Mini Excavator?
#8218132
09/18/24 02:35 AM
09/18/24 02:35 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,826 N. Carolina
Scout1
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OP
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Posts: 3,826
N. Carolina
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I was wanting to get some input from anyone that has experience with the mini excavators. I may be needing a road on my property in near future. It's not too step of grade with only some smaller tree's. I am going to get some quotes,but would guess it will run $10-20K. My thinking is to just buy an excavator and work on it myself over time. I'm thinking getting a 10,000lb +/- a few hundred pounds. We also have some Mt. land that are always needing roads worked on. I know w/tractors to buy a dealer and not brand. I am looking used as well. I would like to have rubber tracks, thumb, 6 way blade, something to handle up to a 36" bucket. If it has a cab and heat/air that would be a plus but not necessary. What brands would any of you all recommend. Right now i am thinking bobcat, kubota, takeushi (sp). Any advice is appreciated in advance!
Last edited by Scout1; 09/18/24 02:36 AM.
------------------------------------- DJT in 2024!
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218167
09/18/24 06:00 AM
09/18/24 06:00 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 11,610 MT
snowy
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 11,610
MT
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I was wanting to get some input from anyone that has experience with the mini excavators. I may be needing a road on my property in near future. It's not too step of grade with only some smaller tree's. I am going to get some quotes,but would guess it will run $10-20K. My thinking is to just buy an excavator and work on it myself over time. I'm thinking getting a 10,000lb +/- a few hundred pounds. We also have some Mt. land that are always needing roads worked on. I know w/tractors to buy a dealer and not brand. I am looking used as well. I would like to have rubber tracks, thumb, 6 way blade, something to handle up to a 36" bucket. If it has a cab and heat/air that would be a plus but not necessary. What brands would any of you all recommend. Right now i am thinking bobcat, kubota, takeushi (sp). Any advice is appreciated in advance! The Bobcat or Kubota would be the two I would want to own. Both very good machines. I also think buying is a great option and actually was thinking of doing the same thing as you. I could buy a machine do all the work I needed to do and possible sell it for more than what I paid for it and I got all my work done that I needed too. I like the way you are thinking and makes a lot of sense. The thing is if buy you can do exactly what you over time and not having to hire someone. In my area it is almost impossible to find anyone to do anything. If you do you pay out the nose for their services. It might cost more to buy but the advantages of doing it yourself would be worth it to me. I than sold for more than what I paid for the machine.
Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218181
09/18/24 06:38 AM
09/18/24 06:38 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,460 Very SE Nebraska
Gary Benson
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Posts: 23,460
Very SE Nebraska
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They are handy. I don't think you'll get a 36" bucket on a mini but I might not understand.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: midlander]
#8218185
09/18/24 06:44 AM
09/18/24 06:44 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 674 pa.
jarentz
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I wouldnt overlook leasing one by the week or month. Buying a used one, doing the work, then selling sounds really good until something breaks.....nothing on them is cheap to replace or fix. Leasing might be cheaper than you think. I would go this way!
jarentz
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218192
09/18/24 07:06 AM
09/18/24 07:06 AM
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Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 583 Lake Mille Lacs , MN
2poor
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Lake Mille Lacs , MN
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John Deere would be my recommendation. Ever spent any time in a trackhoe ? Building a road with one takes a great deal of practice to be at all effective. Sounds like dozer with a 6 way work to me !
It’s a lazy man who can’t find his wife a second job !
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: DiggerDale]
#8218222
09/18/24 08:00 AM
09/18/24 08:00 AM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,666 Aliceville, Kansas 44
Yukon John
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Aliceville, Kansas 44
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Idk that any come with a 6 way blade, but I could be mistaken. I've got a Kabota KX040 with the optional 6-way blade. 40 HP, 10,000 LB machine. It doesn't totally replace a dozer but sure is handy. Once you run one with a 6-way it sucks to get back on a 4-way or 2-way. Thanks for the info, agree with you 100.
Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218254
09/18/24 08:55 AM
09/18/24 08:55 AM
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Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 3 IL
Edge
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Posts: 3
IL
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I'd second the suggestion to start by leasing one if you're not experienced using them. An excavator is a whole lot of fun. I had a 2xx something model (twenty some ton) Kamatsu for a long time. Used it to take out a lot of trees and do a lot of work. Bought it used long ago for $2x,xxx. Eventually, parts started wearing out, hoses / cylinders started leaking, etc. Costs to repair / maintain started to get too much to justify fixing. If had more time & money, I'd buy another; but... We've leased some in different sizes since. Be aware that the smaller sizes require a LOT more time to take out some trees and do work. Most of the newer machines will let you switch between two different settings of controls to move hydraulics / arms / buckets / etc.. If you haven't used one at all, have someone demonstrate how the two control settings each work. Once you get used to one setting and it becomes ingrained, using it with controls set to the other will be extremely frustrating. Be aware that getting used to running one takes time. When I first started, an old pro told me the best way is to get out in the middle of an open area (where didn't have to worry about hitting a tree or anything else) and practice a bunch. Getting really good running one takes even longer. It may be cheaper to hire someone really good with a big machine than renting or buying yourself with a small machine. Renting one for a weekend will provide more insight into all that.
Last edited by Edge; 09/18/24 08:56 AM.
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: jarentz]
#8218261
09/18/24 09:07 AM
09/18/24 09:07 AM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,563 South Ga - Almost Florida
Swamp Wolf
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South Ga - Almost Florida
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I wouldnt overlook leasing one by the week or month. Buying a used one, doing the work, then selling sounds really good until something breaks.....nothing on them is cheap to replace or fix. Leasing might be cheaper than you think. I would go this way! I'd definitely lease one in Montana, instead of hauling one all the way across the country.
Thank God For Your Blessings! Never Half-Arse Anything!
Resource Protection Service
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Swamp Wolf]
#8218545
09/18/24 04:52 PM
09/18/24 04:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,382 Sugar Grove, WV
JTfromWV
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Sugar Grove, WV
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I'd definitely lease one in Montana, instead of hauling one all the way across the country.
I think he means mountain land and not Montana land.
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218790
09/18/24 09:08 PM
09/18/24 09:08 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,826 N. Carolina
Scout1
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OP
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Thanks for the info you all! Just what I was needing to hear. Yes, mountain land, not Montana. I believe I could rent one around here for around $2-4k a month depending on size. Dad and I would both be using it, a lot. Dad has some good bottom land to get all the practice I would want. A 6 way blade wouldn't be necessary. I was told they are nice. Dale I like the size range of your Kubota. Bpbcat's, Kubota, JD, yanmar, takeushi, are all worth looking at. I've heard volvo is great but expensive. I know a tractor with a frontend loader is golden the older you get. But, just the info I was wanting to hear. Thanks
------------------------------------- DJT in 2024!
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218874
09/18/24 10:51 PM
09/18/24 10:51 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,778 Kansas
Pawnee
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Kansas
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I have a bobcat and love it. It’s like a shovel in my hand. Smooth as can be and runs like a top
Everything the left touches it destroys
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218889
09/18/24 11:17 PM
09/18/24 11:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,861 NWWA/AZ
Vinke
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NWWA/AZ
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I just sold my smashed up kx121 3 that needed the stick bored and rebushed, 5000 hard hours, small leak in the radiator with one good trak and a bent quick connect tab on the clean out bucket for 23g the fist day it was on craiglist.....
Kabotas sell
Ant Man/ Marty 2028 Vinke/ Coonman for press Secretary��..
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Re: Mini Excavator?
[Re: Scout1]
#8218915
09/19/24 02:50 AM
09/19/24 02:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,653 North East Kansas
Marty
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North East Kansas
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I had a tb145 for years and it flat out got it done. Hydraulic thumb is a must.
Rise and Rise Again Until Lambs Become Lions
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