The Smallest Mini Digger?

Due to a surge in home improvements, particularly outside projects, super compact 1- to 2-metric-ton excavators have grown even more popular.

Patrick Baker, Kubota's product manager, says "The ultra-compact market remained healthy during 2020 due to a strong rental market and a landscaping and residential push due to the pandemic," according to the report. "This year, more people are finishing hardscape, landscaping, and residential projects than in past years."

These compact mini diggers are great for first-time DIYers who seek a faster, less back-breaking alternative to a shovel and wheelbarrow. To begin with, they are easy to move and fit into yards due to their small size.


These mini diggers are easy to transport, as they can be loaded into a trailer and dragged behind a full-size pickup truck, making them ideal for homeowners. They can fit through standard doorways, gates, and other restricted areas due to their small size.

The retractable undercarriage and blade with replaceable end bits are ideal for working in compact locations since they can be extended once in situ and ready to work.


These super compact diggers have a smaller footprint while performing street or utility work, causing less ground disturbance in yards and less concrete and asphalt damage. Because of their small size, they are also less likely to crash with any impediments, such as surrounding landscapes or structures.


"Smaller excavators really shine wherever they fit," says Justin Steger, John Deere's marketing manager for site development and subsurface solutions. "Let's say you're a landscaper working in a residential subdivision where the lot borders are getting closer and closer. As a result, property lines that are walled in have modest gates. Instead of putting gate removal and replacement, or worse, gate repair due to damage into the job, a smaller excavator may be able to fit through the gate and get to work sooner. You'll usually have a satisfied customer because you cause less damage and inconvenience to their property while on the job."

Models in miniature
Are you interested in purchasing or renting one of these small machines? Let's have a look at some of the tiniest excavators on the market from different manufacturers.

Bobcat E10
Bobcat's E10 has a 28-inch retractable track width, allowing it to easily manoeuvre through tight places and operate in tighter environments. This machine is a zero tail swing compact excavator, which gives you the most slewing and depositing flexibility while also protecting you from building obstacles.

According to Jason Boerger, Bobcat's marketing manager for excavators, the E10, like the rest of Bobcat's excavators, has improved performance, uptime protection, comfort, and serviceability characteristics. "Among the performance features are a selectable control pattern, two-speed travel, and retractable blade and undercarriage. With the adjustable control pattern, operators can easily switch between 'excavator' and 'backhoe,' and two-speed travel helps them cross the jobsite faster."

Both the E10 and Bobcat's E20 have hydraulically activated retractable undercarriages that allow operators to access tight gates and openings while preserving the excavation machine's power. Both models have a retractable blade for greater manoeuvrability in confined situations.


Kubota's K008-3 excavator is the company's tiniest model. This ultra-compact excavator features two-speed travel, foldable ROPS for easier excavator entry into tight locations — such as doorways and elevators — and a quick operating control pattern conversion, with ISO or SAE options. With the push of a single lever, the excavator's breadth may be shrunk to an ultra-small 28 in. The K008-other 3's notable features include a durable Kubota E-TVCS engine and easily accessible repair areas.

"Maintenance on the K008-3 is basic and uncomplicated for the owner and/or operator," Baker says. "The bucket hoses are protected from damage and debris during operation." By integrating hydraulic lines inside the boom and dipper arm, Kubota improved hose and boom cylinder protection on the K008-3. The fully opening hood and new engine arrangement make daily checks and inspections simple and painless."

Next up is the John Deere 17G. Unlike other models in the company's G-Series, the 17G has a variable-width undercarriage and a foldable blade, making it ideal for large jobs in tight spaces.

"To narrow the backfill blade, the 17G undercarriage, as well as foldable wings, can be hydraulically retracted," says Steger. "This decreases the machine's overall width to a minimum of 39 inches, allowing it to navigate through confined spaces." It can be easily shifted and extended for firm stability once on the other side of that gate or beyond the obstruction. This feature allows our 17G to operate in areas where other machines cannot."

Takeuchi's TB210R features a 2,535-pound working weight, a 5 foot, 9.1-inch dig depth, and a maximum reach of 10 feet, 9.4-inch reach. The retractable undercarriage on this ultra-compact model extends from 40.2 inches to 29.5 inches, allowing it to fit into even the tiniest of spaces.

Takeuchi product manager David Caldwell explains, "The unit is a short tail swing type with its track extended." The maker adds, "There's also a backfill blade with extensions, pilot controls, a pattern change valve, and two-speed travel." Its foldable ROPS allow it to pass through low-clearance areas, and its serviceability is boosted by its easily accessible design."

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

"The SV08-1D was created with the goal of internal renovation in mind. Because of the foldable ROPS and adjustable track width, users can easily pass through a standard internal doorway," says Yanmar product specialist Erik Coyle. "It's also ideal for low-pressure gardening, irrigation, and plumbing projects." The eco-friendly, ultra-low-noise engine is ideal for usage in the home. It's a terrific machine in the right applications."


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

The 1.8-ton ECR18E, Volvo Construction Equipment's smallest model, has an ultra-short tail radius that allows it to enter into spaces as small as 39 inches. The ECR18E's flexible undercarriage may be modified from 39 to 53 inches in length. According to the company, customers influenced the design of the ECR18E, which features a large cab with well-placed handrails, metal panels all the way around for ease of maintenance and repair, and side-by-side coolers that allow even cooling for the hydraulics.

Volvo excavator
According to John Comrie, Volvo's product manager for compact excavators and compact loaders, it's also easy to transport due to its tiny size, light weight, and four tie-down points. "Put it on a little trailer with three buckets and a hydraulic breaker, and you're good to go." The ECR18E also has a distinctive high-profile counterweight, a four-pillar canopy that is ROPS/TOPS/FOPS approved, and a clean, uncluttered operator environment, all of which add to our safety focus. We made service stations more accessible and improved service accessibility."

JCB's smallest model, the 2-ton 19C-1E, is also the company's first entirely electric micro excavator. A four-battery pack with a capacity of 417 Ah (20 kWh) powers the 19C-1E, which can run for an entire day on a single charge.

"The 19C-1E is perfectly suited to construction and excavation activities within confined or urban jobsites, or noise- and emissions-sensitive situations such as hospitals and schools," says Chris Lucas, JCB's excavator product manager. "It has the same horsepower as JCB's diesel-powered 19C excavator, but it makes a fifth of the noise and emits no exhaust."

The 19C-1E also features a Bosch Rexroth load-sensing hydraulic system for enhanced digging performance to a maximum dig depth of 8 ft, 5 in., a fully glass cab, and a retractable undercarriage for easy handling of restricted corridors and entrances.

What Are Excavators (Diggers) Used For ?

Excavators are enormous construction vehicles that are used to dig up or move massive things. Excavators have two primary components: a powerful boom arm with excavation attachments and a driving base. The arm is controlled by the driver, who sits in a small cab linked to the base.
The mechanical arm of the excavator is controlled by the hydraulic force provided by the excavator's hydraulic system. It is likewise propelled by a chain wheel system.

Excavators are employed in both large and minor construction operations. Excavate, transport construction materials, and remove construction waste on smaller home projects, road construction, naval constructions to install armour and big rocks, and larger sites to excavate, move construction material, and remove construction waste, among other things..... Excavators are divided into several categories based on its function, brand, and application.

In the construction sector, an excavator is a piece of machinery.

Excavators are used in construction.

Excavators are perhaps the most widely utilised machine in the construction industry.

An excavator can be used for a wide range of tasks.

Trenches, pits, and foundations must all be dug.
Material Handling for Demolition
In general, landscaping and grading
Hydraulic attachments for brush cutting
Forestry labour includes pipe lifting and placement.
Open-pit mining refers to mining that takes place in open pits, but is not confined to them.
Dredges are being used to dredge rivers.

Can A Mini Excavator Remove Tree Stumps?

You can use a hoe to soften the ground, a rake to clean out the waste, and a plate compactor to compress everything, but you won't be able to remove heavier debris or dig deeper holes without putting in a lot of effort. Because a mini digger can't go into the backyard, you won't be able to use it.

In this case, a small excavator is really useful. Although it isn't as large as a full-fledged excavator, it can accomplish the most of the tasks that a DIYer would require. With the range of attachments available, there isn't much a tiny excavator can't do. Is the small excavator, on the other hand, capable of removing tough stumps?

A tiny excavator can remove tree stumps, however the size of the stump it can remove is limited. Smaller stumps can be easily removed with a small excavator. Mini excavators may require additional attachments for larger stumps. The particulars will be discussed later.

How Much Can A Micro Digger Lift?

Whether you need one for landscaping or trenching, micro diggers have become a popular choice for residential sites and small business operations. Construction and landscaping experts have praised their adaptability and usefulness. Mini excavators, such as the Kubota U17-3a, offer a unique solution for working with limited space and access.

However, just because the site is small does not imply that the job will be simple. As a result, contractors with significant landscaping, excavating, or trenching jobs are among the first to inquire about whether a little excavator will suffice. Because one of the excavator's key jobs is to move dirt, you might be interested in learning more about its lifting capabilities. In this post, the Kubota U17-3a, our most popular micro digging equipment for hire, is presented as an example. Is it possible to complete the assignment with only one of them? The following amount of soil may be moved by an excavator each hour:

A tiny excavator's lifting and mobility capabilities
A lot of factors, including the machine's capability, influence the depth to which you can dig and the amount of soil you can move in the bucket.

The project specifications, as well as subsurface impediments, are likely to limit the depth of a residential or small commercial site.

The Kubota U17-3a is designed to collect dirt as near to the machine as feasible as quickly and efficiently as possible, thanks to its zero tail swing and simple manoeuvrability. The compact excavator has a width of 1240mm and a length of 3545mm, allowing it to easily reach limited areas. It's a sturdy and robust digging machine with a long arm that extends the reach of the excavator without sacrificing lifting strength. Depending on the lift, the lift capacity ranges 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. The compact excavator packs a lot of punch into a little container, making it ideal for trenching and digging around the house.

Examine the technical parameters of the excavator you're using to determine the exact lifting capability for your demands. Because your surroundings, bucket specifications, and range lifting requirements all play a role.

How much dirt can an excavator move in one hour?
Without a thorough evaluation of the soil conditions, that task will be impossible to complete:

The soil type
Soil densities
Soil moisture content
Subtract the mass per cubic metre from the total mass.
Calculate the load-bearing weight of the excavation tools.
Excavation location (excavation work can be completed more quickly in an open region/plot than in a built or constrained area).
Furthermore, if the soil is hard clay and must be removed with a pick axe, the job may take many days to accomplish. If there are roots or rocks in the excavation, it will take longer. Because you'll need to account for layout and measurements in your time estimate, it doesn't matter if the hole is square and must be drilled properly for earth formation.

In average digging conditions in common dirt, trained operators may move roughly 40 cubic yards in an hour with the Kubota 0.0m3 bucket capacity. To put it another way, little landscaping and trenching jobs can be accomplished in a matter of hours.

Type Of Diggers That We Supply

At Sols Digger Hire Kent, we utilise Bobcat, Caterpillar, Hitachi, and JCB Micro and Mini Diggers because we feel Bobcat's diggers are far superior than those of its competitors.

Take a look at the product pages for Hitachi, Caterpillar, JCB and Bobcat.

Sols Digger Hire Kent

tel:01227 202307

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