Excavator Buying Guide
Excavators are some of the most common and popular examples of construction equipment on the market, due in no small part to their reliability, versatility, and power. If you’re interested in purchasing an excavator and want some help finding a model that is a good fit for your needs, check out this guide from Northwest Parts and Equipment.
Type of Work
While excavators are fairly versatile, some models are still better suited to certain types of work than others. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind factors like what kinds of materials you’re going to be moving, what kind of environment the excavator is going to be operating in, and how frequently the excavator will be used. Once you have an answer to these questions, you’ll be able to more effectively pinpoint the kind of excavator you should be looking for while shopping.
Excavator Size and Weight
Size/weight is an important factor to consider while shopping for excavators since it affects both the cost and the amount of work your excavator will be able to do in a given time frame. Bigger, heavier machines are more powerful and can handle a heavier load, but they’re also more expensive. Furthermore, a heavier excavator is more difficult to transport and can become a liability on a worksite where there’s not much room. If you’re working on a smaller job or a job that takes place in a city where there’s not much room, a more compact excavator might be the better option for you.
Engine Power
The amount of power that an excavator has is usually tied to its size/weight, since bulkier excavators almost always require a more powerful engine to move the heavy equipment around. However, there’s still a bit of wiggle room in which two excavators of similar size might have engines of slightly different horsepower. The important thing is making sure that your excavator has enough horsepower to perform its job. Purchasing a model with a more powerful engine than what you need “just in case” is usually a waste of money.
Bucket Capacity
Bucket capacity isn’t really a huge factor when comparing excavator models since your excavator’s bucket can be swapped out as needed. However, if you plan to use a particular bucket or other attachment on your excavator, you need to make sure that the attachment is compatible with your excavator.
Shop excavators at Northwest Parts and Equipment in Columbia Falls, Montana. We also offer financing, rentals, servicing, and parts ordering. We are proud to serve communities like White Fish and Kalispell, Montana.