8 Tonne Excavators for Sale in South Australia

8 tonne excavators — commonly called midi excavators — step up from the mini class into genuine civil capability. Operating weight typically sits between 6,500 and 10,000 kg, with dig depths of 4.2-5 metres and breakout forces strong enough to rip compacted clay, broken rock, and hard pan. The 8 tonne class is where you'll find more comfortable cabs, heavier-duty undercarriages, and hydraulic flow high enough to run full-size breakers, rotating tilt hitches, and mulchers. Kubota KX080, Yanmar VIO80, Hyundai R80, Caterpillar 308 and JCB 85Z are commonly listed. For commercial civil contractors, the 8 tonne class is the workhorse for bulk trenching, stormwater to invert level on most jobs, driveway cuts into rock, and small-to-medium building pad preparation. Trailer requirements step up substantially — you'll need a purpose-built plant trailer behind a heavy rigid or light prime mover. Used 8 tonne excavators typically range from $60,000 to $140,000 depending on hours, brand, and attachments. They hold value well on the Australian market because of their versatility.