Excavator Buying Guide

Excavators can offer an easy way to clear debris and help you complete your projects faster and more efficiently. But not all excavators are built the same because not all excavator work is the same. You’ll need to know how to narrow down your options and search the market so you can find the machine that’s going to cover all your needs.

Excavators are powerful, versatile machines that add a lot to any fleet of equipment, and matching the right model to the specifics of your work is important to make sure you can make the most out of it. That’s why your friends at Burrows Tractor have put together this short guide to help with your search. Read on for more information or visit us in one of our locations serving the Portland metro area today!

Performance

The most important aspect of a potential excavator purchase is whether or not the machine is capable of operating at the level you need it to. Check out the hydraulic systems and testing options when looking at excavators, as many list how powerful they are and how much work they’re capable of performing on an average day on the work site. The more powerful a hydraulic system, the more productive and capable your excavator will be.

There are also support functions that should be considered, like zero tail swing or zero house swing configurations that allow safe operation closer to dig sites, walls, and other obstacles and structures. Additional functionality comes with a cost, and these zero swing aspects make for wider excavators, which in turn limits their operation. Consider what’s best for you and your work!

Fit for Your Work

Ask yourself what your typical worksite looks like and consider the potential hazards, obstacles, and general condition of the ground and environment. Now match those parameters against a potential excavator. 

Will it have enough room to operate safely and effectively? If an excavator can’t fit on your jobsite, it can’t help with the work. Excavators are usually sized based on total weight in tons, which corresponds to their operating weight. When tonnage goes up, breakout force goes up proportionally.   

Will its weight mean adverse ground impact? Check the maximum operating weight, which includes the machine, operator, and potential load. A too-heavy excavator might damage your worksite.

Is the primary implement rated for the work you have in mind, for a type of material and weight of load? Most excavators are deployed with standard buckets, and while there are a wide variety of other options, you need to make sure that whatever implement you’re using is rated for the work intended and can hold any potential load under capacity.

Is the engine powerful enough to work as hard as you need it to? The harder you work your excavator, the more power it needs to get things done, whether that’s digging up tons of dirt or just moving around a jobsite. Include bore and piston stroke in the specifications to care about when sizing up different models so you can compare engine strength.

All these questions should be considered when determining whether or not an excavator model is the right fit for your work site. This can be applied to one-off jobs if you plan to rent an excavator, but you can use your typical jobsite as a way of considering the match between machine and location. Also important is where you intend to store your excavator — too big and you might find that you don’t have anywhere to put your new piece of equipment!

Size Classifications

Most excavators can be placed in three classes based on weight: mini (<7 tons), standard (7-44 tons), and large (45-80 tons). Mini or compact excavators get the benefit of extra mobility and ease of operation in smaller environments. They’re particularly apt at smaller jobs where their power makes time-consuming earth moving and material transfer a breeze. Since they’re smaller, they simply have less powerful engines than their larger cousins, but they also don’t have the same kind of ground impact. This makes them great for operating on turf, roads, and even sidewalks.

Standard excavators have an even balance of versatility and power, able to handle pretty much anything but the biggest jobs while still operating effectively in a variety of worksites. They do need a significant amount of space to work, but that doesn’t stop them from being ubiquitous with most construction jobs.

Large excavators loom over worksites like giants, taking up lots of space so they can get a solid base from which to deploy their truly awesome power. They’re the most powerful but take up a lot of space in terms of transport, fuel, and maintenance. Only invest in a large excavator if you can bring its full power to bear in your work.

Operator Comfort

After considering form and function, it’s time to think about what you or your workers will put up with when sitting in the cab all day long. Many excavators offer plenty of operator considerations like ergonomic chairs and controls. There are also cabs with extra space for easier access to instruments and adjustable seats so operators have enough flexibility to react on the fly. 

Heating and air conditioning are other features to consider, but they need to be strong enough to accommodate the extremes of your region. Most newer models will have climate control similar to a car or truck, with vents in front and behind the operator’s seat. Overall, the more operators are expected to be in the cab, the more important comfort is in determining the right excavator for you.

Implements

Buckets are the standard implement for excavators, but that’s not the end of the story. There are plenty of other attachments that can turn hard work into a quick job. Here are some of the basic options that are widely used:

• Auger - Great at digging especially deep holes or several holes very quickly. 
• Grappler - A set of tines allows this attachment to pick up and grip oddly-shaped debris and material with ease.
• Hydraulic Hammer - Tired of manual jackhammers? Hydraulic hammer attachments turn concrete into powder!
• Coupler - Less an active implement and more a utility piece that makes switching between different attachments quick and easy.

Whether you need to expand the utility of your excavator or further specialize it, you’re sure to find an attachment that’s right for you.

We hope some of these tips help you find and buy the right excavator for you and your work. Excavators bring power and utility to any worksite, and with a wide array of attachments at your disposal, you’ll have trouble finding a job that isn’t made easier and more efficient with an excavator. For a look at the best new and used excavators and attachments, head into Burrows Tractor, with locations in Yakima and Wenatchee, Washington, as well as North Plains, Oregon.