Mini excavators overview

Mini or compact excavators are rapidly becoming a new favorite for contractors who regularly have to dig in tight quarters. Many models include features designed to help them operate get into places you'd never dream of bringing a full-sized excavator, but can still easily dig 10 or 12 feet deep.

That dig depth is usually the most important characteristic to look for when researching compact excavators. It can range from as little as 4 feet to as deep as 12 feet. More depth than that is usually the territory of full sized excavators.

The mini machines have several advantages besides just fitting into smaller spaces. They're often simpler to use, so they require less operator training. They're also easier to transport: they can be hauled on a standard trailer behind a pickup truck.

Like skid steer loaders, mini excavators can support multiple types of attachments. Instead of the usual digging bucket, they can wield different types of buckets, grapples, thumbs, and hydraulic hammers. It's not their biggest strength: if you want a compact machine that can use a wide variety of tools, you'll probably find that a skid steer loader provides more flexibility. However, the ability to mount a few tools does give compact excavators a little extra utility, especially for demolition work.

Unlike skid steer loaders, though, mini excavators are mounted on bulldozer tracks. This makes them much more stable. They can also be fitted with rubber tracks instead of the more typical steel. This means they do much less damage to the surfaces they're driven across, which makes them very popular with landscapers.

Mini excavator features
One very useful feature that's becoming standard in several manufacturers' offerings is offset booms. Offset booms, also known as swing booms, can be moved off-center. By sliding the boom to the side of the machine, you can dig very close to a foundation or other obstacle without constantly changing your angle of attack: the arm can dig parallel to the tracks of the excavator.

Another feature that helps you take advantage of a compact excavator's small size is zero tail swing. Mini excavators with zero tail swing are designed to rotate 360 degrees without any of the cab going outside the width of the tracks. This keeps the back end of the cab (the "tail") from hitting obstacles the operator can't see. Again, for excavating in tight quarters, this is an astoundingly useful feature, and can prevent damage to both your excavator and to surrounding obstacles.

Depending on the local climate, you may want to upgrade to an excavator with an enclosed cab. An enclosed cab provides heat and AC for the operator, which can vastly improve his efficiency and job satisfaction. In sweltering summers or freezing winters, climate control can be much more than just a perk.

You'll definitely want a backfill blade on your excavator. These bulldozer-style blades let you push piles of dirt back into the holes you've dug. No need to bring in another piece of equipment to finish the job.