The machinery depends on the type of property you are excavating. A backhoe, also called a rear or back actor, has a digging bucket at the end of a hinged mechanical arm. The buckets are smaller and usually will not dig deeper than 12-16 feet. Most operators don’t use them below 10 feet, but they are often all one needs. The standard excavator is larger and is often referred to as a “crawler” excavator, because they normally run on tracks, like a tank, instead of wheels. Using tracks means the heavier weight can be distibuted more evenly over the base to lower its center of gravity and provide more stability for heavy lifting and moving. The digger for the excavator is also able to rotate 360 degrees, which can be convenient.