Why write a mini excavator trailer guide? Isn’t hauling mini excavators fairly straightforward?
Hauling mini excavators may seem like a relatively small, simple task compared to hauling cranes or other major rigs, but for construction project managers these little machines are often a source of major logistical headaches.
Mini excavators travel frequently, seeing multiple job sites within the course of one week. One botched move creates a domino effect of downstream issues that can cost thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, Good Trailers offer an easy solution for those who are looking for a mini excavator trailer capable of solving those headaches when it’s time to move models such as the Bobcat E10 or the John Deere 35G.
Table of Contents
- The Dangers of Hauling Mini Excavators
- Common Hassles When Hauling Mini Excavators
- What the Right Mini Excavator Trailer Can Do
- Mini Excavator Dimensions & Weights
- FAQ
- Key Takeaways
- Get Good Today
Hauling Mini Excavators: Dangers
When you’re using the wrong mini excavator trailer, a great deal can go wrong. You’re typically dealing with a high-angle ramp that leads onto an 18″ deck. Operators who don’t handle the mini-ex perfectly can easily cause a disaster.
- Tipping. The #1 danger. If you don’t keep the bucket low, the center of gravity can shift. Failing to keep the bucket low enough can cause you to tip or roll a mini excavator even while operating on flat, solid ground. Meanwhile, your operator is trying to control that finnicky center of gravity while moving mini excavators up and down steep ramps. Tumbles off these ramps are common.
- Striking power lines. Operators sometimes forget to properly tuck the boom and arm. A raised boom during transport can strike low-hanging power lines or bridge overpasses. A good mini excavator trailer won’t help with that directly, but removing stressors during the loading process gives them more time and calm to ensure they are following all the steps.
- Tie-down failures. Using standard straps instead of heavy-duty Grade 70 transport chains is a good way to turn a heavy machine into a projectile during a sudden break. Failing to hit all the right tie down points is just as bad. Unfortunately, the wrong mini excavator trailer can be a nightmare to navigate during the tie-down process too. Climbing up onto the deck to get the chains into place can set the stage for injuries. There is a better way.
While Good Trailers can’t solve all these problems, we can solve the big one. Our GT19FL trailer lowers the deck to 5.4 inches and gives your operator a wide, full-deck ramp to ascend.
This video from Ranchie’s Rigs shows the process in real time.
As long as the bucket is placed correctly, it’s more than possible to just drive the mini ex right onto the deck of the trailer. This gives more space and mental bandwidth for the operator to focus on tucking the boom and securing the mini excavator properly.
As for securement, if you add our D-ring stake pockets to the trailer you can just walk on and secure the trailer using built-in tie-down points.
That means your operator now has less to contend with.
- They still have to keep the bucket low, but they don’t have to navigate up and down steep, narrow ramps.
- They don’t have to climb over, under, around, or through when they want to secure the mini excavator to the trailer.
- The process is fast and easy, which means they have a little more cognitive bandwidth on a busy day. That means they’re more likely to remember to tuck the boom and the arm for a safer haul.
Common Hassles when Hauling Mini Excavators
The difficulties associated with hauling mini excavators aren’t always about physics. The schedule, the paperwork, and the regulatory requirements can all take their toll.
- The CDL gray area. In most states, if the combined weight of the truck, trailer, and excavator exceeds 26,001 lbs, the driver needs a CDL. Depending on whether you’re hauling a micro or a mini, using either of our flatbed models usually means a standard crew member can haul the excavator in a regular pick-up truck without any need for a special driver’s license. However, watch the attachments: a bucket, an auger, or a thumb can all make the weight add up fast, and some mini excavators push 10,000 lbs on their own. Note the actual weight list of any trailer you plan to use.
- Equipment mismatches. A 1/2 ton pickup isn’t going to be sufficient to move higher-weight machines. Trying it will lead to blown transmissions, brake failures, and project delays. Attempting this usually exceeds the manufacturer’s max towing capacity, which is a massive liability. You need a 3/4-Ton like an F-250, Silverado 2500, or Ram 2500 at a minimum. Even better would be a 1-Ton F-350 or Silverado 3500; the gold standard for mini-ex transport.
Keep in mind you should always check the combined GVWR before you haul and understand that simply throwing a mini excavator onto a hydraulic drop deck flatbed and hauling it in an F-350 isn’t going to solve all your problems. Much will depend on your truck model.
For example, if you’re driving the 14K model your GVWR is 14,000 lbs. The GVWR of our GT19FL is 11,800 lbs. It can easily haul a John Deere 35G at 8,135 lbs along with a bucket attachment, but the DOT cares more about the potential weight of the haul than the exact weight of the haul, which is what GVWR measures. Thus, your GVWR will be 25,800 lbs. You’re really close to the 26,001 threshold, but your laborer can still haul that mini excavator without a CDL.
But if you’re driving an F-350 DWR the thing will be rated at 14,500 lbs., pushing you right over the limit by 299 pounds. Now the driver needs a Class A CDL to take that mini excavator on the road. Always check your operators’ manual for the GVWR of your pick-up truck before assuming you can side-step the CDL requirement.
What the Right Mini Excavator Trailer Can Do
Our GT13FL is suitable for hauling any micro excavator, and offers a smooth, easy ride with a low GVWR of 7,000 lbs. Our GT19FL can haul any mini excavator up to around 8,000 lbs. Its carrying capacity is technically 8,958 lbs, but you need to leave weight for securement chains and attachments.
You’ll need four points of attachments for those chains, and the weight will depend on the chain size. Remember you’re working with anywhere from 1.5 lbs. per foot to 2.5 lbs. per foot and leave the weight room. You’ll also need to account for the binder weight: the ultra-safe ratchet binders weigh around 12 pounds each (check the specific model).
But of course, our solutions are about much more than managing weight and CLD headaches. The hydraulic drop deck feature allows you to lower the bottom of the trailer all the way to the ground, placing the deck at just 5.4″ high.
It really is easy and natural for most operators to simply drive the mini excavator right on board. You’ll still need to keep your tracks clean and your boom managed, but you won’t have to drive a ramp that starts to feel like a tightrope the minute your tracks hit the slope. In fact, our 22″, 11°, 74.4″ wide spring-assisted fold out ramp is so gentle that most operators find loading a Good Trailer about as easy as moving from the road to a driveway.
Mini Excavator Dimensions & Weights
Which mini excavator trailer from Good Trailers should you choose? It depends on the weight, length, and height of the mini excavator you’re using. Here are examples from three top brands.
Use the GT13FL for:
- Cat 300.9D: ~2,170 lbs., 9′ long, 2’10” wide
- Kubota K008-5: ~2,315 lbs., 9′ long, 2’10” wide
- Kubota U10-5: ~2,646 lbs., 9’9″ long, 3’3″ wide
Use the GT19FL for:
- John Deere 17P/17G: ~3,790 lbs., 11’6″ long, 4’3″ wide
Kubota U17: ~3,814 lbs., 11’7″ long, 4’1″ wide - Kubota KX018-4: ~3,968 lbs., 12’2′ long, 4’3″ wide
- Cat 301.5: ~3,898 lbs., 11’10” long, 4’3″ wide
- Cat 301.7 CR: ~4,063 lbs., 11’9″ long, 4’3″ wide
- Cat 301.8: ~4,442 lbs., 12’2″ long, 4’3″ wide
- Cat 302 CR: ~4,861 lbs., 11’10” long, 3’7″ wide
- John Deere 26P/26G: 5,780 lbs., 15’9″ long, 4’11” wide
- Kubota KX030-4: ~6,437 lbs., 14’11” long, 4’11” wide
- Cat 302.7 CR: ~6,725 lbs., 14’10” long, 4’11” wide
Use these numbers as a guideline to help you do your shopping, either for your trailer or for your mini excavator. Always use the most current dimensions from your operators’ manual to decide what to haul.
A few notes about choosing the right mini excavator trailer. When looking at many pieces of heavy equipment, you can mostly pay attention to the weight of the equipment vs. the carrying capacity of the trailer, and you’ll rarely have to worry about the length and width; often it’ll be enough. But mini excavators have that long arm. The GT13FL could handle the weight of a Kubota KX018-4, but the length is going to be too much for that trailer to handle. Of course, we end up recommending the 19′ to construction crews a lot more often than not anyway, because it is usually the more versatile option for handling a wide variety of jobsite needs.
FAQ
Do I need a CDL to haul a mini excavator on a trailer?
Not necessarily. Your driver will need a CDL if the total combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your truck and trailer exceeds 26,000 pounds. By pairing a standard 3/4-ton or 1-ton truck with an 11,800 pound GVWR mini-excavator trailer, your total GVWR typically stays under 26,001 lbs., allowing standard crew members to haul the machine legally without a CDL. Always verify your specific truck’s GVWR by checking the badge on the door jamb.
What size truck do I need to tow a mini excavator trailer?
At a minimum, you need a 3/4-ton truck (such as an F-250, Silverado 2500, or Ram 2500). However, a 1-ton truck with a 9,900 lbs. GVWR offers a nice “sweet spot” when using something like the GT19FL to haul your mini excavator. You get higher payload and towing stability while keeping your combined GVWR under the 26,001 lbs. CDL threshold.
How much weight do attachments and tie-downs add to a mini excavator trailer?
Attachments and tie-down gear usually add 300 to 500+ pounds to your total haul weight. A hydraulic thumb, auger, or extra bucket can easily weigh 250 to 350 pounds. Additionally, four Grade 70 transport chains and four ratchet binders add roughly 50 to 80 pounds. Always factor these into your payload capacity so you don’t exceed your trailer’s maximum rating.
Key Takeaways
Here’s your quick guide to mini excavator trailers.
- The CDL Threshold. In most states, a combined GVWR of 26,001 lbs. or more requires a Class A CDL. Choosing a trailer with an 11,800 pound GVWR can help you keep your crew legal in standard 3/4-ton trucks and in some 1-ton trucks.
- Loading safety. High-angle ramps are the #1 cause of tipping. When you lower your deck to 5.4″ using your wireless remote control or on-board trailer remote you gain the power to drive right on board, keeping the mini excavator’s center of gravity low and stable.
- Extras add weight. Don’t forget to account for attachments and securement. A thumb, auger, and four Grade 70 chains with ratchet binders can add 400+ lbs. to your haul.
Get a Good Mini Excavator Trailer Today
If you’re a project manager or other professional who is tired of big mini-ex headaches, then consider adding our flatbed trailers to your fleet. We can help you get your mini excavators and other equipment from job site to job site with ease.
If you’re an If you’re an equipment rental company who wants to present your construction clients and backyard DIY clients with a safer, easier solution, then reach out! We’re actively looking for partners in Oregon and California, and we’d love to talk to you.
See also:
Can You Transport a Scissor Lift on a Trailer?
How to Transport a John Deere Gator Safely
Hauling Skid Steers Safely: A Guide to Weight, Straps, & Trailers
This resource was compiled by the GoodMFG® Product Team, drawing on 75 years of combined experience in hydraulic systems, heavy-duty transport, trailers, and modular structures.
P.S. – We build trailers every day, but we don’t run your crews. If there’s a specific logistical headache or a “field reality” we’ve missed, we want to hear about it. Help us refine the equipment that makes your day easier! Email our Marketing Lead at devan-h @ goodrv.com and let us know what we should solve next.
