Bobcat E38 (Extendable Arm) - Compact Excavator

Maneuver faster with the Bobcat 2-Speed option. The quicker you can move on your jobsite, the faster you can complete your work. Select low range for pushing and dozing and high range for increased jobsite mobility.

Auto-Shift travel shifts the machine out of high range and back automatically, offering superb travel performance without having to manually downshift. It automatically transitions the travel motors to and from high range, giving you greater tractive effort with no manual shifting. Simply select the travel speed range and go. A directional lug track also provides a smoother ride and less vibration when traveling. Optional on the E20 model.

Bobcat® excavator controls allow you to make fine movements with low effort and maximum comfort – so you can get precise results in less time, with less fatigue. A rocker-style thumb switch, located on the left joystick, provides superior boom swing control with better metering than foot pedals. Multifunction operation, such as swinging and traveling simultaneously, is also easier. With the boom swing control on the joystick, you get more floor space and foot room that provides a comfort advantage on long, tiring jobs.

Whether you’re traveling across a jobsite, backfilling, or digging, your excavator’s hydraulic system contributes to performance more than any other feature. When compared to other brands, advanced hydraulics on Bobcat® excavators deliver the most horsepower in working range.

Bobcat® compact excavators deliver the house, boom, arm and bucket control you expect in the most challenging work environments. It’s the confidence in these precise movements that determines whether you complete the job using your machine, or with two workers and a pair of shovels.

Simplify grading and leveling. Blade float exerts a minimal, consistent down-force on the blade, with minimal operator input.

Dig with confidence over the side of the machine and experience greater slewing ability thanks to the dual flange track rollers. Operators will also notice smoother, more comfortable ride quality while moving across bumpy jobsites.

With deluxe instrumentation, vital machine information is at your fingertips. A full-color panel gives you access to operation data, functional lockouts, maintenance reminders, eco mode, and includes an integrated keyless start system.

Multiple arm configurations are available on select models: standard, long, and extendable. Depending on the reach, depth, power, and lifting performance you need, there’s an arm to meet the needs of your job and increase productivity.

Each arm configuration provides specific benefits, depending on the kind of work you do. The standard power arm offers maximum arm breakout force. For added reach and dig depth, equip your machine with the optional long arm. The first and only clamp-ready extendable arm option delivers power and lifting performance when it’s retracted, combined with additional reach and dig depth when it’s extended.

For added stability, the counterweight on compact (mini) excavators is integrated into the structure of the machine. This design contributes to an improvement of lift-over-side capacity up to 15 percent in select models. You’ll notice the difference when you’re lifting a heavy load - such as a culvert - and slewing over the side of the machine.

With the angle blade, you can configure your compact excavator’s blade to the left or right up to 25 degrees to find the best position for your work. Left and right adjustments help you backfill and grade faster. Downward adjustments, available on some models, stabilize your excavator when digging on an uneven surface or trenching at an angle.

Achieve an accurate grade every time without leaving your cab by using the Bobcat® depth check system. Efficient and easy to use, the system delivers accurate dig depth measurement for precise digging performance. It eliminates over-digging and the costs associated with backfilling and compacting fill material. It also prevents under-digging and the resulting need for manual labor to finalize depth or grade.

If your jobs often require an excavator with greater reach, choose a Bobcat compact excavator with the extendable-arm option. When needed, the arm can be hydraulically extended up to 30 inches and then retracted to its standard position for maximum arm force and lift performance.

Premium comfort gives you the endurance to power through long days and tough jobs. When you step inside the Bobcat compact (mini) excavator cab, you’ll see refinements everywhere you look, including plenty of headroom and legroom, clear visibility, and a larger suspension seat. Each feature has been designed to help keep you working all day long.

Auto Idle makes it easier and quieter to pause your work, take a quick break or communicate on the jobsite - all while saving fuel. When machine functions aren’t used, the machine automatically idles the engine until you start working again.

The exclusive In-Track Swing Frame on Bobcat® compact excavators gets you closer to your work.

When you dig in an offset position, the swing castings and cylinders remain within the tracks to help you work in small spaces. You can dig flush against an obstacle, minimizing the chances of inadvertent contact. Ultimately, you can reduce operating costs of repairs to your machines or adjacent structures.

Other brands cannot match this feature: When they work in an offset digging position, their components extend outside the tracks and reduce their ability to dig in tight areas.

No other manufacturer provides so many job-proven features to give you more uptime in the field. Bobcat® compact excavators have more standard features that help you stay on the job longer.

Bobcat steel hydraulic lines offer better protection than rubber hoses. They’re routed through the lower portion of the boom swing casting and tucked securely into the top area of the boom structure, preventing costly damage and protecting component life. Hoses have more steel tubing, well-designed mounts and minimal fittings.

The boom, arm and attachment/bucket offer better lifting performance and even longer durability. Cast pivot joints provide precise pin alignment which lengthens the service life of pivot pins and bushings. The work group easily accommodates a second set of auxiliary hydraulics, so you can add the option faster and for less cost.

Plus, a strong, lightweight composite door on cab models withstands years of tough work.

Get on and off the jobsite faster. Secure your load quickly, without searching for hard-to-reach tie-downs.

Integrated slew brakes hold your load steady on slopes for more accurate placement. It’s easier to position the excavator, and you no longer need to manually engage the slew brake during transport.

With better ground clearance, the X-frame undercarriage improves your performance in difficult conditions. Dirt and other materials easily pass through this undercarriage, making cleanup faster and leaving less debris on the trailers.

The X-frame undercarriage design places drive motors within the width of the tracks, protecting the assembly and improving agility in soft conditions. The recessed motor covers eliminate potential damage and improve your uptime on the job.

Bobcat controls and electrical systems are engineered with more watertight, corrosion-resistant connectors than other manufacturers’ machines.

Choose an excavator model with the tail swing configuration that best matches the needs of your jobsite. Models provide different levels of maneuverability.

Conventional Tail Swing

Conventional tail swing models deliver the greatest lift capacity in the excavator lineup. Conventional tail swing excavators also have a narrower stance (width) for easier loading onto a trailer and better access through doorways, gates, property lines or other tight areas on the job site.

Minimal Tail Swing

Minimal tail swing provides more maneuverability than conventional tail swing, however the rear of the house protrudes as much as 6 in. beyond the width of the tracks. Slew and deposit soil where you need it, reposition the machine fewer times, and worry less about inadvertently contacting any surrounding objects.

Zero Tail Swing (ZTS)

Zero Tail Swing (ZTS) excavators give you more unrestricted rotation and provides greater flexibility if you are constantly working close to objects or against a wall. The rear of the house stays within the width of the tracks through full rotation.

Steel tracks increase your pushing force when you're working in harsh or abrasive jobsites. The segmented construction makes for quick, convenient repair and the rubber pads give you a more comfortable ride.

Extend the life of your backfill blade through the bolt-on, one-piece and reversible cutting edge. Compared to welded-on cutting edges, the cutting edge on the angle blade is easily reversible and replaceable. Available on select models.

Maintenance is necessary, and Bobcat compact (mini) excavators are designed to make it easy. A wide opening gives you more space to work, while a smart layout gives you access to critical components.

Access engine and pump package, valve bank, cooling system and plumbing using the swing-open tailgate and side access hood. Filters, fluid checks, air cleaner, battery and other maintenance points are simple to access.

Made of tough DuPont Kevlar®, the multi-groove auto-tensioning belt, requires no adjustment, making maintenance much easier.

When hydraulic fluids move easier, you’ll have more available hydraulic horsepower. That’s why Bobcat® compact excavators have fewer 90-degree fittings, resulting in more efficient hydraulic fluid transfer and better utilization of engine horsepower.

Additionally, a centralized grease bank makes fast, simple work of lubricating the slew bearing and slew pinion. With the large opening, it’s simple and easy to reach the well-protected grease cylinder fitting and complete track tensioning.

Unlike most joints, which require greasing as part of daily checklist, Bobcat excavators include a greaseless boom swing cylinder pin joint. For you, that means less time maintaining your machine and more time working. 

Instead of a typical bushing on the boom cylinder pin joint, Bobcat compact excavators include a sealed bushing that doesn’t require greasing.