Towing a mini excavator: trailers, weight ratings and licences
What a mini excavator and its trailer weigh, which pickup can tow them, when US rules call for a commercial licence, and how many tie-downs to use.
In short
- Add the machine's operating weight and the trailer's own weight: that total must fit the trailer's rating and the tow vehicle's towing capacity.
- Federal CDL rules for commercial driving start at a combined rating of 26,001 lb with a trailer rated over 10,000 lb.
- Tracked machines of 10,000 lb or more need at least four tie-downs; lower the bucket and boom before transport.
What a mini excavator and its trailer weigh
Median operating weights in our library, with a typical equipment trailer:
| Size class | Machine | Machine + trailer | Trailer rating to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-ton class | 2,205 lb | about 3,700 lb | 7,000 lb (7K) |
| 1.5 – 2 ton | 3,999 lb | about 5,500 lb | 7,000 lb (7K) |
| 2.5 – 3.5 ton | 6,001 lb | about 8,000 lb | 10,000 lb (10K) |
| 4 ton and up | 14,330 lb | about 16,800 lb | 14,000 lb (14K) or more |
Operating weight includes fluids and usually a standard bucket and an operator allowance, as each brand defines it. Attachments carried on the trailer add their own weight.
Choosing a trailer
- Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): the trailer's rating must cover its own weight plus the machine and any attachments.
- Brakes: states require brakes on trailers above a set weight, commonly between 1,500 and 3,000 lb; equipment trailers carry them on both axles.
- Loading: a ramp or a tilt deck, with a deck long enough to keep the machine's weight just ahead of the axles.
- Tie-down points: rated D-rings or stake pockets at the front and rear of the deck.
- The tow vehicle: its towing capacity and its gross combined weight rating, both in the owner's manual, limit what it may pull.
Licences and CDL rules
Federal rules define the commercial driver's license (CDL) groups by weight rating, not by the actual load (49 CFR 383.91):
- Class A (combination): a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lb or more, when the towed trailer's rating exceeds 10,000 lb.
- Class B (heavy straight vehicle): a single vehicle rated 26,001 lb or more, towing a trailer rated 10,000 lb or less.
These rules apply to commercial driving. A pickup with a light equipment trailer carrying a 1- or 2-ton machine stays well below them. For private, non-commercial towing, each state sets its own licence classes, and several require a special licence for heavy trailers: check your state's driver licensing agency before towing a combination above 26,000 lb or a trailer rated above 10,000 lb.
Securing the machine
Federal cargo securement rules for commercial transport (49 CFR 393.130) require tracked or wheeled machinery that weighs 10,000 lb or more to be held by at least four tie-downs, fixed as close as practicable to the front and rear, with hydraulic attachments such as the bucket completely lowered and secured. Lighter machines must be secured so that the tie-downs' combined working load limit is at least half the machine's weight (49 CFR 393.106). Four rated chains or straps with binders, one at each corner, meet both rules for a mini excavator.
Find a machine your trailer and vehicle can carry in the mini excavator comparison, sorted by weight.
Questions
Do I need a CDL to tow a mini excavator?
Under federal rules, a commercial driver's license is needed for commercial driving when the combination's gross combination weight rating is 26,001 lb or more and the trailer's rating exceeds 10,000 lb (Class A). Most 1- to 2-ton machines on a light equipment trailer stay well below that. Rules for private, non-commercial towing are set by each state.
What trailer do I need for a mini excavator?
One whose gross vehicle weight rating covers the machine plus the trailer's own weight, with brakes as your state requires, a ramp or tilt deck, and tie-down points. A 7,000 lb (7K) tandem-axle equipment trailer carries most machines up to about 2 tons.
How many tie-downs does a mini excavator need?
Federal cargo rules require at least four tie-downs, at the front and rear, for tracked machinery of 10,000 lb or more, with the bucket and boom lowered. Lighter machines must be secured so that the tie-downs' combined working load limit is at least half the machine's weight.