Compact Excavators

Compact excavators carry more than their weight

The phrase "mini excavator" does a good job of making a serious piece of construction equipment sound like a toy - it's no wonder some manufacturers prefer the term "compact excavator." Whichever term is used, these machines are becoming popular in a wide range of applications, from utility work to demolition to landscaping.

A compact excavator consists of a cab, dual bulldozer-like tracks or treads, a boom arm, and an attachment.

• The cab, where the operator sits, is usually open to the elements - often it's no more than a seat and a canopy on top of the engine and hydraulic system. compact excavator cabs can pivot 360° on top of the tracks.
• The tracks can be either steel or rubber. Steel is more durable and provides good traction on loose dirt. However on pavement or landscaped areas, rubber tracks do a much better job at reducing surface damage: a rubber-tracked compact excavator can drive right over a curb without crushing it. Therefore, rubber tracks are far more popular.
• The boom is what moves the attachment around. Many compact excavators offer "boom offset," which allows the entire arm to move left or right of center. This allows the excavator to dig a trench parallel to its own tracks, which is much more efficient than having to reposition the machine constantly, and to work in tight quarters next to existing walls or structures.
• The attachment does the actual work. Most excavators come with a standard bucket - a toothed scoop for digging into dirt or gravel - but can support many other types of attachments. In fact, some compact excavators use the same "quick attach" couplers as skid steer loaders, allowing you to share attachments between the two. Other common attachments included augurs, thumbs (pinching/gripping tools) and hydraulic hammers.

Compact excavators range in size from under two tons to over six tons. That may seem like a lot, until you consider that a full-sized backhoe can easily weigh 25 tons. In addition, the track system spreads their weight out very well, allowing them to work well on loose or muddy terrain.

There are a couple of different ways to determine the size excavator you need. Since one of the primary advantages of a compact excavator is its ability to fit in tight spaces, one basic consideration is the physical size of the machine. Measure any narrow gates or other confined areas you want to be able to drive the excavator through and you'll have an upper limit on the size of your machine.

A close second consideration is how deep or how high you need to go. Excavators have a rated "dig depth" - the limit of how deep they can dig, obviously - of about 4 feet to over 10 feet. Similarly, the "dump height" measures how high the bucket can lift, to deposit materials in a dump truck. You'll also need to know what width trench you want to dig: bucket sizes range from 12" to 3', but larger excavators are required to lift the larger buckets. 24" buckets are the most common and good for many applications.

Buying checklist

• Zero tail swing. A compact excavator with zero tail swing can rotate its cab completely within the width of its tracks, preventing the operator from ever bumping anything with the "tail" or back part of the cab.
• Transport. Smaller compact excavators can be towed behind a standard pickup truck, without the need for a commercial driver's license. However, you may need to purchase a special trailer.
• Ease of use. Ergonomic controls in compact excavators are generally easy to learn and use for extended periods of time. If possible, let the primary operator try out different models for comfort and visibility.
• Backfill blade. Many come standard with a backfill or bulldozer blade that attaches below the boom, making it easy to refill and level after you're done digging - without having to change attachments.
• Maintenance. Compact excavators need regular maintenance and cleaning - check how easy it is to access the engine and hydraulic systems.

Compact excavator pricing
New compact excavators are not cheap: they can range from $20,000 at the low end to $90,000 for the largest models. However when you compare this to the cost of a full size excavator -- $130,000 to $500,000 - the compact excavator may look like a better bargain.

A typical $20,000 model will provide dig depths of 4' - 5' and dump heights of 5' - 6'. It will weigh around 1500 to 2000 lbs and have about a 10 HP engine. An $80,000 model will reach and dump over 12', weigh 12,000 lbs, and boast a 40 or 50 HP engine.

Buying tips

• Consider used. Excavators are built with 8,000 to 10,000 hours expected operating lifespan, so many used models are available with good usage ahead of them. Two to three year old models with a couple of thousand hours on them can be about 25% cheaper than new models, while older compact excavators with a little more wear are 50% or less of new prices. If you are going to depend on the excavator for your day-to-day work, you should probably invest in a new machine, but if you're only going to use it occasionally, used can be a great way to save money.
• Rentals. compact excavators can be rented for average prices of $150/day or $1000/month. Renting is a great way to see the power one of these machines provides without committing to a purchase. It can also be a smart course if you have only sporadic need for an excavator.
• What service will you get? The right dealer will make a big difference to the success of your compact excavator purchase. A dealer who will send technicians to your shop, or come and pick your excavator up when it needs significant repairs, can really help you get the most out of your purchase.
• Working in tandem. A compact excavator and a skid steer loader (read the Buyer's Guide) are a powerful combo that can often replace a full-sized loader/backhoe. In addition to being more economical, having both machines lets you do two jobs at once. On the other hand, that requires two operators - and skilled operators can be much more difficult to find than cheap equipment.