what appears to be a Caterpillar 637G model. This strange machine which bears the model number S18G is seen in action in this video from Socal Earthmovers. [youtube width="725" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeJ7ZG4GFVc[/youtube] Looking at this video I did beg the question as to why they thought this would be a good idea, but I can only imagine that it’s been designed with good reason for a specific task. After watching the footage my first thought was to compare the machine to the massive Raygo “Giant” which was first launched back in 1969. This machine which weighed in around 106,000lbs had two 318hp GM diesel engines on board, one at the rear and one up front. Although a Giant by name the idea never really took off. Where these machines differ to the Brent Engineering S18G, is that they still resemble the conventional grader styling with a rear mounted forward facing cab set-up.

The only other comparison to this machine would be the enormous Italian built ACCO motor grader. This one of a kind machine was built by Italian contractor Umberto Acco. It was proposed to be used in a massive contract out in Libya which sadly never came to fruition. This giant took its power from two Caterpillar engines which offered a total power output of 1,700hp.

Sadly the ACCO grader has since been cut up for scrap, having stood redundant for over 30 years, it is however survived by its sister machine the giant ACCO dozer which was also designed and built around the same time and was destined to go to the same job in Libya.

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