When is a small digger right for the job?

Small diggers pack a mighty punch and have the benefit of being lighter and easier to manoeuvre. We take a look at the kinds of jobs they’re great for.

This easy guide takes a look at our smaller excavator models (up to 3.5T) and some of their features that make a big difference on the job.

Small digger features to look out for

Working in a tight space? Keep it narrow, go for an offsetable boom or choose zero tail swing.

The 1.7T Yanmar Mini Digger is packed full of features that make it easy to work in a tight space, including adjustable track width that allows you to bring the track width down to 950mm from 1280mm – perfect for narrow alleys and paths.

The 1.7T Yanmar Mini Digger, 2.0T Yanmar Digger and 3.5T Yanmar Digger all feature an offset boom design that makes it possible to work right up against a wall where you have limited manoeuvring space.

The 1.7T Yanmar Mini Digger, 2.0T Yanmar Digger and 3.5T Yanmar Digger all feature a true zero tail swing – which means there’s no overhang as you rotate the cab above the digger’s tracks. That makes all three diggers easier to manoeuvre in a tight space.

Need to protect the concrete? Choose rubber tracks

The 1.7T, 2.0T and 3.5T Yanmar Diggers all have rubber tracks, allowing you to take maximum care of the surface you’re working on or travelling across.

Looking for an easy tow?

Both the 1.7T Yanmar Digger and the 2.0T Yanmar Digger come on their own trailer, making them easy to get to site.

The largest excavator in the Allways Hire fleet which can be legally towed on a trailer is the 2.0T Yanmar excavator. The 2.0T Yanmar Excavator is the big brother of the 1.7T Yanmar excavator with greater power, longer reach and greater lifting capacity.

Got a specific job to do?

Choose the right bucket or attachment

Know your bucket size.

If you’re shifting dirt (or digging trenches) then a bigger bucket could mean a much faster job. Compare bucket sizes below to get a better idea of which size of digger you need.

For comparison – a standard wheelbarrow is approx 45cm wide and holds about 115 to 170 litres.

Which attachment do you need?

Take a look at the attachments available for our smaller diggers in the table below.

Here’s what our smaller diggers do best

1.7T Excavators

• Shallow trench digging – maximum dig depth of 2200mm
• 2m max post hole boring and a maximum auger size of 600mm (with auger drill attachment)
• Excavating in tight construction jobs
• Landscaping – ripping small plants and trees out
• Grading small areas
• Prepping areas for concrete path/driveway
• Prepping areas for a new lawn
• Breaking up concrete or rocks (with concrete breaker attachment)
• Backfilling small open trenches
• Clearing vegetation and debris
• Making trails for walking, cycling etc
• Drilling holes for fence posts, small retaining walls and trees (with auger drill attachment)
• Light lifting jobs – maximum lifting capacity of 740kg
• And many more small scale jobs…

Explore the 1.7T Yanmar Mini Digger

1.7T Yanmar Excavator fitted with an auger drill to bore holes for a new fence.

1.7T Yanmar Excavator fitted with a concrete breaker attachment making light work of breaking up concrete.

1.7T Yanmar Excavator being craned onto the top of a building site fitted with a concrete breaker for a demolition job.

1.7T Yanmar Excavator fitted with a wide tilting bucket doing drainage work.

1.7T Yanmar Excavator doing landscape work at a residential house site.

2.0T – 2.7T Excavators

• Lifting tasks such as lifting small concrete sumps – maximum lifting capacity of 1200kg*
• Landscaping
• Excavating in tight construction jobs
• Landscaping – ripping small plants and trees out
• Grading small areas
• Prepping areas for concrete path/driveway
• Prepping areas for a new lawn
• Breaking up concrete or rocks (with concrete breaker attachment)
• Backfilling small open trenches
• Clearing vegetation and debris
• Making trails for walking, cycling etc
• Drilling holes for fence posts, retaining walls and trees (with auger drill attachment), maximum diameter of 600mm
• Trench digging – maximum dig depth of 2410mm
• And many more small scale jobs…

Explore the 2.0T Yanmar Mini Digger

2.0T Yanmar Excavator digging a trail for walking, cycling etc.

2.0T Yanmar Excavator boring holes with an auger drill for planting trees. Can also be used to bore holes for retaining walls, fence posts and more.

2.0T Yanmar Excavator doing drainage work. Fitted with a wide tilting bucket to cover the drain pipes in the trenches with small stones.

3.5T Excavators

• Drainage excavations – creating water tables, digging trenches – maximum dig depth of 3250mm, backfilling and more.
• Lifting tasks like lifting pipes into place.
• Post driving with a vibratory compactor attachment
• Digging foundations for homes and sheds and other non-commercial structures.
• Small demolition tasks like concrete breaking and tearing down light structures.
• Site preparation tasks like clearing out rubble from house sites and construction sites.
• Lifting tasks such as lifting small concrete sumps – maximum lifting capacity of 1730kg
• Landscaping
• Excavating in tight construction jobs, where there are walls, fences and other obstructions nearby.
• Landscaping – ripping plants, trees and stumps out
• Grading areas
• Prepping areas for concrete path/driveway
• Prepping areas for a new lawn
• Breaking up concrete or rocks (with concrete breaker attachment)
• Clearing vegetation and debris
• Making trails for walking, cycling etc
• Drilling holes for posts and trees (with auger drill attachment), maximum diameter of 600mm
• And many more small to medium scale jobs.

Explore the 3.5 Tonne Yanmar Excavator / Digger

3.5T Yanmar Excavator being craned into a compact jobsite.

3.5T Yanmar Excavator digging a trench.

3.5T Yanmar Excavator excavating in a narrow job site near a house.