Check out our guide below for excavation equipment and what they’re used for. If you’re in the Mount Isa region, we’ve also found some professional excavation and plant hire specialists.
Heavy Machinery & Excavation Equipment 101
Backhoe Loader
The backhoe loader is a heavy equipment vehicle. It is essentially a tractor fitted with a bucket at the front and a small backhoe on the back. Thanks to their easy manoeuvrability, small size and versatility, these are a popular choice for many urban excavations and landscaping projects.
Great for: digging small excavations, digging trenches and moving materials such as sand and gravel.
Excavator
The excavator is made up of a boom, stick, bucket and cab on a rotating platform. It comes in two standard forms: tracked and wheeled. Each has its own benefits—the tracked excavator is ideal for mining, forestry, construction and pipeline industries, whereas the wheeled excavator is great for ditch cleaning and road maintenance. Common brands of excavators include Bobcats and Dingos. The Dingo excavator is great for earthmoving and mini excavation.
Great for: digging and moving large objects.
Tip Truck
A tip truck is a heavy vehicle fitted with an open-box bed that uses hydraulics to lift the front—effectively tipping any contents out of the bed and onto a designated area. They come in a range of sizes, and the one you require will depend on the scope of your project. The tip truck is primarily used to transport materials, such as sand and gravel, from one site to another.
Great for: transporting materials such as stones, gravel and soil.
