Walking and spider excavators
A walking excavator, also called a spider excavator, has a chassis that adjusts to the ground, so it can work on steep slopes, in water and over broken ground where a crawler or wheeled excavator can't. Exc@v8 is the sole UK and Ireland importer of Menzi Muck, the Swiss maker that has built steep-terrain machines since 1966.
What a walking excavator does
On a Menzi Muck the wheels adjust in width, by up to 6 metres on the M5X, for stability and precision on steep ground.
That is why these machines work where a standard excavator can't: gradients up to 45° (100%) unassisted, and 70° and more only with assistance, such as a traction winch or claws. They also wade through water over 2 m deep, and work in deep mud and over riverbeds.
Typical UK work is steep-slope timber harvesting, rail-corridor vegetation clearance, drilling and slope stabilisation, hydro pipeline installation, and river and watercourse maintenance.
Where walking excavators work
The same machines turn up on very different jobs. Each of these pages covers one of them, with the machines and attachments we supply for it:
- Steep-slope harvesting: timber on ground too steep for a conventional harvester.
- Rail: road-rail walking excavators for lineside vegetation, embankment and drainage work.
- Drill: excavator-mounted drill rigs for anchoring and soil nailing.
- Power: building and maintaining power infrastructure on steep, remote ground.
- Marine: river maintenance, coastal defence and reservoir works.
- Civils: civil engineering on steep, wet, confined or inaccessible sites.
The Menzi Muck walking excavators
M5 Series
The largest walking excavators in the range, from 12.4 tonnes: the three M5X models, and the M545X RRV, the road-rail version of the M545X.
M545X
From 13.5 tonnes
The Menzi Muck M545X is the flagship of the M5X walking excavators, from 13,500 kg, and works unassisted on slopes up to 45° in the fall line. Infinitely variable Vx-Drive takes it up to 15 km/h, on four equal wheels up to 800 mm wide with P-Vation parallel support.
More Info about M545X
M545X RRV
From 15 tonnes
The M545X RRV is a road-rail excavator that switches from rail to walking excavator in minutes and tows up to 90 tonnes on rail.
More Info about M545X RRV
M535X
From 13 tonnes
The M535X walking spider excavator combines Menzi's P-Vation parallel support with hydraulic height adjustment on the steering wheels and a hydraulically telescopic stabiliser — one of three models in the M5X range, built to work on slopes up to 45° in the fall line.
More Info about M535X
M525X
From 12.4 tonnes
The M525X walking spider excavator runs on two removable quick-release axles with wheels, with a hydraulic telescopic stabiliser and Menzi's Vx-Drive up to 15 km/h — at a starting weight of 12,400 kg, the lightest of the three M5X models.
More Info about M525X
M4 Series
The three M4X models, from 10.6 tonnes.
M445X
From 11.5 tonnes
The Menzi Muck M445X is a walking excavator for demanding terrain, from 11,500 kg, with hydrostatic H-Drive all-wheel drive, P-Vation parallel support and four equal wheels up to 710 mm wide. It's one of three models in the M4X range.
More Info about M445X
M435X
From 11.4 tonnes
The M435X walking spider excavator combines Menzi's hydrostatic H-Drive all-wheel drive and P-Vation parallel support with hydraulic height adjustment on the steering wheels and a hydraulic telescopic stabiliser — one of three models in the M4X range.
More Info about M435X
M425X
From 10.6 tonnes
The M425X walking spider excavator runs on two removable quick-release axles with wheels, with a hydraulic telescopic stabiliser and Menzi's hydrostatic drive — at a starting weight of 10,600 kg, the lightest of the three M4X models.
More Info about M425X
M2 and A Series
The compact machines. The A20 and A25 are sized for helicopter transport, and the M220 breaks down for transport by helicopter, cable car or crane.
M220
From 7.1 tonnes
The M220 is Menzi Muck's M2 walking spider excavator — an economical option for demanding work, with a 75 hp turbo diesel and an assembly concept that breaks it down for transport by helicopter, cable car or crane.
More Info about M220
A25
From 2.3 tonnes
The A25 pairs the same hydrostatic two-wheel drive, removable plug-in axles and mechanically telescopic stabiliser as the A20 with a larger frame and more engine power — Menzi Muck's second-lightest walking spider excavator, from 2,300 kg.
More Info about A25
A20
From 2 tonnes
The A20 is Menzi Muck's smallest walking spider excavator — hydrostatic two-wheel drive, removable plug-in axles and a mechanically telescopic stabiliser, sized for helicopter transport from a starting weight of 2,000 kg.
More Info about A20
Questions we get asked
Is a spider excavator the same as a walking excavator?
Yes. Menzi Muck calls them walking excavators and many people call them spider excavators. It is the same machine.
Who makes walking excavators?
We supply Menzi Muck, the Swiss maker that has built steep-terrain machines since 1966. Exc@v8 is its sole importer and official dealer for the UK and Ireland, so the sales, service and genuine parts all come from us.
How steep a slope can one work on?
Up to 45° (100%) unassisted. At 70° and more it works only with assistance, such as a traction winch or claws.
How much does a walking excavator cost?
The price depends on the model and how it is specified, so we quote for the job. Tell us the work and the ground and we’ll suggest a machine and send a price. We can also arrange finance, and our used machinery page shows what we have in stock.
Buying from Exc@v8
Exc@v8 sells new Menzi Muck walking excavators, as above, and used ones. We look after them with service and parts, and we also engineer bespoke conversions for specialist jobs. Talk to us about the job and we’ll help you choose.
Ask about a walking excavator
Tell us the job and the ground and we'll suggest a machine.
Gallery
Videos
Walkarounds, jobsite demonstrations and operator interviews with the Menzi Muck range.