If you’re asking “what can a 1.7T mini excavator do?”, the short answer is quite a lot. This size is popular because it’s compact enough for many residential sites but still has enough digging capability for trenching, drainage, landscaping, post holes and plenty of general excavation work.
Quick answer
A 1.7T mini excavator is well suited to many residential and light excavation jobs. Typical work includes trenches, drainage, landscaping, post holes, retaining-wall preparation, small footings, soil removal and general backyard excavation.
Its biggest advantage is the balance between compact access and useful digging ability. A machine such as the Kubota U17-3 can retract to 990 mm wide. Kubota also rates it for a maximum digging depth of 2,310 mm and a maximum digging radius of 3,900 mm.
That doesn’t mean a 1.7T machine is right for every job. Large-volume excavation, very deep digging, heavy rock work or jobs with plenty of open space may be better suited to a larger excavator.
What does 1.7T actually mean?
The 1.7T description refers broadly to the excavator’s operating-weight class. It does not mean every machine sold or hired as a 1.7T excavator weighs exactly 1,700 kg.
For example, Kubota lists the U17-3 available from Digger2Hire at 1,675 kg operating weight in canopy configuration.
Machine weight is only part of the story. Width, digging depth, reach, hydraulic performance, breakout force and the attachments available all affect what an excavator can realistically do.
1. Trenching and drainage work
Trenching is one of the obvious jobs for a 1.7T mini excavator.
Depending on the required depth, ground conditions and access, this size can be useful for drainage, stormwater, irrigation, electrical conduit and other service trenches.
Bucket choice matters here. A narrower bucket removes less material when you only need a narrow trench. Wider buckets make more sense where the excavation itself needs to be broader.
The U17-3 has a manufacturer-rated maximum digging depth of 2,310 mm. That is a maximum specification, not a promise that every trench approaching that depth is a sensible job for this machine.
Ground conditions, trench width, required reach and where the excavator can physically sit all matter. We cover digging depth in more detail in our guide to how deep a 1.7T mini excavator can dig.
2. Backyard landscaping
This is where a 1.7T machine can make a lot of sense.
Many backyard jobs don’t need a huge excavator. They need something compact enough to reach the work area while still being capable of shifting soil efficiently.
A 1.7T mini excavator can be useful for reshaping garden areas, removing soil, preparing garden beds, cleaning up loose material and general yard excavation.
The important question is access. If you’re not sure whether a machine this size can reach your backyard, see our guide to checking whether a mini excavator will fit through your side gate.
3. Digging post holes with an auger
Fit the right auger setup and a 1.7T excavator becomes useful for much more than bucket work.
Post holes are common for fencing, retaining walls, landscaping and other projects where repeated holes need to be bored into the ground.
The U17-3 can be supplied with an Auger Torque X2000 and 300 mm and 450 mm augers where included for the selected location. You can see more information about Digger2Hire’s equipment and attachments.
An auger can make repeated holes far quicker than trying to dig every hole with a bucket. Ground conditions still matter. Rock, buried obstructions, roots and difficult soils can change what is practical.
4. Retaining-wall preparation
A 1.7T excavator can be useful during many stages of a smaller retaining-wall project.
That may include clearing the work area, excavating behind the wall line, preparing the base, digging drainage trenches and boring post holes where an auger is suitable.
Don’t assume the machine can handle every retaining-wall job simply because it can dig the required holes. Site slope, wall height, engineering requirements, material volume and access can quickly move a project beyond what makes sense for a small excavator.
5. Small footings and foundation preparation
A mini excavator can also be useful for smaller footing excavations and preparation work where the required dimensions fall within the machine’s practical working range.
The excavator can remove material much faster than digging by hand. A suitable bucket can also help keep the excavation more controlled.
The excavation itself still needs to follow the relevant plans, engineering requirements and site conditions. The machine doesn’t determine how a footing should be designed or constructed.
6. Breaking up compacted ground
Sometimes the problem isn’t moving the dirt. It’s getting into it in the first place.
A ripper attachment can help loosen compacted ground before you switch back to a bucket. That can be useful where repeatedly attacking hard ground with the bucket alone is slow or ineffective.
A ripper is available as part of the U17-3 attachment package where included for the selected hire location.
There is still a limit. A ripper does not turn a 1.7T excavator into a rock-breaking machine. Hard rock or demanding demolition work may require a different attachment, a larger excavator or specialist equipment.
7. Moving and shaping soil
A 1.7T mini excavator is also useful when the job involves more than simply digging a hole.
With the right bucket, you can move loose soil around a site, shape areas, clean up excavated material and perform general landscaping work.
The dozer blade can also help with levelling, backfilling and basic site clean-up.
For large quantities of material, though, an excavator may not be the most efficient machine for moving soil over distance. A loader, skid steer or other equipment may be better suited to that part of the job.
8. Picking up rocks and awkward material
A hydraulic rock grabber adds another useful capability.
The U17-3 can be supplied with a hydraulic rock grabber where included for the selected location. It can be useful for handling suitable rocks, debris and other awkward material that isn’t easy to control with a standard bucket.
Load weight still matters. Just because the grabber can physically close around something doesn’t mean the excavator can safely lift it in every position.
Lifting capacity changes with reach, height, machine orientation, ground conditions and track configuration. Don’t guess when handling heavy objects.
Why the U17-3 works well in tight spaces
The U17-3 combines two features that are particularly useful on residential sites: variable-width tracks and zero tail swing.
Kubota specifies the machine at 990 mm wide with the tracks retracted. The tracks can expand to 1,240 mm once there is enough room.
The zero-tail-swing design also helps when working near fences, walls and other obstacles because the rear of the upper structure stays within or close to the track footprint as it rotates.
That doesn’t make the machine impossible to hit things with. You still need adequate working clearance and careful operation.
If access is one of your main concerns, our side-gate access guide explains what to measure before deciding whether a 1.7T machine will fit.
If your access is too tight for a 1.7T machine, you may need to step down to a smaller micro excavator. Our micro vs mini excavator guide explains the practical difference between the two machine classes.
How much digging force does a U17-3 have?
Kubota rates the U17-3 for a maximum bucket breakout force of 1,534 kg and a maximum arm breakout force of 867 kg.
Those numbers help describe the machine’s digging capability, but they shouldn’t be treated as a simple measure of what material it can always excavate.
Soil type, bucket choice, digging angle, machine position and the condition of the material all affect what happens in the real world.
Where does a 1.7T mini excavator start to struggle?
This is just as important as knowing what it can do.
A 1.7T excavator may not be the best choice when the job involves:
- large volumes of bulk excavation
- very deep excavation
- heavy rock work
- large-scale demolition
- repeated heavy lifting
- large tree stumps or major clearing
- jobs where a bigger machine has unrestricted access and would be far more productive
A small machine can sometimes complete work that would be much easier with a larger excavator. That doesn’t make the smaller machine the right choice.
If you’ve got plenty of room and a substantial amount of excavation to do, stepping up to a 2.5T excavator or even a 5.5T excavator may save enough time to justify the higher hire cost.
If you’re unsure about the machine class itself, start with our guide to choosing the right mini excavator size.
1.7T mini excavator specifications at a glance
| Kubota U17-3 specification | Manufacturer figure |
|---|---|
| Operating weight | 1,675 kg |
| Minimum width | 990 mm |
| Maximum width | 1,240 mm |
| Maximum digging depth | 2,310 mm |
| Maximum digging radius | 3,900 mm |
| Maximum bucket breakout force | 1,534 kg |
| Maximum arm breakout force | 867 kg |
| Auxiliary hydraulic flow | 27.7 L/min |
| Swing system | Zero tail swing |
These figures come from Kubota Australia’s U17-3 specifications. They describe the U17-3 specifically, not every excavator in the 1.7T class.
What can a 1.7T mini excavator do?
If you’re asking what can a 1.7T mini excavator do, think of it as a compact all-rounder rather than a tiny version of a large earthmoving excavator.
It can be a very useful machine for residential landscaping, trenching, drainage, post holes, retaining-wall preparation, smaller footings and general excavation. Its compact dimensions also let it reach work areas that larger machines simply can’t access.
The trade-off is capacity. If the job is deep, heavy or involves moving a lot of material, don’t choose a 1.7T machine simply because it will technically do some of the work.
Don’t hire a 1.7T excavator just because that’s the machine available. If the job really needs a larger machine, you’re better off knowing that before you spend money on the wrong equipment.
About this guide
This guide combines Kubota manufacturer specifications with practical information about the kinds of residential and light excavation work a 1.7T mini excavator can suit. Actual job suitability still depends on access, ground conditions, digging requirements, attachments and the amount of material that needs to be moved.
Sources and machine specifications
Want to know if a 1.7T machine suits your job?
Digger2Hire offers the Kubota U17-3 1.7T mini excavator for dry hire across our current service locations. Availability and included attachments are confirmed for your selected location.
If you’re not sure whether the U17-3 suits your job, have your job location, narrowest access width, approximate digging depth and a few photos if useful ready. Your local Digger2Hire operator can help you work out whether the 1.7T is a sensible fit before the hire is arranged.
Need help choosing?
Choose your hire location
Select your location to speak directly with your local Digger2Hire operator about the job, access, machine and attachments.
Hire availability and next steps
For machine specifications and inclusions, see the Kubota U17-3 1.7T excavator. It is available through Digger2Hire in Brisbane and hire in the Northern Rivers, with local delivery and collection arrangements confirmed for each region.