Can I Tow a Mini Excavator Myself? Towing & Collection Guide

Yes, you can tow some mini excavators yourself – but only if your vehicle and complete towing setup are suitable for the loaded trailer. With Digger2Hire, approved customer collection is available for the K008-3, U17-3 and U25-3 when the collection requirements are met. The 5.5T ViO55-6B is different: it requires suitable flatbed transport and is not available for customer collection.

How much towing capacity do I need?

For Digger2Hire customer collection, the minimum braked towing capacity depends on the machine:

Machine	Minimum braked towing capacity	Customer collection
Kubota K008-3 0.9T	2,500 kg	By approval
Kubota U17-3 1.7T	2,500 kg	By approval
Kubota U25-3 2.5T	3,500 kg	By approval
Yanmar ViO55-6B 5.5T	Not applicable	No — suitable flatbed transport only

Those are Digger2Hire’s minimum collection requirements, not a shortcut for checking your vehicle. The actual tow vehicle, towbar, coupling, trailer and loaded combination all need to be suitable and within their applicable ratings.

Don’t just look at the excavator’s weight

A common mistake is to see “1.7 tonne excavator” and assume a vehicle rated to tow 1.7 tonnes is enough. It isn’t that simple.

You’re towing the loaded trailer, not just the excavator. The trailer itself has weight, and the machine, attachments and anything else carried on it contribute to the load. Your vehicle also has its own towing and combination limits.

Queensland Government guidance says the driver is responsible for ensuring the towing vehicle, trailer and tow couplings meet the applicable standards and loaded mass limits. NSW guidance similarly says the loaded trailer must stay within the relevant vehicle, towbar or coupling, trailer and tyre ratings.

If you’re unsure about your vehicle’s towing limits, check the owner’s manual and manufacturer ratings rather than relying on the excavator model name or an online rule of thumb.

What do I need to collect a Digger2Hire excavator?

For an approved K008-3, U17-3 or U25-3 customer collection, Digger2Hire requires:

• a tow vehicle with at least the required braked towing capacity for the machine;
• a compatible, functioning electric brake controller;
• a current full/open driver’s licence;
• a comprehensively insured tow vehicle;
• confirmation that your insurance remains valid for the proposed towing arrangement;
• appropriate cover for potential liability relating to the trailer, excavator and attachments; and
• approval of the actual vehicle and collection arrangement by Digger2Hire.

We may record details such as the vehicle make and model, registration and rated braked towing capacity as part of the hire and handover process.

Meeting the headline towing-capacity number doesn’t automatically approve a collection. The complete setup still needs to be suitable.

Why do I need an electric brake controller?

The plant trailers used for these collection arrangements are braked trailers, and Digger2Hire requires a compatible, functioning electric brake controller in the tow vehicle.

Australian trailer-braking standards become more demanding as trailer mass increases. Current national guidance says trailers over 2,000 kg Gross Trailer Mass require brakes operating on all wheels and an emergency breakaway braking system. NSW also states that brakes on trailers over 2,000 kg GTM must be operable from the driver’s seating position.

For a Digger2Hire collection, the practical answer is simple: if the required electric brake controller isn’t fitted and working, choose delivery instead.

Are the towing rules different in Queensland and NSW?

The basic principles are similar: use a suitable and roadworthy vehicle and trailer, stay within the applicable mass and towing limits, make sure the coupling and braking equipment are suitable, and secure the load correctly. But there are state-specific road and licence rules, so don’t assume every detail is identical when crossing the border.

Queensland

Queensland says the driver is legally responsible for safe towing and for ensuring the towing vehicle, trailer and tow couplings meet the minimum standards and loaded mass limits. The vehicle manufacturer’s towing limits should be followed.

New South Wales

NSW also requires the towing vehicle to be suited to the trailer and its rated limits not to be exceeded. NSW has additional licence restrictions for learner and P1 drivers: learner drivers cannot tow, and P1 car licence holders are limited to small trailers up to 250 kg unloaded weight.

Digger2Hire’s own collection policy is simpler: approved customer collection requires a current full/open driver’s licence, regardless of whether a less restrictive towing arrangement might otherwise be permitted under a particular road rule.

What about insurance?

Don’t assume that because your vehicle has enough towing capacity, your insurance automatically covers every towing situation.

Digger2Hire requires the tow vehicle to be comprehensively insured and asks customers collecting equipment to check that their own insurance remains valid for the proposed towing arrangement. You should also have appropriate cover for potential liability involving the trailer, excavator and attachments.

Your insurer is the right party to confirm what your policy covers. Digger2Hire doesn’t interpret or guarantee a customer’s insurance coverage.

When is delivery the better option?

Customer collection can make sense when you already have a suitable tow vehicle, brake controller and towing experience. But delivery is often the easier choice if:

• your vehicle doesn’t meet the required braked towing capacity;
• you don’t have a compatible electric brake controller;
• you’re unsure about the vehicle, towbar or combination limits;
• you don’t want the extra responsibility of towing a loaded plant trailer;
• your insurance position isn’t clear; or
• you’re hiring the ViO55-6B, which requires suitable flatbed transport.

There’s no benefit in forcing customer collection just to avoid a delivery charge if the towing setup isn’t right.

How much does Digger2Hire delivery cost?

For eligible K008-3, U17-3 and U25-3 plant-trailer hires, standard delivery and collection is currently $150 return within approximately 20 km where applicable. Longer distances are quoted individually.

The ViO55-6B is different. It requires suitable flatbed transport, so transport is quoted according to the job location rather than using the standard $150 plant-trailer delivery charge.

See Delivery & Pickup for the current collection requirements and transport information. If you’re comparing collection with delivery, it also helps to compare the full hire cost, not just the daily rate. You can check the Pricing page for current hire rates.

Not sure whether to collect or have it delivered?

If you’re unsure whether your vehicle is suitable, tell us what you’re towing with before arranging collection. We can confirm Digger2Hire’s collection requirements for the machine, but you’ll still need to make sure your vehicle, licence and insurance are suitable for the towing arrangement.

If you’re still deciding how you want to hire the machine, our guide explains the difference between dry and wet hire. You can also use Instant Quote to see a likely machine and hire estimate for your job.

Sources

• Queensland Government — Towing vehicles and trailers
• NSW Government — Towing a trailer or caravan
• NSW Government — Licence classes and conditions
• Australian Government — Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 (Revision 6)

Towing information reviewed: September 2026. Road rules, vehicle standards and individual vehicle ratings can change. Check the relevant road authority and your vehicle manufacturer’s current information before towing.

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