What’s The Smallest Mini Digger?

Super tiny 1- to 2-metric-ton excavators have become even more popular as a result of an increase in house upgrades, particularly outside projects.

According to the survey, "the ultra-compact market remained healthy in 2020 due to a strong rental market and a landscape and residential push due to the pandemic," according to Patrick Baker, Kubota's product manager. "This year, more people than in previous years are completing hardscape, landscaping, and residential projects."

These small mini diggers are ideal for first-time DIYers looking for a less strenuous alternative to a shovel and wheelbarrow. To begin with, their compact size makes them easy to move and fit into yards.


These mini diggers are great for homeowners since they can be placed into a trailer and hauled behind a full-size pickup truck. Because of their modest size, they can fit through regular doorways, gates, and other restricted areas.

Because the retractable undercarriage and blade with interchangeable end bits may be extended once in place and ready to work, they are perfect for working in tight spaces.


When performing street or utility work, these super compact diggers have a smaller footprint, causing less ground disturbance in yards and less concrete and asphalt damage. They are also less likely to collide with any barriers, such as adjacent landscapes or structures, due to their diminutive size.


"Smaller excavators really shine wherever they fit," says Justin Steger, site development and subsurface solutions marketing manager at John Deere. "Imagine you're a landscaper working in a residential neighbourhood where the lot lines are closing up on each other. As a result, walled-in property lines have small gates. Rather than putting gate removal and replacement, or even worse, gate repair due to damage, a smaller excavator may be able to fit through the gate and get to work faster. Because you cause less damage and disruption to their property while on the job, you'll likely have a satisfied customer."

Miniature replicas
Are you thinking about buying or renting one of these little machines? Let's take a look at a few of the smallest excavators available from various manufacturers.

E10 Bobcat
The E10 from Bobcat has a 28-inch retractable track width that allows it to readily manoeuvre through narrow spaces and operate in more restricted conditions. This machine is a zero tail swing small excavator, giving you the maximum slewing and depositing versatility while also shielding you from construction obstacles.

The E10, like the remainder of Bobcat's excavators, has increased performance, uptime protection, comfort, and serviceability, according to Jason Boerger, Bobcat's marketing manager for excavators. "A customizable control pattern, two-speed travel, and retractable blade and undercarriage are among the performance features. Operators can quickly switch between 'excavator' and 'backhoe' with the changeable control pattern, and two-speed travel helps them cross the jobsite faster."

The hydraulically activated retractable undercarriages on both the E10 and Bobcat's E20 allow operators to access tight gates and openings while preserving the excavation machine's power. Both variants include a retractable blade for improved manoeuvrability in tight spaces.


The K008-3 excavator from Kubota is the company's smallest model. This ultra-compact excavator has two speeds of movement, foldable ROPS for simpler excavator entry into confined spaces like doorways and elevators, and a quick operating control pattern changeover with ISO or SAE options. The excavator's width can be reduced to an ultra-small 28 inches with the push of a single lever. A sturdy Kubota E-TVCS engine and conveniently accessible repair locations are among the K008-other 3's significant features.

"The owner and/or operator's maintenance on the K008-3 is basic and uncomplicated," Baker says. "During operation, the bucket hoses are shielded from damage and debris." Kubota increased hose and boom cylinder protection on the K008-3 by incorporating hydraulic lines inside the boom and dipper arm. Daily checkups and inspections are quick and painless thanks to the fully opening hood and innovative engine arrangement."

The John Deere 17G is up next. The 17G has a variable-width undercarriage and a foldable blade, unlike other G-Series models, making it perfect for large work in compact places.

"The 17G undercarriage, as well as folding wings, can be hydraulically retracted to narrow the backfill blade," explains Steger. "The machine's entire width is reduced to a minimum of 39 inches, allowing it to manoeuvre through tight locations." Once on the other side of the gate or past the obstruction, it may be easily adjusted and stretched for sturdy stability. This capability enables the 17G to work in areas where other machines are unable to."

The Takeuchi TB210R has a working weight of 2,535 pounds, a dig depth of 5 feet, 9.1 inches, and a maximum reach of 10 feet, 9.4 inches. This ultra-compact model's retractable undercarriage expands from 40.2 inches to 29.5 inches, allowing it to fit into even the smallest of areas.

"The unit is a short tail swing type with its track extended," Takeuchi product manager David Caldwell says. "There's also a backfill blade with extensions, pilot controls, a pattern change valve, and two-speed travel," the manufacturer notes. Its foldable ROPS allow it to travel through low-clearance places, and its conveniently accessible design improves its serviceability."

The SV08-1D, Yanmar's smallest mini excavator, weights only 2,348 pounds. The SV08-1D has a maximum width of 2 ft. 9 in., a folding ROPS, and an ultra-tight tail swing for working in tight spaces, especially inside.

"The SV08-1D was designed with the intention of renovating the interior of a building. Users may easily pass through a typical internal entryway thanks to the foldable ROPS and adjustable track width," says Yanmar product specialist Erik Coyle. "It's also great for low-pressure gardening, irrigation, and plumbing chores," says the manufacturer. The low-noise, eco-friendly engine is excellent for use in the house. In the right applications, it's a fantastic machine."


On the SV08-1D, auxiliary hydraulics with a maximum flow of 5.2 gpm at 2,625 psi are standard. The machine has a 2,360-pound breakout force, 1,550-pound tractive force, and a four-year/4,000-hour warranty.

Volvo Construction Equipment's smallest model, the 1.8-ton ECR18E, has an ultra-short tail radius, allowing it to fit into places as tiny as 39 inches. The adjustable undercarriage of the ECR18E can be adjusted from 39 to 53 inches in length. Customers influenced the design of the ECR18E, which includes a large cab with well-placed handrails, metal panels all the way around for easy maintenance and repair, and side-by-side coolers that allow for even cooling of the hydraulics, according to the company.

Excavator Volvo
It's also easy to transport, thanks to its small size, light weight, and four tie-down points, according to John Comrie, Volvo's product manager for compact excavators and compact loaders. "Place it on a small trailer with three buckets and a hydraulic breaker, and you're all set." A distinctive high-profile counterweight, a four-pillar canopy that is ROPS/TOPS/FOPS approved, and a clean, uncluttered operator environment round out the ECR18E's safety features. We improved service accessibility by making service stations more accessible."

The 2-ton 19C-1E is JCB's smallest model and the company's first totally electric micro excavator. The 19C-1E is powered by a four-battery pack with a capacity of 417 Ah (20 kWh), which can last a whole day on a single charge.

"The 19C-1E is ideal for construction and excavation work in congested or metropolitan environments, as well as noise- and emissions-sensitive environments like hospitals and schools," explains Chris Lucas, JCB's excavator product manager. "It has the same horsepower as JCB's diesel-powered 19C excavator, but it emits no pollution and makes a sixth of the noise."

A Bosch Rexroth load-sensing hydraulic system for improved digging performance to a maximum dig depth of 8 ft, 5 in., a fully glass cab, and a retractable undercarriage for ease handling of confined hallways and entrances are also included on the 19C-1E.

Excavators (Diggers) Use

Excavators are gigantic construction vehicles that dig up or move massive objects. A powerful boom arm with excavating attachments and a drive base are the two main components of excavators. The driver, who sits in a small cab connected to the base, is in charge of the arm.
The hydraulic power provided by the excavator's hydraulic system controls the mechanical arm of the excavator. A chain wheel mechanism is also used to propel it.

Excavators are used in both big and small construction projects. Excavate, transport building materials, and remove construction waste on modest house projects, road construction, naval constructions to install armour and massive boulders, and larger sites to excavate, move construction materials, and remove construction waste, among other things..... Excavators are classified into numerous groups based on their purpose, brand, and use.

An excavator is a piece of machinery used in the construction industry.

In the construction industry, excavators are used.

Excavators are one of the most common machines in the construction business.

An excavator can perform a variety of functions.

There must be trenches, pits, and foundations dug.
Demolition Material Handling
Landscaping and grading are two terms that are used interchangeably.
Brush-cutting hydraulic attachments
Pipe lifting and placing are part of forestry work.
Mining that takes place in open pits, but is not limited to them, is known as open-pit mining.
River dredging is done with dredges.

Can I Use A Mini Excavator To Remove A Tree Stump?

You can mellow the soil with a hoe, clear out the trash with a rake, and compress everything with a plate compactor, but you will not be able to eliminate heavier material or dig deeper holes without a lot of effort. You won't be able to utilise a little digger because it can't go into the backyard.

A mini excavator is really handy in this situation. Although it isn't as powerful as a full-fledged excavator, it can handle the most of the duties that a DIYer would need. There isn't much a little excavator can't do with the variety of attachments available. Is, on the other hand, the tiny excavator capable of removing stubborn stumps?

Tree stumps can be eliminated with a small excavator, however the size of the stump it can remove is limited. With a little excavator, smaller stumps can be simply removed. For larger stumps, mini excavators may require additional attachments. The specifics will be discussed at a later time.

What Weight Can I Lift With A Micro Digger?

Micro diggers have become a popular choice for residential sites and small company operations, whether you need one for landscaping or trenching. Experts in construction and gardening have commended their versatility and utility. Mini excavators, such as the Kubota U17-3a, provide a one-of-a-kind alternative for working in tight spaces.

However, just because the location is tiny doesn't mean the job would be straightforward. As a result, landscaping, excavation, and trenching professionals are among the first to inquire about whether a little excavator will suffice. Because moving soil is one of the excavator's primary functions, you may be interested in learning more about its lifting capabilities. The Kubota U17-3a, our most popular micro-digging equipment for hire, is used as an example in this piece. Is it possible to finish the task with just one of them? An excavator can move the following quantity of soil per hour:

The lifting and movement capabilities of a small excavator
The depth to which you can dig and the amount of soil you can move in the bucket are both influenced by a number of factors, including the machine's capability.

The depth of a home or small commercial site is likely to be limited by project standards as well as subterranean obstructions.

Due to its zero tail swing and easy manoeuvrability, the Kubota U17-3a is designed to collect dirt as close to the machine as possible as quickly and efficiently as possible. With a width of 1240mm and a length of 3545mm, the small excavator can readily access tight spaces. It's a tough and durable digging equipment with a long arm that extends the excavator's reach without sacrificing lifting power. The lift capacity varies from 1.2kN (0.13 tonne) to 7.0kN (0.71 tonne), with a radius of 1.5m to 3m and a lifting height of +2m to -1.5m, depending on the lift. The tiny excavator is great for trenching and digging around the house since it packs a lot of power into a small container.

Examine the technical specifications of the excavator you're using to ascertain its precise lifting capacity. Because your environment, bucket specs, and range lifting requirements all play a part.

In one hour, how much dirt can an excavator move?
That work will be impossible to execute without a detailed assessment of the soil conditions:

The type of soil
Densities of soil
Moisture content of soil
Subtract the total mass from the mass per cubic metre.
Calculate the excavation tools' load-bearing weight.
Excavation site (in an open region/plot, excavation work can be finished faster than in a built or limited area).
Furthermore, if the soil is hard clay that must be removed with a pick axe, the process could take several days. It will take longer if there are roots or rocks in the excavation. It doesn't matter if the hole is square; you'll need to account for layout and measurements in your time estimate. The hole must be bored appropriately for earth formation.

With the Kubota 0.0m3 bucket capacity, trained operators can move around 40 cubic yards in an hour in ordinary digging circumstances in common dirt. To put it another way, minor landscaping and trenching projects can be completed in a few hours.

Type Of Diggers That We Supply

We utilise Bobcat, Caterpillar, Hitachi, and JCB Micro and Mini Diggers at Armor Digger Hire Essex because we believe Bobcat's diggers are considerably superior to those of its competitors.

Digger Brand Pages

Take a look at some more of the pages on our website to learn more about the specifications of Bobcat, Hitachi, JCB and Caterpillar.

Armor Digger hire Essex

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