Dig footers, drainage, and utility trenches on a tight lot
Whether you are setting footers for an addition, running a drain line, or trenching for irrigation and utilities, a compact machine gets into the side yard, digs clean, and backfills when you are done.
What the job involves
Trenching and footer work covers a lot of ground on a residential job: footings for a room addition, garage, or shed foundation; drainage trenches to move water off a low spot; utility runs for water, power, or irrigation; and post holes for fences, decks, and mailboxes. The common thread is that most of it happens in a tight backyard or side yard where a full-size machine cannot fit and hand-digging Florida clay is brutal.
For narrow trenches and pier holes, the Bobcat MT-120 mini skid steer with an auger drills clean, consistent holes fast, and the machine's compact footprint means it reaches the back corner of the lot through a standard gate. For continuous footers and deeper drainage, our Bobcat E-35 mini excavator digs to ten feet with a zero-tail-swing house that spins in place against a fence line without clipping it.
Both machines backfill and grade the spoil when the job is done, so you are not left with a pile of dirt and a hand shovel. That is the difference between a trench you dug and a trench you finished.
Bobcat MT-120 Mini Skid Steer
The heart of our fleet. A versatile mini track loader that fits through a standard gate yet lifts 1,200 lbs. Ideal for landscaping, hardscaping, land clearing, and material handling on tight residential job sites. Swaps attachments in seconds.
Recommended attachments for this job
What to expect on the job
Call 811 before you dig
Florida law requires locating buried utilities before any digging. Call Sunshine 811 (dial 811) at least two full business days ahead. It is free, and it is the step that keeps a footer dig from hitting a gas or fiber line.
Mark your lines and depths
Chalk or paint the trench line and mark target depth. For footers, check your permit and local code for width and depth; for drainage, plan a consistent fall so water actually runs.
Dig with the right tool
Auger on the mini skid steer for post holes and piers. Mini excavator for continuous footers, deeper drain lines, and anywhere you need a clean vertical wall and precise depth.
Backfill and grade
Once the footer is poured or the line is set and inspected, the machine backfills the spoil and grades the surface smooth so you are not finishing by hand.
Rough time and cost
For continuous footers and deep drainage, the Bobcat E-35 mini excavator ($325/day, all-in) is usually the better tool than the skid steer. Both include tax and the damage waiver, with a full 24 hours per rental day.
Questions we get on this job
Skid steer with an auger, or a mini excavator?
Use the auger on the mini skid steer for round holes: fence posts, deck piers, mailbox and sign posts. Use the mini excavator for continuous trenches and footers where you need a clean vertical wall, precise depth, and a longer run.
How deep can I trench?
The Bobcat E-35 mini excavator digs to about ten feet, which covers footers, most residential drainage, and utility runs. The auger on the skid steer handles typical post and pier depths.
Do I really have to call 811?
Yes. In Florida it is the law, it is free, and it protects you from hitting a buried gas, power, water, or fiber line. Call at least two business days before you dig. We will not skip this and neither should you.
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Ready to tackle trenching & footers?
Rent the Bobcat MT-120 online in about 60 seconds, or call. Free yard pickup 24/7, or delivery from $150.