Buying guide

What Can You Do With a Mini Excavator on Acreage?

If you have a few acres, the list of jobs never really ends. Most of them are too small to justify a contractor and too big to do with a shovel. That is exactly where a mini excavator earns its keep. Here are the jobs owners use them for most, what each one needs, and a few things to think about before you start.

Fence lines and post holes

New fences, replacing old ones and putting in gates are some of the most common acreage jobs. The auger does the post holes, the bucket clears the line, and the ripper breaks up hard ground or pulls out old strainer posts. Every Jay-Hawk machine comes with an auger and ripper as standard, so you are not paying extra for the attachment you need most. Check your post hole depth and spacing for the type of fence you are building before you start drilling.

Drainage and spoon drains

Water sitting where you don't want it is a common problem on rural blocks: around sheds, along driveways, at the bottom of a slope. A mini excavator can cut spoon drains, clean out table drains and dig in pipe or ag line to move water away. Take your time getting the fall right, and think about where the water will end up so you do not just move the problem onto a neighbour or a track.

Trenches for water and power

Running poly pipe to troughs and tanks, or conduit out to a shed or pump, means trenching. A narrow bucket keeps the trench tidy and cuts down backfill. Before you dig anywhere, lodge a free request with Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) to find out what services are buried on your property. Electrical work, including laying cable, must be done or signed off by a licensed electrician.

Small dams and tank pads

Mini excavators are handy for small dams, cleaning out existing ones, and levelling pads for water tanks. For larger dams, the bigger machines in the range make a real difference to how many hours it takes. Dam rules vary between states and councils, so check with your local council or state water authority about size limits and approvals before you start. A well-built dam also needs the right soil, and a soil check before you dig can save a lot of wasted work.

Tracks, driveways and clearing

A mini can cut in and tidy up farm tracks, fix washouts, spread gravel, dig out stumps and clear regrowth and lantana. The ripper is useful for roots and compacted ground, and the bucket moves and spreads material. Check your council's vegetation rules before clearing native trees.

Footings, gardens and general jobs

There is always something: shed footings, garden beds, digging out a broken pipe, burying a rubbish pile, loading a trailer. These are the jobs you would never hire a machine for, and they are often what owners end up valuing most once the machine is on the property.

Which size suits an acreage block?

• JHM10 ($9,200): at 850 mm wide it fits through most gates and suits smaller blocks and lighter jobs.
• JHM14 ($15,550): our best seller and the all-rounder for fencing, trenching and drainage. The JHM14K ($19,600) is the same machine with a Kubota D722 engine.
• JHM20 ($26,550): more reach and weight for dams, pads and clearing, with a swing arm for digging along fences and walls.
• JHM30 ($35,050): the biggest in the range, with an air-conditioned cab for long days.

All prices include GST. Our guide to choosing the right size goes into more detail, and the hire or buy guide helps you work out whether owning makes sense for your list of jobs.

A few things before you start

• Call before you dig: BYDA requests are free, and hitting a buried pipe or cable is expensive and dangerous.
• Learn on easy jobs: start with simple digging on flat ground before working on slopes or near structures.
• Mind the slopes: work up and down a slope rather than across it, and keep the bucket low when tracking.
• Keep up the servicing: follow the operator's manual and keep your receipts. It keeps the 2-year warranty valid.