Two tonnes is the sweet spot of the compact excavator market. A 2 ton machine is heavy enough to dig real footings, trenches and drainage at speed, yet light enough to move on a standard plant trailer and work inside a residential street without closing it. TUSKO builds four models across this class, from 1.8 ton to 2.6 ton.
Ask any plant hire manager or utility contractor which size they use most and the answer is usually in the 1.8 to 2.5 ton bracket. It is the smallest class that still feels like a professional production machine, with enough hydraulic flow and breakout force to keep a bucket moving all day, and enough mass to stay stable when reaching over a trench edge.
At the same time, a 2 ton excavator remains genuinely transportable. It fits comfortably on a standard plant trailer behind a light commercial vehicle, and most models can be supplied with an extendable undercarriage that narrows for transport and widens for stability. That combination of productivity and mobility is why this class outsells both the micro excavators and the 3 to 4 ton machines for general contracting work.
Our four models in this class share the same design philosophy and the same component brands, but they differ in power, depth and footprint. The table makes the differences easy to compare; full specifications are on each model page.
| Model | Weight | Engine | Power | Dig Depth | Transport Width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK17 | 1,800 kg | Kubota D902 | 11.8 kW | 2,270 mm | 990-1,300 mm |
| TK18 | 1,850 kg | Kubota D902 | 12.1 kW | 2,350 mm | 980-1,300 mm |
| TK25 | 2,500 kg | Kubota V1505 | 18.5 kW | 2,700 mm | 1,400-1,700 mm |
| TK26 | 2,600 kg | Kubota V1505 | 19.8 kW | 2,800 mm | 1,450-1,750 mm |
If access is the constraint, the 990 mm transport width of the TK17 is decisive. If you need maximum depth and reach in the lightest possible package, the TK18 gives slightly more of both. Once your work involves pipe laying, lifting or digging deeper than 2.5 metres regularly, the extra hydraulic capacity of the TK25 and TK26 repays the difference in purchase price very quickly.
These machines appear on an enormous variety of jobs. The most common duties we hear about from export customers are:
Rubber tracks are the right default for landscapers, contractors working on paving and anyone who needs to travel on roads or cross finished surfaces. Steel tracks grip better and last longer in abrasive or rocky ground, but they mark surfaces and are noisier to operate.
On the operator platform, a canopy keeps the purchase price and the transport height down and is popular in warm, dry markets. An enclosed cab with air conditioning, heating, radio and work lights costs more but keeps an operator productive in extreme heat, cold, dust or rain, and it protects resale value in markets where cabs are expected.
Every machine in this class is built to order, so the specification you choose affects both the build and the delivered cost: cab or canopy, rubber or steel tracks, bucket set, auxiliary hydraulic circuits and attachments all make a difference, as does the destination port. Standard lead time is 20 to 30 days from order confirmation, with 35 to 45 days for custom paint or unusual configurations. Machines ship from Qingdao or Tianjin, normally FOB or CIF, and documentation includes invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and conformity certificates.
The 1.8 ton TK17 and TK18 use a Kubota D902 engine of around 12 kW and dig to roughly 2,300 mm, and they are light enough for very narrow access. The 2.5 ton TK25 and TK26 use a larger four-cylinder Kubota V1505 of 18.5 to 19.8 kW and dig to 2,700 to 2,800 mm, with much greater hydraulic capacity for pipe laying and continuous production.
Yes. The TK17 and TK18 have zero-tail-swing geometry, so the counterweight stays within the track width and the machine can work against a wall or along a road edge without a spotter. Larger models in the class have conventional geometry with an extendable undercarriage for stability.
For most buyers, yes. It lets the machine narrow down for transport and then widen for digging, which gives a noticeably more stable platform at full reach and makes the machine more versatile. It costs little relative to the total machine price and it protects the undercarriage from the twisting loads that a narrow, fixed undercarriage sees.
Yes, provided the machine is ordered with the correct auxiliary hydraulic circuit. We match flow and pressure to the breaker at the factory, which is far cheaper and more reliable than trying to adapt a machine after delivery.
Container loadability depends on the arm, track and cab configuration and on how many attachments travel with each machine. We prepare a loading plan for every order and confirm whether a 20 ft or 40 ft container is the more economical choice for your mix.
Yes. We stock fast-moving items including filters, rubber tracks, bucket teeth, pins and hydraulic components, and we can include a recommended spare parts kit with your order so consumables arrive at the same time as the machine.
Tell us your machine, quantity and destination port and our export team will send firm pricing, a container loading plan and lead time, normally within one working day.
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