Our rental fleet is not a theoretical 1-ton vs 14-ton catalog. The two compact classes we actually put on jobs are a ~3.5-ton mini (Bobcat E35 class, often with a hydraulic thumb) and a ~5.5-ton mini (Cat 305.5E2 class). That step is the difference between a backyard sewer repair and commercial footings in tougher ground.
In This Guide
Quick comparison
E35 class (~3.5 ton)
Tight-access mini with a thumb for residential and landscape work.
Strengths
- Fits more backyards
- Thumb for placing
- Enough depth for many house utilities
Watch-outs
- Less force in rock and caliche
- Smaller bucket, more cycles
Best for
- • Sewer repairs
- • Landscape grading in tight yards
- • Light demo
305.5 class (~5.5 ton)
Mid compact excavator for commercial digging and tougher soils.
Strengths
- More breakout and depth
- Better breaker platform
- Faster on footings
Watch-outs
- Needs more access and a real trailer/truck
- Overkill for a 20-foot flower-bed trench
Best for
- • Commercial footings
- • Deeper utilities
- • Harder Utah soils
| Spec | E35 class (~3.5 ton) | 305.5 class (~5.5 ton) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight class | ~3.5 ton | ~5.5 ton |
| Example machines | Bobcat E35 | Cat 305.5E2 |
| Typical work | Residential / tight | Commercial / harder ground |
| Thumb | Common on our rentals | Ask — configuration varies |
| Access | Better through gates | Needs a real opening |
Figures below are typical ranges for this equipment class — not a spec sheet for one serial-numbered unit. Used rental inventory rotates; we confirm height, capacity, width, and weight on your quote.
What the E35 class does well
Residential utilities, landscaping, and tight side yards. A thumb turns it into a placing machine for rock and debris, not just a digger. Dig depth is typically in the 10–12 ft neighborhood depending on the exact unit. It will fit places the 305.5 will not. It will also stall in cemented gravel that a 5.5-ton walks through.
What the 305.5 class adds
More breakout, more stability, more depth, and a machine that stays productive on commercial pads. Zero or conventional tail swing still matters on congested sites — the 305.5E2 CR class is built for that. If you are cutting footings all week, this is usually the cheaper rental because it finishes.
Utah ground is not Georgia clay
Caliche, cobble, and dry cemented soils around Utah County punish small buckets. If the test pit already showed rock, do not hero-rent the 3.5-ton. A breaker attachment conversation belongs with the 5.5-ton more often than not.
Who should rent which
E35 class for access-limited residential. 305.5 class for commercial depth and harder ground. Call (801) 880-8800 with trench depth and a photo of the access path.
FAQ
Do you rent 1-ton micro excavators?
Not as a standing class in the current rental mix. If the gate is 28 inches, call us — we will talk access, not pretend we have a machine we do not.
Is a 5.5-ton too big for a backyard?
Often yes. Measure the gate, the side yard, and overhead. The E35 class exists for that reason.
Should I rent a trencher instead?
For long, narrow, consistent-depth utility lines in good soil, a Barreto walk-behind can beat both. See mini excavator vs trencher.
Machines on the lot
Live inventory rotates. These are current machines in the related rental collections — not a promise that a specific used unit is still here.
Need a quote on the right class?
Call or text — we'll match height, width, and capacity to the job instead of renting you a bigger machine than you need.