Cómo elegir la excavadora adecuada para su proyecto

With various sizes and features available, excavators can handle every task from construction and agriculture to landscaping and site prep. Choosing an excavator is a significant decision that starts with matching your project’s demands to a machine’s capabilities. This guide breaks down the specs and selection criteria to help you find the equipment that delivers maximum efficiency, performance and value.

Factors in Selecting the Best Excavator 

When evaluating excavators for your project, consider what elements matter most to your operations. 

Project Size 

Not every job calls for a full-sized excavator. Smaller projects and worksites with limited space, such as urban environments, often benefit from mini or midi excavators’ compact size and agility. Their maneuverability can streamline operations and alleviate the challenges of working in tight areas. 

On the other hand, large-scale tasks like deep excavation or mining demand heavy-duty machines with greater horsepower and load capacity. In these cases, investing in a larger excavator can boost productivity and deliver better economy over time.

Jobsite Conditions

Assess your terrain and site conditions to determine whether a tracked or wheeled excavator is better for your project. Tracked excavators, or crawlers, have better traction for uneven ground, rocky terrains and steep slopes. The wheeled variant best suits paved surfaces and can travel much faster across jobsites.

Project Type 

Consider what tasks you need to achieve with an excavator.

• Digging: Larger excavators can dig deeper, which can be useful for trenching and more heavy-duty projects. 
• Grading: Tracks are better than wheels at maneuvering around slopes and uneven surfaces, which makes them excellent for grading.
• Demolition: Working at height, long-reach excavators are ideal for demolition jobs. Their extra-long arms and boom can reach up to 60 feet in some models.
• Landscaping: Mini excavators are ideal for residential projects or tasks that require precision. Their smaller bucket size and auger offer better control, making them especially useful for planting trees, mulching and other detailed landscaping work.  

You should also evaluate attachments other than the standard bucket. You can equip excavators with various attachments to suit your job needs, including hammers, piling drivers, rakes, thumbs, rippers, mulchers and winches. Opt for top-quality brands that support quick coupling and compatibility with several attachments.

Transportation and Storage

You must factor in the costs of transporting your machines to locations on extensive worksites or multiple nearby sites. Large, tracked excavators need specialized transportation, whereas mini excavators can fit on trailers. Depending on your state, you may also need a driver with a commercial driver’s license to transport your equipment by truck. Evaluate how much space you have to safely store your excavator between jobs and whether you’ll need to rent a facility.

Budget

The cost of buying a new or used excavator varies by weight class and model. Determine the most cost-effective excavator for your budget by calculating how much value the machine can bring to your business. You can also consider renting excavators for a lower upfront cost. 

Excavator Sizes

From mini to large, each size suits different applications. Let’s explore the three weight classes in more detail.

Mini 

The mini excavator is compact and weighs under seven metric tons. The cab and tracks are often narrower than other weight classes, allowing you to squeeze into tight residential areas. Mini excavators have almost no tail swing, which is also effective for working in cramped spaces. The other benefit of mini excavators is that they’re lighter and easily manage softer terrains. 

Mini excavators range from 13 to 70 horsepower. They can dig up to 15 feet deep and lift 1,500 pounds on average, up to 10,000 pounds on some models. 

Estándar 

Weighing between seven and 45 metric tons, standard excavators are commonly used in construction projects and for earthmoving and grading in other industries. They offer larger buckets and more power.

Midi excavators are also available as a step up in power and weight class from mini excavators, while remaining on the lighter end of the standard class scale. They still excel in tighter spaces but deliver more power and digging depth. Standard excavators have between 70 and 273 horsepower and a digging depth up to 24 feet. 

Large 

Exceeding 45 metric tons, large excavators are the machine of choice for heavy-duty tasks ranging from construction to truck loading. These are most cost-effective when you have a lot of earth to move on a lengthy project. With a digging depth of up to 32 feet, the most powerful excavators can exceed 540 horsepower. 

Excavator Specifications

Excavator designs vary, with different models built around distinct components and configurations.

• Wheeled versus tracked: Wheeled excavators provide extra mobility for tasks spread across your jobsites, while crawlers offer better traction. 
• Boom and stick length: Longer booms extend the reach of the bucket or other attachments to access high spaces. Shorter booms are better for smaller spaces like subway construction. Much like the boom length, various stick options suit your required digging depth or working height.
• Lifting capacity: Compare the weight of the materials you plan to lift with the excavator’s lifting capacity. 
• Bucket capacity: If you’re moving large volumes, excavators with bigger bucket capacities will help you complete your job more efficiently. 
• Horsepower: More powerful machines are correspondingly better for heavy-duty tasks, but horsepower isn’t the only measure of how effective an excavator might be at a particular job. The hydraulic system’s efficiency is another crucial variable.
• Tail swing: You may need an excavator with little to no tail swing when working on public roads or in tighter spaces. You can find this feature in mini and standard weight classes.
• Counterweights: When choosing an excavator, check the counterweight options to see if they match your project’s lifting requirements.

How to Choose the Best Excavator Checklist

Use this checklist to help you choose the best excavator.

• Project size: Consider how the excavator aligns with your worksite’s size and conditions.
• Transport: Plan how you will transport the excavator to the jobsite and whether you’ll require machines to move over longer distances on-site.
• Type of job: Think about attachments you might need and how the excavator’s weight class complements the loads you need to move.
• Key specifications: Review specifications like power, reach and tail swing.
• Budget: Pick the most efficient excavator for your project while fitting within your budget. Decide whether it makes more fiscal sense to buy or rent.

Find Excavators You Can Depend on at Blanchard Machinery Company

Sourcing the best excavator for your project gives your team a powerful tool to complete jobs efficiently to the highest level of client satisfaction. You can narrow your selection by comparing your project’s variables with the excavator’s benefits. To decide on a specific model, ask experts for more information or arrange a demo. 

Blanchard Machinery Company serves industries throughout South Carolina, including construction, defense and mining. For over 30 years, we have taken great pride in helping you build South Carolina. As the only certified Cat^® dealer in the state, we offer top-quality excavators and a full range of equipment, including from other nationally recognized brands like Toro, Genie and New Holland. Browse our range of excavators and request a free quote today.