Although there are many varieties today, when the 1900s approached, it was recorded that the first excavator was produced in England. Although water was used as a liquid for hydraulic pressure when the excavator was first produced, the idea of transmitting hydraulic pressure with oil came to the fore in excavators manufactured later. These machines, which were not very comfortable and functional in the past, are very popular today and continue to be comfortable and efficient for long hours. After this short preliminary information, you will find the content below that will be useful for making the right purchase.
It is very important to determine your needs when buying an excavator. Otherwise, you may spend unnecessary money on an excavator that you don’t need. Here’s what you need to decide to make the right buying according to your needs, as follows:
1. Decide the basic needs: Where will you use it?
- If you are going to work in tight spaces, it will be right to work with mini excavators. Mini and compact excavators (max. 20000 lbs), you can easily maneuver in tight areas if you choose. Among other advantages, it is quite ideal for transportation work on firm ground and short distances. In addition, the fuel consumption of mini excavators is lower compared to others.
- Road construction and maintenance: In these projects, the ideal excavator should be selected for excavation, leveling, and material handling. Usually, crawler or wheeled mid-size (15,000 lbs–90,000 lbs) excavators are preferred in this type of projects. For example, excavators up to 15,000 lbs–40,000 lbs can be selected for small road construction, or up to 40,000–70,000 lbs are preferred for large road works. 15,000–40,000 lbs can be selected for small road construction.
- Large construction projects: Large and powerful excavators are preferred for these large areas. These excavators (min. 90,000 lbs) carries large materials and is suitable for work requiring high excavation. It would be right to choose excavators of this weight for large areas and large construction projects.
- Mining excavators: As the name suggests, they are excavators specially produced for mining. They are usually large in size, have a powerful engine, and large scoops. Thanks to this, they play a major role in mining excavations and extracting minerals. With the development of technology, features such as automatic excavation control systems, safety sensors, and data collection with mining excavators facilitate the operator’s work and increase operational efficiency.
2. Is it a crawler or a wheeled excavator?
This question depends on many situations. To give the answer to this question simply, I will list the advantages and disadvantages of both types of excavators below.
- Maneuverability: As you can imagine, wheel excavators have better maneuverability. This can be a factor when working in tight spaces.
- Ground: Usually excavators work on soil and sloping terrain. Crawler excavators are more stable on soft, muddy, and slippery floors and provide better traction.
- Material handling: If it is necessary to carry out frequent material handling with an excavator, a wheeled excavator may be preferred because it is faster.
- Delicate surface: If it is important to protect the work area surface, the wheeled excavator will cause less damage to the surface. It may be important to protect the road surface at temporary work sites.
- Lifting capacity: If lifting capacity and stability are important, the lifting capacity of crawler excavators is much better.
- Price: If the budget is important and the conditions are equal, wheeled excavators may be preferred because they are cheaper than crawler excavators.
3. Which manufacturer?
This topic will vary according to many factors and depending on the geographical location. Everyone wants a good and reliable machine, but sometimes it can be too expensive. To choose the right excavator manufacturer, consider the following factors.
- Take advantage of the experience of real users: Log in to the forums before making a purchase. Users usually share their experiences after purchasing the machine. When you have a situation that sticks in your mind, ask these users questions. If there is no information about the machine you are going to buy, open a topic on the forum. Helpful users will answer your questions. Search the internet for videos for the excavator that you have the intention of buying. Some users take detailed excavator inspection videos. It is important to take into account other user opinions in order to make a good buying.
- Price/Performance: A good product may not always be expensive. In the same way that a cheap product may not be bad… do a good market research. Some manufacturers or manufacturers who are entering the new market can produce excavators of the same quality cheaper than some manufacturers thanks to good government support and low labor costs in their countries. Compare it with other manufacturers by examining the material quality and structure. In this way, you can buy a high-performance and quality excavator cheaper.
- Field test: Make an appointment to test the excavator you are thinking of buying. Definitely experience its performance and quality.
- Availability of spare parts: From time to time your machine will have malfunctions or there will be parts that you need to replace periodically. It is a great advantage that the spare parts of the excavator manufacturer you will buy can be found in local stores or online stores.
- After-sales dealer support and warranty period: A good manufacturer provides long-term warranty and after-sales support to show that he trusts his products. Take into account the warranty period given by the manufacturers and check other user reviews for after-sales dealer support. You can be sure that the references will give you an idea.
Is it Bobcat, Caterpillar, Case, John Deere, Hitachi, Hyundai, Kubota, Komatsu or other manufacturers? I can’t answer that but you should consider the above factors.
4. Key Specs & Features
When buying an excavator, we examine its specifications. Many factors are important in this regard. But practically, the issues that you need to pay the most attention to when examining the excavator specs are listed below.
Digging
- Digging Depth: Determine the excavation depth at the work site and select an appropriate excavator.
- Digging Force: Choose a machine with sufficient digging force to be able to excavate effectively in difficult soil conditions.
- Peaking and Maneuverability: If you are going to work in tight spaces, choose a machine with high maneuverability.
- Weight of Undercarriage: Choose a machine with a undercarriage weight suitable for the ground conditions of the work site.
Lifting
- Lifting Capacity: Determine the weight and height of the loads to be lifted and select a machine with an appropriate lifting capacity.
- Lifting Height: If access to tall structures or vehicles is required, opt for a machine with a high lifting height.
- Stability: Stability is important in high lifting operations, so the undercarriage weight and wheel/pallet design should be selected to ensure stability.
General Works
- Horsepower: Choose a machine with a horsepower that will provide the power required by the job.
- Weight and Stability: Choose a machine with a weight and stability suitable for the ground conditions and working environment of the work site.
- Maneuverability: Choose a machine with a maneuverability that matches the geometry and reach of the work site.
No matter what task you plan to perform with an excavator, it is important to consider these specs. While examining the specifications of an excavator, it is crucial to pay attention to the aforementioned points, but also do not overlook other features.
Choose the Right Attachments
Excavator attachments make our excavators more valuable. When equipped with the right attachments, excavators can be used in a versatile manner and adapted to various job requirements.
Excavator attachments make our excavators more valuable. When equipped with the right attachments, excavators can be used in a versatile manner and adapted to various job requirements.
- Breakers: Used for breaking concrete, stone, and other hard materials. They are effective in demolition jobs, including building demolition and rock breaking.
- Tilt Buckets: Tilt buckets facilitate working on sloped areas. They allow you to adjust the bucket angle, making it easier to handle tasks on inclined surfaces.
- Scrapers: Used for surface leveling, cleaning, and material handling. They are effective in soil leveling, road construction, and cleaning tasks. Typically ideal for creating flat surfaces.
- Hammers: Used for breaking or drilling hard materials like rock or concrete. Commonly used in construction sites for foundation drilling, rock breaking, and concrete demolition.
- Digging Buckets: Used for excavation tasks. Preferred for digging soil, material handling, and loading jobs.
Before purchasing an excavator, reviewing the attachments available for that model from the manufacturer is an important factor for versatility in the tasks you will perform. Besides the basic attachments listed above, you can find many attachment options for your specific needs in the manufacturer’s resources.
New or Used Excavator?
Whether you purchase a new or used excavator, there are essential details you need to pay attention to. Here are the significant advantages and disadvantages for both scenarios:
New Excavators
Advantages
- More powerful engines provide more efficient fuel consumption.
- You can benefit from the warranty period and after-sales support services.
- Longer lifespan and requires less maintenance for a long period.
- Equipped with the latest technology, offering comfortable usage.
- Advanced safety features ensure safer operation on the job site.
Disadvantages
- Higher cost.
- Rapid depreciation starting from the moment of purchase.
- Delivery time might be long.
Used Excavators
Advantages
- More cost-effective compared to a new excavator.
- Ready for immediate use.
- Less depreciation compared to a new excavator.
- A wide range of models available for sale, increasing the chance of finding a good deal.
Disadvantages
- Higher risk of unexpected problems and breakdowns compared to a new one.
- Older and poorly maintained excavators may have lower performance.
- Older excavators offer less advanced technology.
- Maintenance costs may be higher.
Before purchasing an excavator, you need to consider many factors. Carefully think about aspects such as usage areas, excavator structure, manufacturer, specifications, attachment variety, and condition to make a good purchase decision. We have tried to prepare the best possible excavator buying guide. If you see any missing points, feel free to write to us. Our expert editors will update the article for you.