What do I need to learn before I can drive an excavator?
It may seem strange, but I have a dream of driving a big excavator and digging up huge amounts of dirt and rock. I'm not in the construction trade and have no reason to dig up dirt, but it's my dream all the same. I've operated a little bobcat during some home reno and that was fun, but it's small potatoes compared to the dinosaur-sized excavators I see working on the highway. Just once I'd like to try it! How can I make this a reality?
Answers ( 1 )
There is something primaly fascinating about these machines, isn't there?
Learning to operate one professionally can take one of two main paths, one of which costs money, and one of which can make you money. Small excavators (sometimes called Mini-ex) can be rented from the same type of supplier where you may have rented your Bobcat. I've done that when I needed to do work on a retaining wall at the family lake house, and to repair my septic tank at home. They're lots of fun, and as long as you're careful you can use them in your own back yard.
If you're willing to put some time into it, the other option is to apply for a job an the type of place that uses this equipment, starting small and working your way up. Landscaping and construction firms are good places to start, but keep in mind that you'll have to use the manual version (an old-fashioned shovel) before they're likely to let you try your hand with the machinery.
If all you want to do is play around on one though? Well... you could do like my father once did: find a construction site and try all the ignitions until you find one you can start... or go to a place that actually specializes in letting people do just that: A Heavy Equipment Amusement park.
These types of parks are becoming increasingly common, and let people fulfill their childhood (and adult...) wishes of playing around with giant toys. DIggerland, Extreme Sandbox, and Heavy Metal Playground are a few to look into.
Good luck, and have fun!