Crawler Excavator Buying Guide

If you don’t have a ton of experience buying heavy equipment, you may not know where to start. That’s why we’re here to help! One great machine you may benefit from is a crawler excavator. Keep reading to learn more about this piece of equipment and what to keep in mind when buying one. When you’re ready to see some machines for sale, contact our team at Cascade Trader in Chehalis, Washington. We also proudly serve Olympia!

What is a Crawler Excavator?

You may be wondering what exactly this kind of equipment does. A crawler excavator is a specific type of excavator. Excavators are designed to easily move materials using their arm, bucket, cab, and tracks. A crawler model is great for uneven terrain thanks to the two rotating tracks. 

This is probably the most common excavator you’ve seen since it is often referred to as the standard model. Although slower than its wheeled counterpart, a crawler excavator is more stable, making it great for steep, rough, or muddy terrain. This machine is great for mining, landscape grading, and trench digging. Thinking about how and where you plan on using your equipment will help you determine whether this is the model for you.

Size and Weight

Once you decide a crawler excavator is for you, it’s time to choose a model. Size will probably be the biggest deciding factor when it comes to picking the right equipment. For example, jobs that take place in the city probably won’t allow room for a massive model. In general, the more room you have and the bigger the project, the bigger your rig can be.

Don’t forget to factor in how heavy the materials you’re moving are. If you are moving massive pieces of land, you’re going to want to go with a bigger model that has a stronger base so the machine won’t tip over. 

Engine Power 

In general, the engine power is going to match the size of the crawler excavator. It may be tempting to go for the most powerful engine on the market, but you may only need the bare minimum. Opting for something more powerful than you need will often just waste money. 

Bucket Capacity

The bucket capacity is also going to play a big role in your ideal model. Bucket capacity is determined by the size of the equipment, but you can always invest in additional buckets that you can switch out for the one you have. Keep in mind that the machine needs to be able to handle whatever bucket size you choose.

We hope this guide helps you pick the perfect crawler excavator! If you still have questions, reach out to our friendly team at Cascade Trader in Chehalis, Washington near Olympia. We can’t wait to help you find the machine that makes your work faster and easier too!