Choosing a mini excavator

One of the challenges in buying a mini excavator is deciding what size machine you need. Here are five sizing considerations to keep in mind.

• Since one of the primary advantages of a mini excavator is its ability to fit in tight spaces, the most 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 how large a machine you can buy.

• A close second is how deep you need to dig. Mini excavators have rated "dig depths" — the limit of how deep they can dig — of 4 feet to over 12 feet. Dig depths of 5 to 7 feet can handle the vast majority of all utility, landscaping, and basic residential construction work; the most popular mini excavators have dig depths of around 10 feet.

• You may need to consider dump height. This measures how high the bucket can lift to deposit materials in a dump truck. Dump height is less critical than dig depth in most cases, but can be important in some applications. Dump heights commonly range from around 5 to 10 feet.

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• Overall weight can be important. Mini excavators range from under two tons to over six tons. (Full-sized excavators can weigh 10 to 50 tons.) If minimizing damage to landscaping is important to your business, lighter machines provide a nice benefit. Also, smaller excavators can be towed behind a standard pickup truck, without the need for a commercial driver's license.
• Lastly, you'll also need to know how wide a trench you want to dig: bucket sizes range from 9 to 36 inches, but larger excavators are required to lift the larger buckets. 24-inch buckets are the most common and good for many applications.

Additional considerations
Once you know which models meet your size requirements, you'll want to compare some additional attributes that can vary from one excavator to another.

• Controls. Most new mini excavators feature "pilot hydraulic" controls. These ergonomic joysticks are a vast improvement over the old-style mechanical levers: they're easy to learn and to use for extended periods of time.
• Ease of use. "Feel" is important and impossible to judge from sales pitches or brochures. You should definitely take the machines you're considering for a test dig. If possible, let the primary operator try out different models for comfort, responsiveness, and visibility.
• Maintenance. Maintenance costs for mini excavators are the lowest of all comparably-sized equipment, but they still need regular maintenance and cleaning. Check how easy it is to access the engine and hydraulic systems. Also, ask for a demonstration of how to perform routine preventative maintenance such as filter changes, fluid top-offs, and lubrication.