We sell both brands and take both in on trade, so we see what holds up and what comes back broken. This is the class-by-class, spec-by-spec comparison we give buyers who ask which one is right for the work they actually do.

What size directional drill do you need? It is a buying question disguised as a technical one. This guide maps job type to size class (mini, utility-mid, mid-heavy, heavy) with verified pullback ranges and example used models, explains the specs that matter, flags the rock exception, and shows how to avoid the costly over- and under-buying traps.

The most misleading model name in HDD, fully decoded: the 40 is torque, not pullback; the Series II pulls 24,000 lb while the current S3 pulls 28,000 lb (making the Ditch Witch JT28 its real peer, not the JT40); and the new Vermeer D24 is a different machine entirely. Generation-by-generation specs, Vermeer-sourced inspection points, and real used pricing from both generations on our lot.