Hydro Excavation
Expose Utilities Without Damage. Dig Precisely. Stay Compliant.
One strike on a buried gas line or fiber optic cable can cost hundreds of thousands in repairs, plus fines, lawsuits, and project delays. Hydro excavation lets you expose underground utilities with precision, using pressurized water and vacuum instead of a backhoe blade. No guesswork, no damage, no risk.
Sound Familiar?
- Risk of hitting buried gas, electric, or fiber lines with mechanical digging
- Costly damage claims and project shutdowns from utility strikes
- Regulations requiring non-destructive excavation near existing utilities
- Frozen ground in winter that stops conventional excavation
- Contaminated soil that requires careful removal and containment
Equipment That Delivers
- Cold weather packages with boilers for year-round frozen ground excavation
- Telescoping booms that reach 20+ feet from the truck to confined sites
- Debris tanks up to 15 yards so you haul more and dump less
Demos at your job site. Application-specific recommendations. Service and parts support across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Hydro Excavation Products
Not sure which hydro excavation equipment fits your operation? Consider your typical job scope, crew size, and budget. Our equipment consultants can help you match the right machine to your specific applications.
Talk to a SpecialistHydro Excavators
5 products from 1 brand
HX-12
Full-size hydro excavator with 12-yard debris tank, DIG DEEP telescoping boom with 18 to 23 ft reach, and greater payload capacity than comparable units in a shorter overall package.
HX-6
Mid-size hydro excavator on a standard truck chassis with 6-yard debris tank and DIG DEEP telescoping boom. Lower GVW for easier permitting and broader road access.
HX-3
Compact hydro excavator with 3-yard debris tank designed for utility potholing, daylighting, and precision excavation in tight residential and urban environments.
HX-9
Nine-yard debris tank hydro excavator sized between the HX-6 and HX-12. Built for utility crews that need more capacity than the HX-6 without going to the full-size HX-12 chassis.
HX-15
Largest Ramvac hydro excavator with a 15-yard debris tank. Built for high-volume excavation programs and contractors running multi-shift operations on major utility, pipeline, and infrastructure projects.
Truck-Mounted Units
1 product from 1 brand
Trailer-Mounted Units
1 product from 1 brand
Attachments
Organized by type. Drill into any item for specs, applications, and pricing.
Build Components / Options
4 optionsRotating Nozzles
1 option
Cleaning Nozzles
1 option
Lance Handles
1 option
Nozzles
1 option
21 hydro excavation units for sale
Equipment ready for delivery from our seven Midwest locations. Click any unit for specs, photos, and a direct quote request.
2026 Sewer Equipment HX-12 27 Hydro-Excavator
DIG DEEP telescoping boom reach while keeping overall length shorter than comparable rigs • Load and unload a full 12-yard tank fast with the full-opening rear door and no manual sorting
2026 Hydro-Spade 800 Truck Non-CDL
Cut and evacuate in one pass with 8 GPM at 3,000 PSI water pressure • Operate the boom from anywhere on site using the wireless handheld controller
2026 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
600-gallon debris capacity handles long runs between empties • Dual 120-gallon water tanks supply sustained excavation without refilling between jobs
2026 Hydro-Spade 800 Truck Non CDL
Wireless boom control lets operators work from the best vantage point without tethers • 800-gallon debris body on single-axle chassis fits daily municipal routes and tight job sites
2026 Sewer Equipment HX-12 27" Hydro-Excavation Unit
Long telescoping reach from a shorter overall footprint than competitor models, fitting tight job sites • 12-yard tank capacity with full rear-door unloading cuts debris handling labor
2026 Hydro-Spade 800 Truck Non-CDL
Operate the boom from anywhere on the jobsite with the wireless handheld controller • Dump and refill faster with an 800-gallon debris body on a Non-CDL chassis
2026 Sewer Equipment HX-12 27 Hydro-Excavator
Expose buried utilities safely with precise 10 GPM flow at 2,500 PSI pressure • 12-yard tank capacity reduces trips to the debris site
2025 Hydro-Spade 800 Truck Non-CDL Hydro-Excavator
800-gallon debris body mounted on a purpose-built single-axle chassis for Non-CDL operation • Wireless handheld boom controller gives operators the best vantage point on every dig
2025 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
Stay mobile without a CDL requirement on tandem-axle trailer design • Cover most standard excavations with 600 gallons of debris capacity plus 240 gallons of water storage
2025 Hydro-Spade 800 Truck Non-CDL Hydro-Excavator
Pinpoint subsurface location and excavation without overpower or waste • Wireless boom control frees the operator to position and observe from the safest vantage
2025 Hydro-Spade 800 Truck Non-CDL
Wireless boom control lets operators work from clear sightlines, not cramped cab positions • 800-gallon debris tank on a single-axle Non-CDL chassis fits tight municipal budgets and parking
2025 Sewer Equipment HX-12 27 Hydro-Excavator
Clear sewer lines and utilities with DIG DEEP boom reach and 10 GPM at 2,500 PSI water system • Load and unload fast: 12-yard tank with full-opening rear door cuts cycle time on tight job sites
2025 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
600-gallon debris tank handles high-volume excavation in a single-truck setup • 5.5 GPM at 3,500 PSI pump delivers both cutting power and flow control for precision work
2025 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
600-gallon debris capacity handles longer runs between hauls • Dual 120-gallon water tanks feed the 5.5 GPM pump without frequent refilling
2025 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
600-gallon debris capacity keeps you in the field longer between dumps • Dual 120-gallon water tanks mounted on the frame reduce trip time to refill
2024 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
600-gallon debris capacity keeps material handling on schedule without frequent empties • Dual 120-gallon water tanks reduce downtime between fill cycles on full-day jobs
2024 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
600-gallon debris tank handles full-day production on pothole and utility work • 5.5 GPM water pump keeps cycle times tight on high-volume daylighting jobs
2024 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
600-gallon debris capacity handles full-shift work without frequent empties • Dual 120-gallon water tanks let you keep cutting pressure steady and consistent
2024 HYDRO-SPADE 600 Gallon Hydro Excavation Trailer
Precise utility location and removal without damaging underground lines • 600-gallon debris capacity and dual 120-gallon water tanks in one trailer
2024 Hydro-Spade 800 Truck Non-CDL Hydro-Excavation Unit
Wireless boom controller lets your operator choose the best angle and distance for every dig without moving the truck • 800-gallon debris body with integrated cyclone separator that protects the blower from carryover
2026 Sewer Equipment HX-12 18" Hydro-Excavation Unit
Fast debris unloading with full-opening rear door design • Telescoping DIG DEEP boom for access to deep and distant excavation points
Side-by-side: which hydro excavation equipment fits your operation?
| Equipment Line | Brand | Type | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| HX-12 | Ramvac | Hydro Excavator | 12-yard debris tank |
| HX-6 | Ramvac | Hydro Excavator | 6-yard debris tank |
| Easy Grip Lance System | Dig Pig | Hydrovac Nozzle & Lance | Ergonomic grip reduces wrist strain |
Describe Your Problem. We'll Match the Equipment.
Tell us what you're dealing with: pipe size, job conditions, crew size, budget. We'll recommend specific equipment. We can also demo on your site so you see results before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hydro excavation?
Hydro excavation is a non-destructive digging method that uses pressurized water (3,000–24,000 PSI) to break up soil and a powerful vacuum (up to 6,000+ CFM) to remove the slurry into a debris tank. It is the safest way to expose buried utilities like gas, electric, and fiber without risk of damage from mechanical digging.
How much does a hydro excavation truck cost?
New hydro excavation trucks range from $250,000 to $500,000+ depending on debris tank size (6–15 cubic yards), water capacity, pump PSI, and chassis configuration. Trailer-mounted hydro excavators start around $60,000–$120,000 and are a lower-cost entry point for departments with lighter workloads.
Should I buy a trailer or truck-mounted hydro excavator?
Trailer-mounted units are more affordable, easier to transport with existing fleet trucks, and work well for potholing and small daylighting jobs. Truck-mounted hydro excavators carry larger debris tanks (10–15 yards), longer booms, and handle high-volume excavation where fewer dump trips matter. Brown Equipment Company can demo both configurations on your job site.
What is the difference between potholing and daylighting?
Potholing creates a small test hole (typically 12–18 inches wide) to verify the exact location and depth of a buried utility before construction begins. Daylighting exposes a larger section of a buried utility so crews can visually confirm its condition, material, and routing for repair or tie-in work.
Can hydro excavation work in frozen ground?
Yes. Hydro excavation trucks equipped with cold weather packages use onboard boilers to heat water to 140–180°F, allowing effective excavation in frozen ground conditions. This makes hydro excavation one of the only viable non-destructive digging methods during Midwest winters.
What size hydro excavation truck do I need?
For utility locating and potholing, a trailer unit or truck with a 6–8 yard debris tank is sufficient. For large daylighting jobs, pipeline exposure, or high daily volume, a 12–15 yard truck with a telescoping boom (20+ feet of reach) will reduce dump trips and increase daily productivity.
Ready to Find Your Hydro Excavation Solution?
Get pricing, schedule a demo, or talk to a specialist. We cover Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
