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Posted: 01/01/2016

Working In Tight Areas

It’s challenging to dig next to foundations, walls, and underground utilities. With this understanding, Bobcat® compact (mini) excavators are designed to prevent damage to your machine and nearby structures. Caterpillar®, John Deere®, and Kubota® don’t follow the same practice. Only Bobcat excavators give you the most protection. Watch the test to see for yourself.

Working in Tight Areas Overview

Bobcat compact (mini) excavator working in tight areas comparison video.

At times, digging in small spaces with your excavator is unavoidable. It might be next to a foundation, wall, or near a utility structure. When you do, you’ll want a machine that doesn’t cause damage to nearby structures when you swing your boom.

Watch the Full Test

Bobcat compact (mini) excavator working in tight areas comparison video.

You might think that every brand of excavator is designed to dig in tight spaces without damaging your equipment or nearby structures. In reality, that’s not the case. We tested each of the top brands with a simulated wall to see the differences. Which brand can you trust? Watch the test results to find out.

Bobcat vs. Other Brands

Boom swing (working in tight spaces) comparison of Bobcat® vs Caterpillar® vs John Deere® vs Kubota® compact (mini) excavators.

Test Results

An in-track swing frame on Bobcat compact excavators allows you to get closer to your work. When you dig in an offset position, the swing castings and cylinders remain within the tracks to help you work in small spaces. Caterpillar®, John Deere®, and Kubota® leave their machines open for damage because their components extend outside the tracks. Simply put, Bobcat excavators are the only machines that give you peace of mind while digging in tight spots.

In-Track Swing Frame

Close up of Bobcat excavator boom cylinder.

Bobcat compact excavators are engineered to operate in the smallest of workspaces. All models feature the exclusive In-Track Swing Frame, which allows you to get closer to your work. The swing castings and cylinders stay within the tracks when you dig in an offset position.

Minimal and Zero Tail Swing

Alt Tag: Bobcat compact excavator (mini excavator) with zero tail swing.

Do you frequently work close to objects, or against a wall? On minimal tail swing models, the rear of the house protrudes as much as 6 inches beyond the width of the tracks. For the greatest flexibility, choose a zero tail swing model; the rear of the house stays within the width of the tracks through full rotation. Slew and deposit soil where you need it, reposition the machine fewer times, and worry less about inadvertently contacting any surrounding objects.

How We Test Equipment

Bobcat Advantage behind the scenes testing equipment video.

When you’re shopping for a new machine, it’s easy to compare specs. After all, that’s the best way to compare machines, right? Not quite. With specs, you’re only getting part of the story. They don’t measure real performance on your jobsite and that’s what matters most. It’s the reason we put top brands through the paces with fair, accurate, and repeatable tests. Watch to see how we developed the tests.

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