Excavators are large, often yellow, earthmovers that stand out in the crows on account of their buckets, booms, swiveling cabs, and movable tracks. The biggest differentiating factor is their size. On the one side of the spectrum, you will find minis – that can weigh as much as a medium-sized passenger vehicle. On the other end of the spectrum, you will find Mad Max styled monsters that can weigh up to 1,000 tons. The excavator that you choose will depend on the size and nature of the job. Will you be working on hilly terrain? Then your best choice may be a crawler. Will you be needing to dig in the ocean? A dragline excavator or long reach excavator may be your best choice.
In order to help you in your choice, here are the principle seven types of excavators that you will need to choose from in addition to their pros and cons.
1. Crawler Excavators (also known as the standard excavator)
These beasts, whose undercarriage looks like that of a military tank) are typically used in earthmoving and mining operations. Their biggest strengths are their ability to move large quantities of earth in a highly efficient manner. They also feel perfectly comfortable operating in uneven terrain. Their only real drawback is the fact that they are slower than a wheeled excavator. The crawler uses hydraulic power and it is an exceptionally stable piece of machinery.
2. Wheeled Excavators
This is by far the ugliest member of the excavator family although there are numerous utilitarian benefits that come with this inherent lack of beauty. It does a great job on hard and flat surfaces across which it moves quickly. This makes it easy to transport between work sites and projects. The corollary of this is also true – it does not work well on muddy or hilly terrain. It is also easier to maneuver.
While the wheeled excavator is not suited for sites with soft soil or hills and slopes, it’s faster than a crawler when operated on a smooth, hard surface. It's also easier to maneuver.
3. Suction Excavators
Suction excavators are used in fragile digging jobs, debris cleanup and underground projects. On the plus side, these machines lessen the chance of damaging the surrounding area or underground utilities. These excavators include a suction pipe that functions as a high pressure-vacuum. Working in tandem with a built-in water jet, the suction system sucks up soil and debris fast - at speeds of 300 km per hour.
4. Long Reach Excavators
As the name suggests, these machines have a long extendable arm, which makes it easier to excavate from a safe distance. This long arm also makes it difficult to excavate in tight places. The reach of these monsters can range from 10 to 30 meters, which means that it is possible to reach sites that are 30 meters away. This type of excavator is made for jobs where the terrain or construction site prevents the machine and operator from getting too close, such as demolition projects that are over a river or lake.
5. Hydraulic Shovels
These machines are used in mining and heavy digging projects. They have powerful engines and large bucket capacity when compared to a standard excavator. They are also known as power shovels and are the most powerful members of the excavator family. You will most commonly find them on mines where there is the need to haul large rocks, minerals and other heavy objects.
6. Dragline Excavators
These large machines are most commonly seen in surface mining and very deep excavation projects given their digging depth capabilities of up to 65 meters. Given it size and limited number of attachments, these machines are not very versatile. It uses a hoist rope system and a dragline to raise and lower the bucket and drag it toward the driver. This hoist/dragline system makes this excavator ideal for excavating underwater in rivers and harbors.
7. Skid Steers
These small excavators are used in site clearing and debris removal. It is small and nimble which means it can get into narrow nooks and crannies. It runs on wheels instead of tracks and therefore may not perform well in uneven terrain. The biggest difference between a skid steer and a standard excavator is that with a skid steer, the boom and bucket face away from the driver. Skid steers are frequently used for small projects and residential work.
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