Common Types of Excavators

At Cascade Trader, we strive to make your shopping experience as easy as possible. We created the following guide covering some of the more popular types of excavators for your consideration. When shopping for an excavator, a great starting point is to pick one type of excavator. This will instantly eliminate a large number of models from your search! If you have questions or want personalized recommendations, contact us or visit our dealership in Chehalis, Washington.

Crawler Excavators

These models are also commonly called compact excavators. They move around using two endless tracks and lift using hydraulic power mechanisms. They are well-suited for mining, trench digging, landscape grading, and heavy-duty construction tasks.

Their key perks are the ability to navigate across inclines more easily, their improved stability, and their capacity to handle heavy debris.

Skid Steer Excavators

These models move using wheels and lift using booms and buckets, which are positioned away from the operator. The bucket will reach over the operator cab, rather than around it. They are well-suited for residential projects, removing debris that's spread out, and digging pools. 

Their key perk is that their small size and tight turning radius make them incredibly agile, which is especially useful on cramped work sites.

Dragline Excavators

These models lift using a hoist rope system. The bucket is attached to a hoist coupler and connected to a dragline, which goes from the bucket to the cab. The hoist rope is able to raise and lower the bucket and the dragline is able to move it towards the operator. They are great for road excavations, canal dreading, and pile driving.

Their key perk is the ability to tackle projects that other excavators would struggle with, such as underwater projects and large civil engineering projects.

Ready to explore excavators for sale? Check out the selection at Cascade Trader. We are located in Chehalis, Washington, and also serve those in Olympia.