What Size Excavator Do I Need To Dig A Basement

Hi folks! I'm looking to buy an excavator for the upcoming flavour. I'm a programmer/builder, and the biggest problem I have seems to be getting my basements dug.
What size of auto would you recommend as a minimum to excavate basements for houses and related utilities? About the max digging depth I'd encounter is 10'. Here's the kicker... I'd like the smallest machine that's viable so I could use information technology for other residential type work which often entails tight working weather.

TIA for your input. :Cowboy
Countryboy Senior Member

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Welcome to HEF, Silverado. :thumbsup
I'm certain somone can chime in with some options as I just run the bigger stuff. Feel complimentary to post some pics of what your working on though. :yup
If you are from Fort Mc Money :laugh
Finnings is probaby the about closest dealer to you that is Cat, oh god I can't beleive
I'am promoting True cat :bouncegri

I too looked it upward then Brandt Tractor has a dealer in Ford Mc Murray likewise so you lot can look at Deere too.

Every bit for the size that will be problem it depends on how fast you desire to dig the basement. A very mutual size Deere machine for residential construction is a 160LC which is a xvi ton machine. A 12,000lb size machine will dig basements but it will be clumsily boring. A 18,000lb machine prolly your best bet a Zaxis 80 sized machine its large enough to dig a basement and relativly modest enough to get into tighter spaces.

Welcome to the site :thumbsup
sounds like y'all could be digging some pretty big basements. I personally wouldnt want to dig a basement with anything smaller than a 120. I worked doing the earthworks and backfilling in a development with all the houses ~10' apart small front end and backyards. We used a 120 for all basement digs, backfilling, grading, everything upwards untill the landscapers came in to spread pinnacle soil. We somewhen got a mini towards the terminate of the line which made some things a picayune easier.
I suppose you could buy a big auto and rent a smaller one if/when needed, or buy a smaller machine and rent a large i if you have a big task. Just depends which gets you lot the most bang for your buck
IMO, the smallest machine to buy would be a 120.
Nac Senior Member

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Why dont y'all expect into a Cat 314 (Zero Swing) Deere 135 (Cypher Swing) Komarsu 128 or 158 (Nothing Swing)
Some call it Fort McMoney, others.... Fort McMisery :Banghead
As far as in boondocks, in that location are dealers for Cat, Bobcat, Case, JCB and Deere, and then brand pick probably isn't an issue. We actually have a good relationship with Leavitt in Calgary likewise; we just bought a Cat 262 and a Skytrak 10054 from them :thumbsup

One of my subcontractors runs Deere equipment, and tells me that their excavators are basically Hitachi machines... I guess this is a expert thing?

What I hear you guys saying is that I demand to become a little bigger than I idea. I can booty anything up to 15000lb with the trailer I have now; over that, and I'm looking at subbing out the trucking or picking up a different hauler to move the unit around... $$$$$$$$$
CM1995 Super Moderator

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Hey Silverado-
Being a small builder/programmer myself, I started out with a 315CL (which I thought was huge at the fourth dimension) and now I have a 321CLR zero-swing cat and a 325DL. Of form I started out digging my own basements and eventually got into putting my own streets/lots in. If you remember you desire to get deeper into the infrastructure development so my suggestion would be a 315CL. Although this is not a zip-swing it is a very skillful size car for residential blazon piece of work. It think it weighs 36K pounds +/-? The 312CL is also a skillful size machine for this type work.
I hope this helps out - just my 2cts.
I heard that some of the long time Fort Mc Murray residents didn't like the large change information technology went from a small Northern community to a oil town.
If you take skillful relations with Cat rentals effort rent a xvi ton excavator and see how well it works for your needs. I wouldn't let the ways of moving the machine around limit your choices. A sixteen ton auto is piece of cake to get moved because all yous need is a tag trailer backside a gravel truck. Start getting into the 200 sized machines (20 ton) then your going to have a lowbed moving you around.

Many contractors on the Due west Coast have a independant lowbed company motility their 200 sized auto to the different sites the client pays for move in.

Quicker you lot go the basements dug quicker you guys tin can go the houses congenital I imagine the shortage of houses in Fort Mc Murray must be in the hundreds.
The nail'due south been going on here for years, but in that location are however some residents in the community with a serious case of NIMBY LOL
Now that y'all mention a dumper/tag setup, I'grand not and so concerned as I believe a DT is in the cards sooner than later. You can merely scramble so many times to notice someone to truck yous drain stone at the last infinitesimal before you lot learn your lesson... :Banghead
A 120 to 160 sized automobile is the best bet.... if mostly you are concerned about getting a basement dug, then err to the larger side.
And Id stay away fro mthe ZTR machines; unless you lot actually need the clearence in the rear (95% of the time in residential, y'all don't) you lot pay for it in over the side tipping rates. A large bucket of wet soil way of the side of any low clearence machine will have it tipping.
CM1995 Super Moderator

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You non only pay for performance in the side tipping simply you also pay more than $$$ for the aforementioned size machine. Parts are too more $$$ for a not-standard machine. Parts for my 321CLCR are at to the lowest degree 30-40% more than a 32O and yous have to wait forever to get them.
By the way hire out your lowboy moves. Much cheaper than owning a lowboy. We move up to D6N and 953 with our tag trailer and dump truck. Everything else is moved by others. Information technology costs about $250-$300 per motility around town (30 miles MOL)for a 325. I would definetly recommend a dump truck. Information technology is the nearly profitable slice of equipment I own.:thumbsup

If yous become with a heavy tag trailer I would advise air/hyd. operated ramps. Those heavy duty ramps tin can be a bugger to lift by hand.:Banghead
I would hold with everybody else on hither the deeres are a very skilful machine, the cats are too. both well balanced, very powerful machines i ve ran a couple of 160s deeres and a couple of 315 and 320 cats, i liked them both. simply its all about how the salesman treats you i guess and who can get the parts faster, if need exist , imo there both outstanding machines!
Gmads Well-Known Member

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Cheque out the Takeuchi TB1140. I bought two of these to dig against walls, merely have plant them to be extremely capable all around machines. They spec out at to the lowest degree as well as a CAT 312CL (a little less in dig depth just however practical to 15'+). They use the same Isuzu motor that'due south in the Hitachi, come standard with a blade, and have a slewing boom that pretty much allows you to do what a zero tail swing does without losing over the side elevator capacity. They are also much cheaper than a Cat or Deere. And then far nosotros've been really happy with them.
Osborne ent. Member

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me two
Silverado I understand your situation, Im also in the same situation. I have a 580k backhoe which is keen this year im getting more aggresive so I really need an excavator. All I accept to pull 1 with is a 2 ton dump. Ive been looking at the 75uu Komatsu and the 307 cat. A new machine is out of the question and are some good deals on used machines of the mentioned size. Im hoping to sub out my bigger machines or rent for know. Have you looked at these machines Im curious what hours would be best to buy at in this size. I like the cab on the Komatsu improve. The machines wait quiet similar in size and ratings. The komatsu 128 would be great to take. Only if ive take to pay someone to move it might every bit well motion a bigger automobile similar a 312, 315
CM1995 Super Moderator

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Simply a idea-
One thing to consider about buying used small excavators is the "grayness market" machines that are out there. Like the bluish Kobelcos, majestic Komatsu's or the Cats that have Rega on them. Some of these grayness market place machines are non upward to US requirements for emissions and safe bug, too parts can be hard to come by.

Probably everybody knows this - but my $.02.

Later
Thanks to all and then far... some really good information hither for a impaired carpenter to digest LOL
I'm definitely leaning toward subbing out the trucking of the automobile, and buying a dump truck and pup. Everyone I talk to up here says that the DT is the coin maker for sure.

Thanks once more, and I'll stay tuned to HEF for more than good info! :Cowboy
heres my littler motorcar case 9010b,,, i was working westward a 580 for years until i grabbed this case , i dear the bract and pollex, both are must haves if you take 1 car for almost of your work, practiced luck 26k or larger i say

Attached Files:
If you lot are in FT Mcmurray, you should should definitley be looking at teh Cat 315, Finning is the largest Cat dealer in the world , they have 3 locations up there and they have fantabulous parts and service capabilities. The 315 also has a larger engine and better pump set up up than the Deere or Komatsu and then if you decide to diverse afterward at that place are more things you can practise. Finning also offers a 3yr / 5ooo hr warranty with their machines and so you have a long period of fourth dimension basically worry costless, Nigh 315's I have seen tend to go to the 15000 hr mark without a whole lot of major work or component exchange. And then yous take to look at the resale value in 3-5 years vs the other 2 majors and yous will run across that the CAT is also an investment rather than just an aquisition
Good luck
CM1995 Super Moderator

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