The Differences between Excavators and Backhoe Loaders

by Kristen White Blogger

While JCB parts suppliers can easily tell you the difference between various construction and earthmoving equipment, some people might find that very challenging. Knowing these differences can come in handy when you want to buy or hire according to different functions that meet the specifications of your project.

When it comes to differentiating between excavators and backhoes, you can have the same kind of knowledge and awareness similar to JCB parts suppliers.

To start off, learn about the aspects that differentiate excavators apart from backhoes from the best JCB backhoe parts manufacturers.

Excavators Have 360° Functionality and Adaptability

Excavators are mainly used on worksites such as industrial and construction. They range in size from small equipment weighing as little as one and a half tons to considerably bigger models that can hit weights of up to 100 tons. There is a wide array of excavator models and they are commonly grouped by their tonnage. Excavators have the ability to turn the chassis and the boom around (a full 360° turn). It is notable to appreciate that this feature is not present in a host of other construction machines, including backhoes. Therefore, due to the versatility of the excavator, it can handle several tasks that other equipment cannot. Some of these worksite tasks include the primary role of excavation (digging trenches and holes), hefting and placement, demolition and landscaping.

Hydraulic Attachments

Various types of hydraulic attachments are linked to the boom of the excavator to adjust its functions such as breakers, grapplers, augers, and couplers. Interestingly, the versatility of excavators is out of this world and with suitable attachments, it can even handle such diverse tasks like trimming hedges and cutting brush. This is beneficial to the client as they only have to hire a single piece of equipment that will handle a variety of tasks.

Remember, although excavators are truly versatile and can be used in many different tasks in construction and industrial projects, it is in your best interest to get the right model. This is because the models available differ significantly in size and you might end up getting the wrong size.

Backhoes

Backhoes are commonly considerably smaller than excavators, in addition to being lighter in weight. You can term them as a small type of tractor attachment consisting of two principal parts, the dipper, and the boom, with the boom holding the dipper, which is linked to the bucket.

Unlike excavators with a 360° rotating ability, backhoes can only turn up to 200° to both the right and the left. Note that this is just a little over the rotating ability of the excavator and one of the differences that make the abilities of the two pieces of equipment look massive.

Backhoe or Excavator? — The Choice is Yours

When the time to hire construction equipment comes and you have to select between an excavator and a backhoe, there are various factors that you will need to consider. While both excavators and backhoes can be fitted with a broad array of attachments to equip them to accomplish some functions, it is not guaranteed that both pieces of equipment will deliver the same level of functionality.