AGT H12R Mini Excavator

Behind the Scenes at Garvey Media: Why We Love the AGT H12R Mini Excavator
By Darryl Garvey | Garvey Media

At Garvey Media, we’re usually behind the lens shooting commercial video—but when we’re off the clock, you’ll often find us digging, building, or hauling materials around our property. That’s why I wanted to share a quick look at one of my favorite pieces of gear we’ve added to the arsenal: the AGT H12R Mini Excavator.

I put together a video review that walks through the features, performance, and what I really think of the machine after using it on several projects:

🎥 Watch the full video here: AGT H12R Mini Excavator Review

Why I Bought the H12R

We first picked up the H12R to help dig out forms for concrete slab work. We do some video production work for the company MudMixer, and since I’m often pouring DIY slabs, it made sense to have a small excavator on hand to handle the prep. So far, it’s been a game-changer. It’s compact enough to maneuver easily around our property, but still powerful enough to handle tough digging jobs. I’ve used it for all kinds of things—from trenching, moving logs to grabbing loads of sand from our sand pit.

Installing a Hydraulic Thumb

One of the best upgrades I made was installing a Typhon hydraulic thumb. The install process was super straightforward—just a few bolts and some hydraulic connections—and it instantly made the machine way more versatile. Now I use it all the time for:

Picking up logs and brush in the woods
Moving awkward debris
Loading and organizing materials

If you’re planning to use your mini excavator for anything besides digging, I highly recommend adding a thumb.

Real-World Workhorse

What I really like about the H12R is that it’s simple, reliable, and just works. I’ve used it to:

Dig trenches for drainage and electrical lines
Move brush after clearing areas of the woods
Grab scoops of sand from our personal sand pit
Prep areas for DIY concrete pours
And even just move things around that would’ve taken way longer by hand

For the price point and what it offers, I think it’s a great investment—especially for small business owners, landowners, or weekend warriors like me.