So, you’ve decided to have an excavator available but are still not sure what size should you choose. Excavators do come in a variety of sizes and it’s very important to choose the right size of equipment for your next digging project. With so many sizes available in the market the task of choosing one seems quite daunting.
If you’re going for a large scale road project you just can’t put your hands on a small one because it won’t give you the right functionality and you won’t be able to get the job done properly. So, let’s first explore what are some of the available options, and then we’ll move on to know how we can pick the right one.
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Mini-Excavators
Mini or compact size excavators are the ones that are available in the size of fewer than 6 tons. They are in fact the smallest of all. Because of its compact and mini size, excavators of these sizes easily fit into small spaces. They are highly effective in indoor projects and applications like small-scale demolition projects, water line installations, sewer repairs, and landscaping projects.
They are getting popular in building construction owing to the ease with which they can are transportable. They are highly versatile and easily maneuverable.
Mid-Sized Excavators
Excavators that are in the size of 6 to 10 tons are termed, midi excavator or mid-sized excavators. Small scale projects where mini excavator hire machinery can’t provide the reach and power, these mid-sized excavators come in handy. They can also be used on more standard projects like building construction and landscaping. But still, they have an edge on the standard excavator for their increased maneuverability.
Standard Excavators
If you’re into commercial projects where you’ve got to undertake large scale excavation, this standard excavator is for you. They are available in 10 to 45 tons size and are powerful enough with an enhanced hydraulic system. They can take up a variety of attachments that make them even more versatile than their other counterpart. Standard excavators do come in a crawler-mounted configuration and thus in most cases, the standard excavators are often called “crawler” excavators.
Large Excavators
Excavators that are larger than 45 tons fall under the head of large excavators. They are extremely massive and are used for specialized applications like major construction or large demolition. Due to their bigger size, they require trailers and large trucks to transport and move. Besides this, they require a large space for storage.
How to Choose the Right Size for Your Project?
So, in order to choose the right size for your project you have to access your project requirements and specifics.
You need to access your project requirements based on the dig depth that is required on your project. The reach required will further dictate the size of your machine. If you’re frequently dealing with massive excavation jobs, you are better off to hire an excavator with more dig depth and reach. Similarly, for demolition jobs, you need long-reach booms.
The next question to ask is about lifting capacity. You need to access how often you use an excavator for lifting different items and what are some of the heaviest things you’ll lift.
Try to ascertain your worksite conditions like what sort of environment and space you’ll frequently operate. If the space is tight and confined, you need to have a mini or mid-sized excavator.