Excavator Buying Guide

5 min read

Looking to buy an Excavator? Learn more about factors to consider before buying.

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This guide highlights general features and specifications of Excavators, a machine bidadoo frequently sells in our online auctions. We have excavators available from many of our locations across the country including Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, and others.

 

What is an excavator?

Excavators or trackhoes are pieces of heavy equipment consisting of a boom, dipper, bucket and cab on a rotating platform known as the “house”. The house sits on an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. Hydraulic fluid is used to create movement and functions with hydraulic cylinders and motors. 

 

What is an excavator typically used for?

Excavators are an extremely versatile piece of machinery that can be used for many functions such as digging trenches and holes, setting foundations, material handling, brush cutting, forestry work, forestry mulching, construction, and demolition with hydraulic claw, cutter and breaker attachments.

Additionally, they provide utility for general grading/landscaping, mining, river dredging, driving piles - in conjunction with a pile driver, drilling shafts for footings and rock blasting by use of an auger or hydraulic drill attachment - and snow removal. 

 

What is a crawler excavator?

Many excavators run on wheels, but crawlers run on two, endless tracks. Crawlers, also known as standard excavators or trackhoes, are often used in mining and heavy-duty construction jobs of larger scale.

 

2012 John Deere 290G LC Excavator

2012 John Deere 290G LC

 

 

What is a dragline excavator?

The dragline excavator is a larger excavator that operates with a different process than typical excavators. This style utilizes a hoist rope system that attaches to a bucket via a coupler.

 

 

Dragline Excavator

Dragline Excavator

 

 

What is a suction excavator?

Also known as vacuum excavators, suction excavators feature a suction pipe capable of up to 400 horsepower. The excavator first releases a water jet to loosen the ground. The pipe, which contains sharp teeth at the edge, then creates a vacuum that carries away soil and debris up to 200 miles per hour, or 322 kilometers per hour.

 

2013 Ditch Witch FX60 Vacuum Trailer Excavator

2013 Ditch Witch FX60 Vacuum Trailer Excavator

 

 

What is a long reach excavator?

Long reach excavators features a lengthier arm and boom sections. The design allows for better operation in hard-to-reach locations. 

 

2010 Link-Belt 240x2 Long Front Hydraulic Excavator

2010 Link-Belt 240x2

 

 

What is a mini excavator?

An increasingly popular style, mini excavators are a smaller and lighter version of the standard excavator. These small excavators are capable of minimizing ground damage and fitting through crowded, narrow sites like parking lots and indoor spaces.

 

2014 Bobcat E50 Mini Excavator

2014 Bobcat E50

 

 

What are popular excavator brands and models?

Some popular excavator brands include Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, Volvo, Hitachi, Kubota, and Bobcat.

Popular models include:

          •  Caterpillar 336F L, 323F L
          •  Komatsu PC360LC-11, PC210LC-11
          •  John Deere 210G LC, 85G

 

What are some general features of an excavator?

Excavators may include a Fully Enclosed Cab, Auxiliary Hydraulics, Suspension Seat, Heat & Air Conditioning, Work Modes, AM/FM Radio and more.

 

For more info on a specific excavator selling on auction, please email auctionservices@bidadoo.com or call 206.442.9000.