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.

Idk that any come with a 6 way blade, but I could be mistaken.

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.

They are handy. I don't think you'll get a 36" bucket on a mini but I might not understand.

I would go this way!

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 !

Newer Mini will have a 4 way blade, your size range would put you into a John Deere 50 size. $20k will probably only buy a worn out one.

I heard John Deere excavators are no longer made by Hitachi, and the mini’s will be made by Wacker Neuson. The older mini Hitachi excavators are ok. If you want to haul it back and forth to Montana at 10k machine would require at least a 12k trailer.

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.

A mini combined with a compact track loader can get just about anything done.

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.

I'm not sure how heavy a u 27 kubota is but that's what I rented to put in 1200' of water line. it took some time in the seat before I could get the death I wanted and nice even bottom in the trench. by the time I was done I loved that machine so much I thought I am going to buy one. Then I looked up the price.


Renting is a good option to see if it can do what you want, you can rent different machines and fig out what you like and what you don't with limited cost.

the down side to renting foe me is the time to pick it up and take it back. Also the need to get everything done asap.
owning equipment may not make the most financially smart decision but the convenience of being able to work on projects at your convenience a little at a time even if you only have a few hours of time that day you can can do a little work.

I have a friend that did exactly what your talking about. he price the cost to do the work then the machine. he bought the machine, used it for his new house build and did some dirt work for his business. It was a tax Wright off and after a few years he had his work done, made and saved some money he sold it from close to what he paid. It can be a good plan.

I do think you will need to double what your wanting to spend to get a good used machine.

in thinking I may get a back ho attachment with the new tractor. I figure I can pay for half the tractor cost in what I will save putting in a new septic system myself. then it will always be there if I need it and no Hassel of going out and renting one.

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.

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

I have a bobcat and love it. It’s like a shovel in my hand. Smooth as can be and runs like a top

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

I had a tb145 for years and it flat out got it done. Hydraulic thumb is a must.