mini excavator purchase

26Red · Mar 10, 2011

Thinking about buying a mini excavator for the farm. Budget is 10k. What models should I check out?

Mathias NY · Mar 10, 2011

Something used...

I've had good luck with Yanmar's and Kubota's when I've had to rent one. They aren't cheap though.

Steve in VA · Mar 10, 2011

I got a CAT 301.5 last summer. Great machine but may be too small for whatever you want to do. Can't be beat for footers and such with the 10" bucket. 1400 hours, no leaks, new tracks and paid less than 10K. Best purchase ever maybe.

big hunter · Mar 10, 2011

you can go onto the john deere web site and compare spec"s for most any machine.

john deere and komatsu are the most powerful mini"s from what I saw

Anonymous-0 · Mar 10, 2011

I have a Kubota KX42 I really like. Might be a little small for you. But i woud look at a Kubota.

Tom-TX · Mar 10, 2011

With only 1400 hours, it had to have new tracks? That is less than 1 years work. Maybe had the hourmeter turned back? Tom

Adirondack case guy · Mar 10, 2011

I bought a Kubota KX41-3 in 05. It has a 16" bucket,boom hydraulics, Hydraulically adjusted track width from 35" to 54" outside measurment,and independant boom and house swing. I bought a LOWE hydraulic auger for it, and built a detachable thumb for it. It's only limitation is loading dirt into bigger trucks, which you can't, but works well with standard 1T dumps.
I have never done anything other than routine maintainance to it. Been a great machine for ditching, foundation work. The hyd auger is great for setting posts and forming round holes for concrete piers. It will only turn a 9" auger in our heavy clay ground, but reverse is real handy if you catch a rock, and when it is pulled from the hole to clear the flighting. You may be able to buy a unit from a dealer that maintains a rental fleet as I did. Kabota had a rental program for dealers which worked very well for me, and a lot of the rental hours prior to my purchase was clocked by myself, kinda pay as you go, and then a good finance program at the end of the season.

26Red · Mar 10, 2011

I mainly be using it for be digging footers for a new garage and putting in drain tile around the house.

big fred · Mar 10, 2011

I just rented a 12,000 lb Kubota unit in October for less than $300 a day. What you're describing is probably no more than 2-3 days work, unless you're even slower running one of them things than I am.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 10, 2011

Have you considered a compact loader/backhoe? If you dig a footer, how are you going to backfill and landscape without a front bucket? I"ve seen basement walls cave in when someone uses a blade to backfill.

You can get a used compact loader/backhoe for $10K.
George

old · Mar 10, 2011

I'd look around for a tractor back hoe set up. My dad did that when he was building a place and I still have that rig. He payed $3250 for it. It is a 8N ford with a Scout back hoe and dear born loader and does a good job for what it is

dhermesc · Mar 10, 2011

We have three of the Hyundai R55s that we bought new in 2004. They've been great little machines with very minimal repairs. The guys on the jobsites love having them around.

dhermesc · Mar 10, 2011

If that's all you have planned you'd probably be way ahead renting one or even hiring it done.

tjdub · Mar 10, 2011

My dad has a Bobcat 325x. It's been a good little machine. Well used ones go for about $10k as long as they don't have a cab.

Steve in VA · Mar 10, 2011

Tom, the WHOLE story is that the previous owner's father-in-law used the high flow/ high speed comming across the field, decided to make a tight turn, and ran the track off one side. Cut it up enough to trash. They went for both rather than a single new one.

jm. · Mar 10, 2011

You should be able to pick up a decent kUBOTA for 10 grand. They out sell about all the other brands because of the dealer suport and they just do good work. Have owned several my home hoe now is a kx 121-2. Maybe a kx 91 or something in that size range would do what you want. KX 41 might be a little short but they are a poplar size. Lots of 61 s out there also. Just stay away from brands that have limited parts and dealer suport.

Doug in IL · Mar 10, 2011

I've always wondered why the big attraction to excavators. They are such a limited use machine.

Adirondack case guy · Mar 10, 2011

Apparantly you have never been a construction equipment operator, or you would know the difference. To start with is the ability to manuver soft wet ground, dig your self down to work steep slopes, one station with all mobilization and digging controls at your finger tips. TLBs have their place with their ability to travel fast and carry materials with the bucket, but as far as digging their production rate is pathetic compared to a trackhoe. How would you dig a hole in front of you and load the spoiles into a truck behind you while maintaining the path the truck has to back into, with a TLB?
The trackhoe is a high production digging machine, the TLB is a utility machine which is restricted by design, trying to be everything to everybody. It all boils down to the wright tool for the job.

kendak · Mar 10, 2011

got a 335 Bobcat that I use on a small water system ...good solid machine...most of the hrs. I put on it are working around the shop when I rebuild my old tractors ...picks up things that I can't ...installs motors ...best tool I ever had to change back tractor tires...would have to give up my tractor hobby if didn't have it...will run around the shop for weeks on 12gal. of diesel...pull it around with a 4X4 F-150...check one out before you buy

JayinNY · Mar 10, 2011

Everyone thinks a mini excavator is a joke, it will work circles around a tlb as far as digging. This is the littlest one my friend has, his biggest is a CAT 330. I have also used his 304 CAT which is a little bigger than this one. My 7000lbs trailer can haul the 301.5,but not the 304. I used the 301.5 to dig down to my house footings to put in drain tile, about 7 feet, have trenched with it and planted trees with it. New it was $30,000 I dont think you can get a used CAT for $10 grand. Any kind you get they are very handy. J

Rick Kr · Mar 10, 2011

I rented a Schaeff (made by Terex) to dig a small pond. Rent was $200 for 8 hours. Dug a 30 x 45 pond 8 foot deep, and dug 200 foot of trench to repair a field tile. This was a 4 ton machine with a 24 inch bucket. Did this all in 8 hours of machine time, not rushing.

I would bet good money that it would out dig a 580 case TLB or similar size. I had a 17 foot hoe on my Allis and while the reach was further than the mini-excavator, the 360 degree turning in my opinion with far out work a backhoe with only 180 degree swing.

A backhoe does have other uses, but if digging is what your after you cannot beat an excavator, mini or big.

For serious digging I would look at 4 to 5 ton.

Rick

Anonymous-0 · Mar 11, 2011

I bought an IHI 28J 2 years ago as an addition to my landscape business. I would say this is the single best investment I have made business wise. 7000lb machine with quick coupler and 3 buckets. I paid $9000 for it and have paid it off in one year. Isuzu diesel , 2 speed travel and boom hydraulics. Many rental companies have these machines. In my opinion, a very well built machine. Dave

Anonymous-0 · Mar 11, 2011

I bought an IHI 28J 2 years ago as an addition to my landscape business. I would say this is the single best investment I have made business wise. 7000lb machine with quick coupler and 3 buckets. I paid $9000 for it and have paid it off in one year. Isuzu diesel , 2 speed travel and boom hydraulics. Many rental companies have these machines. In my opinion, a very well built machine. Dave

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