When most people think of an excavator, they picture a digging bucket and some serious earthmoving power—but today’s modern hydraulic excavators offer much more than that. Thanks to rapid advancements in attachment technology, one machine can now tackle multiple tasks with unmatched efficiency.
At Riverside Equipment Rentals, we stock a wide variety of excavator attachments that go far beyond the basics—saving you time, money, and machine hours on the job site.
1. Hydraulic Thumbs
One of the most popular—and underrated—attachments is the hydraulic thumb. Ideal for demolition, clearing, and material handling, thumbs allow precise control when gripping logs, debris, or large rocks. They transform your excavator into a powerful claw for sorting and grabbing, especially on uneven terrain or tight-access areas.
✅ Best For: Construction debris, land clearing, utility trenching
📍 Available on: 200–300 series machines
2. FMS Quick Change Couplers
Tired of downtime between attachment swaps? The FMS hydraulic quick change system makes changing tools fast and safe, without leaving the cab. No more hammering pins or calling in extra help. If you’re switching from a dig bucket to a plate compactor or a rake mid-day, this tool saves real hours.
✅ Best For: Crews using multiple attachments per shift
📍 Fits: 300 series excavators and larger
3. Plate Compactors
Need to compact soil, trenches, or backfill without renting a separate roller? Hydraulic plate compactors attach directly to your excavator arm, providing deep compaction in hard-to-reach areas. They’re often used on subdivision projects, road shoulders, or utility trenches.
✅ Best For: Utility crews, roadwork, residential grading
📍 Efficiency Boost: Replace manual tamping or small ride-on rollers
4. Heavy-Duty Rakes & Grapples
From forestry jobs to general land clearing, rakes and grapples turn an excavator into a selective clearing machine. They let you separate rootballs, brush, and stumps without overloading the machine or disrupting soil unnecessarily.
✅ Best For: Site prep, invasive species removal, slash cleanup
📍 Optional Feature: Rotating grapples for precise placement
5. Trapezoidal Buckets (Ditching Buckets)
A trapezoidal or v-ditch bucket is perfect for building drainage ditches and trenches with proper slope angles. These buckets create a consistent profile, reducing the need for hand finishing or rework, especially valuable in agricultural or road drainage work.
✅ Best For: Water control, drainage, irrigation, trenching
📍 Custom-fit options available for most excavator models
Why Rent Attachments Instead of Buying?
- Cost-effective: Only pay for what you need, when you need it
- Reduced downtime: Access specialized tools without waiting on suppliers
- Maximized productivity: One machine does the work of three
Need Help Choosing the Right Attachment?
The team at Riverside Equipment Rentals is here to help. Whether you’re prepping a site in Abbotsford, clearing land in Langley, or trenching in Chilliwack, we’ll match your excavator with the right attachment to get the job done safely and efficiently.
📞 Call Daryl at 604-556-0557 or visit us in person to see our lineup of attachment-ready excavators.
Riverside Equipment Rentals – Supplying contractors in BC with dependable excavators and specialized attachments for over 30 years.