Dig depth is the first question most people ask, but access and the size of the job matter just as much. Here is how our three mini excavators compare.
| Bobcat E10 | Bobcat E35 | Bobcat E48 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max dig depth | About 6 ft | About 10 ft (124 in) | Deeper than the E35, with more reach |
| Width | 28 in (tracks pulled in) | About 70 in | About 73 in |
| Operating weight | About 2,600 lb | About 7,900 lb | About 9,800 lb |
| Fits through | Standard doorway or narrow gate | 6 ft gate | 6 ft-plus opening |
| Best for | Tight access, interior and backyard digs | Most residential and light commercial work | Bigger digs, heavy pipe, loading trucks |
How deep does your job go?
- Irrigation, low-voltage and invisible fence: a few inches to a foot. A trencher is faster and neater than any excavator.
- Water and electric lines: water lines need to sit below the frost line, which is about 42 inches in most of southeast Michigan. Any of the three can do it. The E10 if access is tight, the E35 for longer runs.
- Footings for decks, garages and additions: footings need to reach frost depth too. The E35 is the usual pick; the E10 works in tight spots.
- Sewer laterals, septic and drain fields: often 6 to 10 feet. Go with the E35 or E48.
- Basements, ponds and big footings: the E48, or the E35 for smaller ones.
Always check your local building department for required depths. These are general guidelines.
Depth is not the only thing
Access: measure your narrowest gate or opening first. If the machine cannot get to the hole, depth does not matter.
Reach: a bigger machine digs farther from where it sits, so you reposition less and the hole walls stay cleaner.
Lifting and loading: setting pipe, catch basins or boulders, or loading a dump trailer, is easier with more machine.
Hauling it yourself: the E10 and E35 ride on our 16 ft trailer with a 2 5/16″ ball, and the E35 needs a 3/4-ton truck or larger. The E48 is close to 10,000 lb, so most people have us deliver it.
Buckets
Your first bucket is included. Narrow buckets dig cleaner trenches; wide buckets move more dirt and clean up faster. You can add extra buckets when you book.
Before you dig
- Call MISS DIG 811 at least three business days ahead.
- Deep trenches can collapse. Slope or shore anything you will be standing in.
- Unlimited run hours: you pay for the time the machine is out, not the meter.
Not sure which one fits your job? Call the counter at (810) 231-7368. We are open 7 days and happy to talk it through.