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The increasing popularity of compact excavators in recent years has spearheaded a vast selection of models ideally suited to landscaping and hardscaping projects. With all of the choices, how do you find the machine that&#;s right for you?
Tom Connor, excavator product specialist for Bobcat Company, provides five easy tips to help you evaluate your options:
Start with the basics. Do you need a compact excavator? If you frequently rent a compact excavator or subcontract work performed by compact excavators, then you likely can justify adding one to your equipment fleet. &#;Generally, landscape contractors will find more uses than anticipated for the machine once it&#;s in their possession,&#; Connor says.
Contractors should also ask whether the desired unit will meet their needs. &#;A landscaping contractor should evaluate the anticipated tasks and select a machine that has the capabilities to perform those tasks with room for growth,&#; Connor says.
&#;It&#;s also important to assess maximum utilization of the machine. Does the manufacturer offer attachments and does the dealer stock them? Does the machine have an easy-to-use attachment mounting system?&#; he says.
For most landscaping contractors, machine size is critically important, since you install irrigation and move materials to create outdoor environments in residential and commercial spaces. &#;A contractor needs to evaluate the anticipated worksite limitations &#; often width,&#; Connor says. &#;In general, midsize to full-size compact excavator models appeal to the landscaping industry when larger machines are too bulky.&#;
Should contractors encounter confined areas, some manufacturers offer compact excavator models with retractable undercarriages. Connor says this feature is especially popular among landscaping contractors with limited access. It allows the operator to retract the undercarriage, pass through a gate or fence, and then expand the undercarriage when actually working.
Knowing contractors don&#;t want to sacrifice performance for size, equipment manufacturers are packing their smaller excavator models with more power. Some of the smaller compact excavator models feature bucket breakout forces of more than 3,500 lbs. And for added digging reach or depth in confined areas, contractors can choose compact excavators with long-arm or extendable arm options. The extendable arm option is a telescoping arm that provides the best of both worlds in power and reach, with some providing an additional 30 inches of reach when fully extended.
&#;For example, if lifting large boulders will be a frequent, recurring task for the excavator, then one needs to select a machine that will comfortably accomplish this,&#; Connor says. &#;If minimum cover is 8 feet, for instance, then at an absolute minimum, you should be looking at a machine capable of digging 10 to 12 feet to achieve decent production.&#;
Today, there are excavators with zero tail swing and minimal tail swing, which gives operators more unrestricted rotation and provides flexibility when working close to objects or against a wall. A typical zero tail swing feature virtually eliminates the chance of the excavator&#;s tail inadvertently contacting surrounding objects. Depending on the manufacturer, the entire frame may be engineered to stay within the width of the tracks to further avoid damage, Connor says.
If you anticipate routine work where you must pass narrow property lines, gates or fences, a conventional-tail-swing excavator may be a better fit for your equipment fleet. For instance, Connor says the typical width of a conventional-tail-swing, 3- to 4-metric-ton compact excavator will be about 60 inches, whereas zero and minimal tail swing excavators with similar performance will have a width of about 70 inches.
A very popular, practical and necessary compact excavator feature is easy-to-use attachment mounting systems. Connor says many manufacturers offer their own type of attachment mounting system for common connections, such as trenchers for digging in irrigation and electrical lines, augers for digging posts and tree plantings, and tilt accessories and grading buckets for grading. Rotating grapples can move vegetation and pavers, grab timbers and dimensional lumber, and place boulders in hardscaping projects.
Many compact excavators come standard with an attachment mounting system, which enables operators to quickly and easily switch between attachments. Optional hydraulic &#;quick-tach&#; systems typically provide even faster attachment changes.
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&#;Compact excavator comfort is important to more and more buyers,&#; Connor says. &#;This trend is driving manufacturers to increase operator space, enhance entering and exiting of the machine and provide features such as an enclosed cab with heat and air conditioning.&#; He says some compact excavators also feature auto-shift travel systems and auto-idle throttles to improve the operator experience.
Manufacturers have incorporated several safety and maintenance features in their compact excavators to protect operators. For example, Connor says compact excavators may incorporate a control console lock system that helps avoid unintentional activation of the machine&#;s boom, arm, bucket, slew and travel systems. Landscapers should also check if the manufacturer offers Tip Over Protective Structure/Roll Over Protective Structure (TOPS/ROPS)-rated cabs and/or canopies and retractable seat belts, Connor says.
When comparing compact excavator models, Connor suggests investigating whether routine maintenance items can be easily accessed to inspect all of the daily checkpoints, such as vital machine fluids and other important maintenance items. Centralized grease points for the slew bearing, pinion gear and swing boom are also important.
Above all, the best way for you to compare compact excavator models is to operate them under load, because not all compact excavators are created equal, Connor says. You should target demonstration in real-life situations, such as trenching or lifting decorative rocks, because some machines&#; production and speed exceeds competitors&#; by as much as 30 percent &#; simply due to the balance between the hydraulic system and engine horsepower.
EDITOR&#;S NOTE: This article written by Debbie McClung and was provided by Bobcat.
Any dealer can sell you a mini excavator - but are you getting the right machine for your needs? The best mini excavator dealers are those that learn about your business before taking your money. They'll find out how and where you plan to use your mini excavator, what applications you'll use it for, how deep you need to dig, and how much you can afford to spend. Here's how to locate companies that will look out for your best interests instead of their own.
Despite its name, a mini excavator (or compact excavator) can hold its own in a construction, landscaping, or agricultural project, weighing in at 18,700 pounds with a maximum dig depth of more than 15 feet. It's no surprise that mini excavators are growing in popularity. Their compact size and versatility of use can support tasks like landscaping, demolition, excavating, and digging.
According to mini excavator manufacturer Bobcat, a compact excavator may be the right machinery for the job compared to other digging machines if you plan on excavating or trenching. Specialty features like lightweight design, compact size, 360 degree house rotation, track undercarriage, and an independent boom swing can be used to improve on-the-job efficiency.
1. Do your homework.
You can save time and money when buying a mini excavator by setting clear parameters for the type of machinery you are looking for. It helps to understand from the get-go exactly what job/jobs you will be using the equipment for. This can help to dictate the weight and dig depth of excavator that you purchase. Buying a machine that is too small could mean that you may not complete a job on time or at all; buying a machine that is too large will waste money in equipment cost and fuel consumption.
2. Compare dealers.
To locate the best mini excavator dealers, start by submitting a free request for mini excavator quotes through BuyerZone or by performing your own online research. Then, talk to at least four to six mini excavator dealers to become familiar with the products and services they offer and determine which one provides the best mix of quality, service, and cost.
3. Try a test dig.
Once you have a list of suppliers, have each of them bring a mini excavator to your location for a test dig. Take your time putting the machine through its paces: spend two to four hours to try out the vehicle in a familiar setting and test basic operation. Have your mini excavator operators test it out for themselves: they may have particular concerns that you're not aware of. They can do a better job evaluating features like the sensitivity of the controls and the ergonomics of the cab.
4. Schedule a visit.
You don't necessarily need to test the vehicle at your location to select the best mini excavator dealers. If the dealer is located nearby, arrange to visit his office. This allows you to try the excavator yourself, check out other attachments you might need, and ask any questions you might have about performance. It's also a good opportunity to see how their staff interacts with other customers and view their showroom and parts inventory.
5. Consider buying used.
If you want to save money on your purchase, buying used machinery could prove to be a valuable investment. However, it's important to fully inspect the condition of an excavator before signing on the dotted line. Check the quality of the tracks, assess signs of leakage in the engine compartment, and confirm that the hour meter reading is correct for the age of the vehicle. Buying used can save you money but should never sacrifice jobsite safety.
Additional characteristics of the best mini excavator dealers
Ultimately, the best mini excavator dealers are those that treat your business like a partner, learning what type of excavator your company needs and finding you the appropriate match.
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