The second-hand market for excavators offers numerous benefits, including significant cost savings and immediate availability. By choosing a pre-owned machine, you can access high-quality equipment at a fraction of the cost of new models, allowing you to allocate your budget more effectively and get your projects underway without delay.
In this blog post, you will learn about the different types of excavators on the market. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the construction field, this guide will help you determine which second-hand excavator model is right for your specific needs.
Types of Excavators
- Crawler Excavators
Crawler excavators, also known as track excavators, are heavy-duty construction machines equipped with tracks instead of wheels. These tracks provide stability, traction, and maneuverability, making crawler excavators suitable for various terrains, including soft ground, slopes, and rough terrain.
Common uses of crawler excavators include:
Earthmoving: Crawler excavators are widely used for earthmoving tasks such as digging trenches, foundations, and drainage ditches. Their powerful hydraulic systems and durable construction enable them to handle heavy-duty excavation work efficiently.
Demolition: With the ability to exert high levels of force, crawler excavators are commonly employed in demolition projects to break down structures, remove debris, and clear sites. They can be equipped with specialized attachments such as demolition shears and hydraulic breakers for this purpose.
Material Handling: Crawler excavators are adept at material handling tasks such as loading and unloading trucks, stockpiling materials, and transferring bulk materials on construction sites. Their versatility and lifting capacity make them valuable assets in material handling operations.
Mining and Quarrying: In the mining and quarrying industries, crawler excavators are used for extracting minerals, excavating rock, and maintaining quarry operations. Their robust construction and ability to operate in challenging environments make them indispensable in these sectors.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Superior Stability and Traction: Crawler excavators offer excellent stability and traction, thanks to their tracks. This allows them to operate effectively on uneven terrain, slopes, and soft ground without losing traction or risking tipping over.
High Power and Lifting Capacity: Crawler excavators are renowned for their powerful hydraulic systems and high lifting capacity. They can handle heavy loads and perform demanding excavation tasks with ease, making them suitable for a wide range of construction applications.
Versatility in Attachment Options: Crawler excavators can be equipped with various attachments, including buckets, grapples, augers, and hydraulic breakers. This versatility allows them to perform multiple tasks without the need for additional machinery, increasing efficiency and productivity on job sites.
Cons:
Slower Travel Speed: Compared to wheeled excavators, crawler models typically have slower travel speeds. This can result in longer travel times between job sites and may require additional transportation equipment for long-distance moves.
Higher Initial Cost: Crawler excavators tend to have a higher initial purchase price compared to wheeled models. Additionally, maintenance and repair costs for tracks and undercarriage components can be higher over the machine’s lifespan.
Limited Maneuverability in Confined Spaces: While crawler excavators excel in rough terrain, they may have limited maneuverability in tight or confined spaces compared to wheeled models. This can pose challenges in urban construction sites or projects with limited access.
- Wheeled Excavators
Wheeled excavators, as the name suggests, are excavators equipped with wheels instead of tracks. This design feature provides them with enhanced mobility and maneuverability on paved surfaces. Wheeled excavators typically consist of a rotating cabin mounted on a wheeled chassis, with an articulated arm and bucket for excavation and material handling tasks.
Common uses of wheeled excavators include:
Urban Construction: Wheeled excavators are well-suited for construction projects in urban areas, where mobility and maneuverability are essential. They can easily navigate through narrow streets, sidewalks, and other confined spaces without causing damage to surrounding infrastructure.
Road Maintenance: These excavators are frequently used for road maintenance tasks, such as repairing potholes, installing roadside barriers, and clearing debris. Their ability to travel quickly between job sites on paved roads makes them ideal for these applications.
Utility Work: Wheeled excavators are often employed in utility projects, including installing and repairing water and sewer lines, electrical conduits, and telecommunications infrastructure. Their versatility and mobility allow them to access utility trenches and work in tight spaces with ease.
Landscaping and Site Preparation: In landscaping projects and site preparation tasks, wheeled excavators can be used for digging trenches, grading terrain, and moving earth and materials. Their maneuverability and ability to work on graded surfaces make them valuable assets in these applications.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Mobility on Paved Surfaces: Wheeled excavators excel in urban environments and projects that involve working on paved surfaces. Their wheels allow them to navigate smoothly on roads, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces without causing damage or leaving tracks behind.
Faster Travel Speed: Compared to tracked excavators, wheeled models typically have higher travel speeds. This allows them to move quickly between job sites or different areas within a construction project, increasing overall efficiency and productivity.
Maneuverability in Confined Spaces: Wheeled excavators are more agile and nimble than their tracked counterparts, making they are ideal for working in tight or congested spaces. Their ability to turn sharply and operate in confined areas enhances productivity in urban construction projects with limited space.
Lower Ground Pressure: The weight of wheeled excavators is distributed over a larger contact area compared to tracked models, resulting in lower ground pressure. This minimizes the risk of causing damage to underground utilities, pavement, or other infrastructure during operation.
Cons:
Limited Off-Road Capability: While wheeled excavators perform well on paved surfaces, they may struggle on rough or uneven terrain. Their wheels are less effective at providing traction and stability in off-road conditions, restricting their use in certain types of construction projects.
Reduced Stability: Wheeled excavators have a narrower base of support compared to tracked models, which can compromise their stability, especially when working on slopes or soft ground. Operators need to exercise caution to prevent tipping or rollover accidents.
Higher Initial Cost: Wheeled excavators tend to have a higher initial purchase price compared to their tracked counterparts. Additionally, optional features Such as stabilizers or outriggers may be necessary to improve stability, increasing the overall cost of ownership.
Limited Lifting Capacity: In general, wheeled excavators have a lower lifting capacity compared to tracked models of similar size. This can be a limiting factor for projects that require heavy lifting or handling of large materials.
- Mini Excavators
Mini excavators, also known as compact excavators or mini diggers, are small-sized construction machines characterized by their compact dimensions and versatility. These machines typically feature a tracked or wheeled chassis and a hydraulic arm with a bucket attachment.
Common uses of mini excavators include:
Utility and Landscaping Work: Mini excavators are frequently used in utility projects such as installing and repairing water and sewer lines, electrical conduits, and telecommunications infrastructure. They are also valuable in landscaping tasks such as digging trenches, grading terrain, and planting trees.
Residential Construction: Mini excavators are well-suited for residential construction projects, including building foundations, installing drainage systems, and landscaping yards. Their compact size allows them to operate in confined spaces such as backyards and narrow alleys.
Interior Demolition: Due to their small footprint and maneuverability, mini excavators are often used for interior demolition tasks in buildings and structures. They can access tight spaces and remove debris efficiently without causing extensive damage to surrounding structures.
Site Cleanup and Material Handling: Mini excavators are capable of handling material handling tasks such as loading and unloading trucks, clearing debris, and moving bulk materials on construction sites. Their versatility and compact size make them valuable assets in site cleanup operations.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Compact Size: Mini excavators are compact and lightweight compared to larger excavator models, allowing them to operate in confined spaces and navigate through narrow access points. This makes them ideal for projects with limited space or restricted access.
Maneuverability: Mini excavators offer excellent maneuverability, thanks to their compact size and articulated design. They can turn sharply and operate efficiently in tight spaces, reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing disruption to surrounding areas.
Ease of Transportation: Mini excavators are easy to transport between job sites, whether by trailer or truck. Their compact dimensions and lightweight design make them suitable for transportation on public roads and highways without requiring specialized equipment.
Cons:
Limited Power and Digging Depth: Due to their small size, mini excavators typically have lower power and digging depth compared to larger excavator models. This can limit their effectiveness for heavy-duty excavation tasks or projects requiring deep digging.
Reduced Lifting Capacity: Mini excavators have a lower lifting capacity compared to larger excavator models, making them less suitable for lifting heavy loads or handling large materials. Operators need to consider the weight and size of materials when using mini excavators for material handling tasks.
Operator Comfort: The compact cab space of mini excavators may be less comfortable for operators, especially during long hours of operation. Limited legroom and visibility can lead to operator fatigue and reduced productivity over extended periods.
- Long Reach Excavators
Long reach excavators are specialized machines designed with extended booms and arms to reach farther distances compared to standard excavators. These excavators are equipped to handle tasks that require extended reach capabilities, making them indispensable in various industries.
Common uses of long reach excavators include:
Dredging: Long reach excavators are often utilized in dredging operations to remove sediment and debris from waterways, rivers, and ports. Their extended reach allows them to access deep or hard-to-reach areas efficiently.
Deep Excavation: In construction projects requiring deep excavation, such as digging trenches, canals, or foundations, long reach excavators excel. Their extended reach and digging depth enable them to reach below ground level or over obstacles with ease.
Demolition: Long reach excavators are valuable assets in demolition projects where structures need to be demolished from a safe distance. Their extended booms and arms allow them to reach high structures or work in confined spaces without compromising safety.
Land Reclamation: Long reach excavators play a crucial role in land reclamation projects by removing debris, vegetation, and sediment from wetlands, marshes, and environmentally sensitive areas. Their extended reach minimizes disturbance to the surrounding habitat.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Extended Reach: The primary advantage of long reach excavators is their ability to reach farther distances and depths compared to standard excavators. This extended reach enables them to tackle specialized tasks efficiently.
Increased Productivity: Long reach excavators can cover a larger area and complete tasks more efficiently than standard excavators. Their extended reach reduces the need for additional equipment or manual labor, resulting in increased productivity on job sites.
Versatility: Despite their specialized design, long reach excavators are versatile machines capable of performing a wide range of tasks. They can be equipped with various attachments to suit different applications, enhancing their versatility on job sites.
Cons:
Reduced Stability: Long reach excavators may experience reduced stability, especially when fully extended. Operators need to exercise caution to prevent tipping or rollover accidents, particularly in challenging or uneven terrain.
Higher Cost: Long reach excavators typically come with a higher initial purchase price compared to standard excavators due to their specialized design and extended reach capabilities. Additionally, operating and maintenance costs may be higher, necessitating careful budgeting and planning.
Limited Maneuverability: Due to their extended boom and arm, long reach excavators may have limited maneuverability in tight or confined spaces. Operators must assess site conditions carefully and plan operations accordingly to avoid obstacles or obstructions.
- Suction Excavators
Suction excavators, also known as vacuum excavators, are specialized machines designed to remove soil and debris using powerful suction forces. These excavators utilize a combination of air or water suction and high-pressure water jets to loosen and extract material from the ground without causing damage to underground utilities or surrounding structures.
Common uses of suction excavators include:
Utility Trenching: Suction excavators are frequently used in utility projects to excavate trenches for the installation, repair, or maintenance of underground utilities such as water pipes, sewer lines, and telecommunications cables. Their precise excavation capabilities minimize the risk of damaging existing utilities during excavation.
Precise Excavation: In projects requiring precise excavation around sensitive infrastructure or archaeological sites, suction excavators offer unmatched precision and control. Their ability to remove soil and debris with minimal disturbance to surrounding areas makes them ideal for applications where accuracy is paramount.
Vegetation Clearance: Suction excavators are also utilized in vegetation clearance projects to remove roots, stumps, and other organic material from the ground. Their gentle excavation method minimizes disruption to the surrounding environment and reduces the risk of damage to adjacent vegetation.
Slot Trenching: In projects requiring narrow trenches or slots, such as cable or pipeline installations in urban areas, suction excavators excel. Their narrow suction hoses can access tight spaces and excavate precise trenches with minimal disruption to surrounding surfaces.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Minimized Damage to Utilities: Suction excavators minimize the risk of damaging underground utilities during excavation, reducing the likelihood of costly repairs and service disruptions. Their precise excavation method allows operators to work safely around existing utilities without compromising their integrity.
High Precision and Control: Suction excavators offer unparalleled precision and control during excavation operations. Operators can precisely remove soil and debris from targeted areas with minimal disturbance to surrounding surfaces, structures, or vegetation.
Enhanced Safety: Compared to traditional excavation methods such as mechanical digging or manual trenching, suction excavators offer enhanced safety for operators and bystanders. The risk of accidents, injuries, and damage to property is significantly reduced, leading to safer work environments.
Cons:
Higher Operational Costs: Suction excavators typically have higher operational costs compared to traditional excavation methods. The equipment’s specialized technology and consumables, such as water for jetting and disposal of excavated material, can contribute to increased operating expenses.
Limited Capacity for Hard Materials: Suction excavators may have limited capability for excavating hard or compacted materials such as rock or frozen ground. In such cases, alternative excavation methods may be more suitable for achieving the desired results.
Dependency on Environmental Conditions: Suction excavators may be affected by adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain or freezing temperatures, which can impact their performance and efficiency. Operators may need to adjust their excavation methods or schedule work accordingly to mitigate these challenges.
- Hydraulic Shovels
Hydraulic shovels, also known as hydraulic excavators or diggers, are heavy-duty construction machines equipped with a hydraulic system to power the digging bucket or shovel. These excavators consist of a rotating cab mounted on a tracked or wheeled chassis, with a hydraulic arm and bucket attachment for excavation and material handling tasks.
Common uses of hydraulic shovels include:
Earthmoving: Hydraulic shovels are widely used for earthmoving tasks such as digging trenches, foundations, and drainage ditches. Their powerful hydraulic systems and durable construction enable them to handle heavy-duty excavation work efficiently.
Mining: In the mining industry, hydraulic shovels play a crucial role in various mining operations, including open-pit mining, quarrying, and surface mining. They are used to excavate ore, remove overburden, and load haul trucks with materials such as coal, ore, and minerals.
Material Handling: Hydraulic shovels are adept at material handling tasks such as loading and unloading trucks, stockpiling materials, and transferring bulk materials on construction sites and mining operations. Their versatility and lifting capacity make them valuable assets in material handling operations.
Demolition: Hydraulic shovels can be equipped with specialized attachments such as demolition shears and hydraulic breakers for demolition projects. They are used to break down structures, remove debris, and clear sites efficiently and safely.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
High Power and Lifting Capacity: Hydraulic shovels are renowned for their powerful hydraulic systems and high lifting capacity. They can handle heavy loads and perform demanding excavation tasks with ease, making them suitable for a wide range of construction and mining applications.
Versatility in Attachment Options: Hydraulic shovels can be equipped with various attachments such as buckets, grapples, augers, and hydraulic breakers. This versatility allows them to perform multiple tasks without the need for additional machinery, increasing efficiency and productivity on job sites.
Precise Control and Maneuverability: Hydraulic shovels offer precise control and maneuverability, allowing operators to perform intricate digging and material handling tasks with ease. Their responsive hydraulic systems and intuitive controls enhance operator productivity and efficiency.
Cons:
High Initial Cost: Hydraulic shovels typically have a higher initial purchase price compared to other types of excavators. Additionally, operating and maintenance costs may be higher over the machine’s lifespan, requiring careful budgeting and planning.
Complex Maintenance Requirements: Hydraulic shovels require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance and reliability. The hydraulic system, tracks or wheels, and other components need to be inspected, lubricated, and serviced according to manufacturer guidelines, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Limited Mobility on Rough Terrain: While hydraulic shovels are capable of operating on various terrains, they may have limited mobility on rough or uneven terrain Compared to specialized machines such as crawler excavators. Operators need to assess site conditions and terrain carefully to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Conclusion
While there are various types of excavators, their primary functions are similar. Their digging and lifting abilities make them essential for nearly any construction site. Due to their high cost, second-hand excavators are the most economical choice for most companies.
