The biggest difference between a long reach excavator and more traditional excavators is the sheer length of the digging arm. Long reach arms can be anywhere from twice to three times the length of a similarly weighted excavator.
By using additional counterweights, hydraulics and counterbalancing, long reach excavators are able to make use of the longer digging arm to reach areas most excavators can't. Of course, these long digging arms do mean that you will struggle to dig in tighter, enclosed areas, or close up to the actual excavator body.
Much like standard excavators, long reach excavator hire comes with a range of optional attachments as well. From various sized buckets, to augers, rock breakers, hammers and more, there's plenty of ways you can utilise long reach excavator hire to ensure your earthmoving project gets completed smoothly.
Some of the most common applications for a long reach excavator include, digging into dams, rivers or ocean, digging into pits, quarries or dry river beds, as well as digging across ditches or into areas where the body of the excavator can't fit, but the digging arm can.
Of course, along with the machine, many hire companies will also offer wet hire as an option for your project. Wet hire is when you hire the machine with an experienced operator at the same time. This is a fantastic option when you don't have extra hands to handle the work, or you don't have the skills necessary to operate a long reach excavator.
Wet hire is usually more expensive than dry hire (just hiring the machine with no operator) but it can be a more affordable option, rather than hiring a new team member for a single project. It also gives you the ability to still get your project done if your usual operator is sick or needs a day off.
Hire rates for long reach excavators will vary depending on where you are and who is available in your region. Generally starting from around 4 hours as a minimum, most companies will offer long reach excavator hire for anywhere up to a week or even months in some cases. Simply discuss with your local hire company to discover their hire terms and availability.
