Picking up the mini excavator from the auction yard-an ALMOST perfect trip

Are mini excavators dangerous?

We bought a one ton mini excavator, sight unseen, through an online auction seven hours from home. In previous videos, we show our experience with the online auctions, including the winning auction, and we prepare our single axle landscape trailer and add some key upgrades to handle this load. In this video, we make the seven hour drive, see the excavator for the first time, load it up and bring it home. We make a quick stop on the way home to view the solar eclipse through my welding mask. The trip went almost perfectly. As I’m backing the mini excavator down the trailer ramp, and struggling to move the controls lightly enough to make the crawling motion smooth, I learn the hard way that this unit is surprisingly top heavy.

Some of the items featured in the video are available on Amazon.com. We purchased all of the equipment and gear seen in this video with our own funds. This is not a paid promotion, but we are an Amazon affiliate. We’ve added links in the description for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. There is no added cost to you.

ROCKMAN RV Camper Trailer Stabilizer Leveling Scissor Jacks https://amzn.to/4aanABk

DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit with 2 Batteries and Charger
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High Visibility Safety Vest
https://amzn.to/3QmvWyI

Ratcheting Chain Binders
https://amzn.to/3JLY5v7

Thanks to @RiverForged on IG for help with the thumbnails!

00:00 - The "almost perfect" trip
00:02 - We won the online auction
00:12 - Let's go get it from the auction yard
00:32 - Arriving at Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Morris Il
01:39 - Finding it in the yard
03:06 - Will it start?
03:31 - He's OK with letting me try to drive it on.
04:26 - First try at driving this thing
05:41 - Up it goes
07:46 - tie it down
09:58 - Turn in the release ticket at the gate, and hit the road
11:05 - Check the tie downs at the gas stops
11:37 - Quick stop to see the eclipse
12:43 - Follow-up check of the trailer
12:58 - "If I hurry..." Bad Idea
14:05 - No idiots were harmed during the filming of this video