At Ryno Hire, we’re committed to giving you the right knowledge and tools to get the job done yourself – no training or professional experience necessary. That’s why today we’re going to focus on one of the most versatile pieces of equipment at our facility: the excavator. Why is this machine so useful? Well, not only does it dig and excavate earth, but with the simple change of an attachment, it can be used to dig post holes, transport concrete sleepers, break up hard surface rocks, and much more. On top of that, it comes in a range of sizes, so that you can get the right one for your project, whatever the scale. Excavators are an absolute must have on many work sites, especially if you’re digging foundations, driveways, swimming pools, or just landscaping. So, how do you pick the right one? And how do they work?

Do You Need an Excavator?

Before we jump right into it, let’s evaluate whether you need an excavator. You can use one to complete all of the following tasks (with the right attachments). So, after planning your project thoroughly, cross reference your to-do list with the following jobs to see if an excavator can be of use to you.

Tasks for an Excavator & Attachments

• Digging up wide areas
• Digging slim trenches
• Moving large deposits of soil and materials
• Digging up holes for fence posts
• Drilling in holes for posts of various sizes
• Break up limestone rocks or similar when you’re trying to dig up soil
• Clearing trees or shrubs
• Clearing/ demolishing building sites or structures (larger excavators)
• Moving heavy concrete sleepers
• Moving heavy rocks
• Sieving out large rock from finer materials

Optimise Your Hire With the Right Attachments

To get the absolute most use out of your excavator hire, ensure you get all the attachments you need with the one excavator. This will save you time, money, and mean that you don’t need to keep coming back to hire more equipment – of course, we’re always happy to have you back at Ryno Hire!

Attachments Typically Available with an Excavator

• Buckets: You can hire different size buckets for various parts of your projects. They have digging and scooping capabilities. Narrow buckets may be useful for digging a drain or trench, whereas wider, general-purpose buckets might be better for moving large piles of soil or digging bigger holes. You can also hire a hydraulic tilt bucket which can tilt 45 degrees in either direction – this is useful for levelling or any excavation needed on a slope.
• Auger drives: These are additional drill bits that are utilised for drilling into the ground to dig deeper holes for placement of fences or retaining wall posts rather than just remove surface sediment.
• Hydraulic rock breakers: This is a much more specific attachment that is shaped like a large nail. Similarly to jackhammers, they break rocks and concrete to allow an easier excavation of earth.
• Clamp/ concrete sleeper:This is for material too big for the buckets to move or lift. The clamp provides a solution by gripping the material. It is usually used for things like concrete pieces and tree stumps or timber sleepers used in retaining walls or large fences.
• Hydraulic rock grabs: Similar to the clamp, this provides the ability to lift material the buckets cannot. This, however, acts as a claw rather than a clamp so it’s perfect for aiding in the removal of tree stumps or old fence posts.
• Sieve bucket: This allows small sediment like dirt and sand to remain whilst removing larger material. This is helpful if you need to filter your dirt to make clean-fill or do not want to fill your bin, dumper, or tipper truck up with small sediment.

How do Excavators Work?

Operating an excavator is pretty simple. Most people get the hang of it rather quickly – just ensure you always take your time as it’s a powerful machine and the wrong move can be costly. An excavator is controlled by the operator (i.e. you) who sits in the cab and uses pedals and levers to control the machine and to move backwards and forwards. The tracks are activated by the diesel-powered engine, and the hydraulic motors control the arm of the excavator. Two dual tracks allow the excavator to move forward and backwards. Due to the tracks operating independently, an excavator can turn on the spot, making them quite effective for turning in tight areas. That’s why the cabin (arm included) can also pivot 360 degrees around to help access different areas. This rotation allows the excavator, once it has picked up the material, to place it somewhere else without changing position too much. This also means that you can dig with an excavator right along a fence line or building once you get the hang of operating the machine.
So, now that we have an overview of how a typical excavator works, let’s look at the general steps involved in operating one. Remember to always read the instruction manual of a machine before operating. This is just a basic guide for standard excavator operation mode.

Step 1: Sit inside the cab and put on your seatbelt. Make sure the dozer blade is in front of you (this is the direction the tracks will move). If the excavator has one, ensure the safety lever is in the up position.
Step 2: Place the key into the machine and turn it to ‘START’ to power-on the excavator.
Step 3: Push the safety lever down. This will unlock the controls.
Step 4: Pull the dozer lever towards you to lift the dozer up off the ground – this allows you to move.
Step 5: Ensure the boom and buckets are out of the way of the dozer blade, but not too far out that they will off balance the excavator when moving. A good trick is to have the buckets positioned directly below the ‘elbow’ (between the boom and dipper arm) and to crowd the buckets in so they do not fall out when moving the excavator.
Step 6: The two, centred (front) levers are your driver levers that independently control the tracks. Push both levers forward to move forward, and both levers back to move backward. To do a spin turn, you can push one forward and the other back. Always check your surrounds are clear and it also pays to check your instruction manual for more turning maneuvers.
Step 7: Once you’ve positioned the excavator in the right place, drop the dozer blade down (push the dozer control lever away from you).
Step 8: To operate the attachment (for example, the bucket), you can use the attachment levers (to the left and right) to operate the attachment to move up/down, to crowd/dump, and to swing left/right.
Step 9: When you’re finished operating the machine, and you’ve parked it in a safe place, make sure all of the controls are in their neutral position (after the attachment has been lowered to the ground), the dozer blade has been lowered, and the safety pilot control lever is on (pulled up).
Step 10: Stop the engine and release the pressure from the hydraulic system by giving the control levers a slight shake from left to right.

This is essentially what’s involved in operating an excavator. Of course, it may be a little confusing at the start, but rest assured that Ryno Hire staff are only a call away. If you need any further explanations, do not hesitate to reach out to a team member for advice.

How to Hire an Excavator

To hire one of our powerful excavators, you should first work out a few things:

• Which excavator do you need? (We can give you a little advice if you’re not sure, or check out our range on-site or online)
• How long do you need it? (Including exact dates)
• Which attachments will you be needing?
• Will you need it to be delivered or collected for you? Or will you be arranging to pick it up yourself?
• Do you need additional machines? (We can work out a combo deal for you)

Once you’ve worked out the finer details, you should get into contact with one of our friendly staff over the phone or via an enquiry form. We will make a booking for you and then you’re on your way! For any specific questions or concerns, you can also check through some of our frequently asked questions before making an enquiry.

Another great resource we have is our online newsroom! We provide a bunch of helpful DIY tips on projects and our equipment. Did you know we have a guide on building a retaining wall? We also highlight other great machines like the Bobcat loader, our mini loaders, and dumpers. Check out our newsroom for more helpful information!

What to Pair it With in a Combo Deal

To get you the most value for your money, we provide combo deals, should you require more than one piece of equipment. We make these deals on a case by case basis, depending on how many machines you require and how long you need them. If you want to learn more about our combo deals, check out this comprehensive article we recently wrote. To discuss the specifics of your discount, get in touch with one of our friendly staff members who can provide an estimate.

From previous experience, we know a couple of the most valuable machines you can pair an excavator with are our mini dumpers or tipper trucks. When you’ve got mountains of dirt to excavate, you’re going to want to shift that dirt quickly – as excavators are designed for remaining stationary while operating, a mini dumper will take care of shifting the dirt for you (and it’s especially great for confined sites as it’s super compact). For transporting and dumping large quantities of materials and soil, a tipper truck might be more of value to you. On the plus side, a tipper truck will also save you from finding a vehicle to transport your excavator. Of course, you can mix and match any machines you wish with your excavator. It’s up to you!

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re ready to take the first step towards setting your construction plans in motion, Ryno Hire is here to help you with all your DIY tasks. Our equipment is safe, sanitised between hires, up-to-scratch, and ready for your dry hire needs. Should you get stuck, we’re only a call away from giving you the right advice to get the job done. Give us a call today on (07) 3353 2230 to have a chat about your equipment and rental needs.