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The price for a pull scraper system is significantly less than for a self-propelled scraper. "You are between 50% to 70% less, depending upon your configuration," says Brad League, Bennington Equipment.

You also need to factor depreciation into the equation. All new equipment will depreciate a lot initially. "When you have a three-quarters of a million dollar machine that depreciates 30%, that is a lot bigger than a $300,000 machine when it depreciates by 30%," League asserts.

There are also substantial differences in operating costs. "There have been many fuel consumption tests to verify that tractor-scraper combinations use less fuel than motor wheel scrapers," says Mike McCrory, Miskin Scraper Works. "There are several factors that account for the difference in operating cost. But I suppose the main factor is the contractor is hauling a much larger payload with less horsepower."

One power unit can pull a scraper train with a large earthmoving capacity. "A tractor-scraper combination requires one operator and can pull as many as three scrapers yielding anywhere from 30 to 60 cu. yds. of material, without the need for any support equipment," says James Hausner, Reynolds International.

The trade-off is that a self-propelled scraper places more horsepower to the ground. This can be a benefit in very hard soil conditions.