The increasing popularity of compact excavators in recent years has brought with it a vast selection of models. Today, equipment manufacturers make enough different models that rental store owners can choose one tailor-fitted for a variety of customer needs. So with all of these choices, how do they choose which excavators to stock their rental fleets?
Ask the right questions
First, there are some important questions rental store owners should ask themselves, says Tom Connor, excavator product specialist for Bobcat Co.
One of the easiest questions to answer is whether a specific compact excavator is needed. If rental customers frequently ask for a certain compact excavator not currently in stock, then it can be justified to add one to an equipment fleet.
Once the need is determined, Connor recommends asking whether the desired unit can perform the required tasks. Can it access rental customers' required worksites in regards to its width and weight? Can it achieve the expected performance in regards to lift capacity and digging power and depth?
“A rental store owner should evaluate the anticipated tasks and select a machine that has the capabilities to perform those tasks with room for growth,” Connor says. “It is also important to investigate attachment availability in order to assure maximum utilization of the machine. Does the machine have an easy-to-use attachment-mounting system? Is the machine designed and able to accommodate a hydraulic clamp? Does the manufacturer offer attachments and does the dealer stock them?”
Size, power and performance
For most rental customers, size of the machine will be of great concern. Because many rental customers work in confined residential areas, they need machines that can access the hard-to-reach jobsites. “A rental store owner needs to evaluate their customers' anticipated worksite limitations, primarily width,” Connor says. “In general, midsize to smaller models appeal to the rental industry.”
To help customers access confined areas, some manufacturers offer compact excavator models with retractable undercarriages. The feature allows the operator to retract the undercarriage, pass through a gate or fence, and then expand the undercarriage when actually working.
Knowing rental customers don't want to sacrifice performance for size, equipment manufacturers are packing their smaller excavator models with more power. For example, some smaller compact excavator models feature bucket breakout forces of about 3,750 foot-pounds to 4,750 foot-pounds. And for added digging depth, rental companies can choose compact excavators with long-arm or extendable-arm options.
Tail- and house-swing options
When compact excavators first hit the U.S. construction market in the mid-1980s there was only one kind of tail swing — conventional. But today, there are also excavators with zero-tail swing and zero-house swing, which give operators more unrestricted rotation and provide flexibility when working close to objects or against a wall. The ZTS feature significantly reduces the chance of the excavator's tail inadvertently contacting surrounding objects, and the ZHS feature all but eliminates the chance of hitting the right and left front corners as well. If customers are always working close to objects or against walls, then consider adding ZTS and ZHS models to your rental fleet.
Generally, a ZTS or ZHS compact excavator of a given size will be wider than its conventional-tail-swing counterpart. If a rental center has a large customer base that must routinely pass through narrow property lines, gates or fences, a conventional-tail-swing excavator may be a better addition to the store's equipment fleet. For instance, according to Connor, the typical width of a conventional-tail-swing, 3- to 4-metric ton compact excavator will be about 60 inches, whereas ZTS and ZHS excavators with similar performance will have a width of about 70 inches.
All the features you want
In addition to ZTS and ZHS, other popular compact excavator features include independent-boom swing, slew function and easy-to-use attachment-mounting systems. Independent-boom swing enables the machine to dig parallel and immediately adjacent to an existing structure. This feature allows the operator to dig on either side of an obstacle without repositioning. A compact excavator's slew function gives the operator the ability to rotate and place spoil in the most appropriate location, minimizing the need to relocate the spoil.
Each manufacturer offers its own type of attachment-mounting system. Rental customers are more likely to use the proper-sized bucket and best type of attachment for the job if the excavator's attachment-mounting system is quick and easy to use. This can mean improved fuel savings, faster job completion and less wear on the machine. Common compact excavator attachments include trenching buckets, grading buckets, plate compactors, hydraulic breakers and augers.
Select manufacturers have incorporated several features in their compact excavators so that owners can protect their investment. For example, Connor says a majority of Bobcat compact excavators are equipped with an automatic shutdown that monitors the machine's engine and hydraulic functions. It alerts the operator and actually shuts the machine down, lessening the chance of catastrophic damage to the engine or hydraulic components. Some excavators also come with on-board diagnostics to efficiently troubleshoot problems in the field and prevent them before they occur, thus reducing downtime.
Safety and maintenance
After deciding on the compact excavator's size, power and features, many rental store owners will compare machine safety features and ease of maintenance, according to Connor.
Manufacturers have incorporated several safety features in their compact excavators to protect operators. For example, some compact excavators have a control console lock system that requires the operator to lower the left-hand console in order to use the work group or travel system. This avoids unintentional activation of the machine's boom, arm, bucket, slew and travel systems. Another safety feature is a pedal lock, which prevents inadvertent operation of the boom-swing function. Utility contractors should also check if the compact excavator comes with TOPS/ROPS-rated cabs and/or canopies and retractable seat belts.
Safety features aren't as effective if rental customers don't know how to operate them and the machine properly. That's why it is important to make sure the manufacturer provides all of the tools and instructions needed for safe and proper operation. In addition to the owner's manual, some manufacturers provide a weatherproof operator handbook, operator training courses and excavator-service training courses.
No rental company wants a compact excavator that makes it difficult to perform routine maintenance. When comparing compact excavator models, Connor suggests investigating to see if routine maintenance items can be easily accessed. Look for a compact excavator that has a swing-open tailgate because it'll provide better access to engine and pump components. Also check to see if the machine has centralized grease points for the slew bearing, pinion gear and swing boom.
Demo the equipment
Above all, the best way to compare compact excavator models is to operate them.
Not all compact excavators are created equal. Machines may appear to operate close to the same speed when sitting in a parking lot, but they might have completely different characteristics when placed under load. Connor advises not to rely on simple dry runs to determine any purchase. Try targeted excavators in real-life situations, such as loading trucks or trenching, because some machines' production and speed increase by as much as 30 percent over others — simply due to the balance between the hydraulic system and engine horsepower. Connor says these differences are not evident until the machine works in real jobsite situations.
“Ask the dealer for the ability to demo the machine,” Connor says. “Examine the machine's operator comfort and visibility, ease of routine maintenance, accessibility to components if service is needed, and of course, performance.”
Tara Deering is a technical writer for Des Moines, Iowa-based Two Rivers Marketing.
