I'm new to this forum, so bear with me, also new to compact excavators. But since I already have a newer L 3301 Kubota compact tractor, I am leaning towards keeping everything color coordinated. I've had a couple different small Kubota tractors for almost 20 years now, and they have done their job, no complaints so I'll stick with the brand. I like using the proper tool for the job, why I'm not interested in a backhoe attachment for my tractor, besides I always have the rear end tied up with some other attachment. I have a 40 acre piece of ground with some a wood lot, plus I am around a lot of all kinds of construction, and will no doubt pick up a little work for the thing on the side, like i have done for years with my tractors. Not a big money maker but it helps justify having fun with it at home.
I already have a 10K dump bed trailer I use to haul the L 3301 around, besides other stuff, so it and my projected work needs determined the size of the machine I am shopping for, something around 6K all up weight. Since I have gotten a crash course education in the various models of minis in the last several days, it has all boiled down to the u 25s. I have several email request out to various outlets, made over the weekend, so I'll see what happens in the next couple days. One thing I have learned from being in the hoisting business (I operate a 30 ton National rider boom truck with 110' of boom for a living, my 5 th unit, one at a time) is that most of what you see on the internet is either : sold months or years ago, or junk! The other thing I have learned is these compact excavators wear, just like boom trucks, and rather then become expert in working on them, I'd rather spend more up front and get something in the low triple digits hour wise, a non rental unit is another big plus. I have a couple that LOOK pretty good, 3 to 700 hours TT, for mid 20 K dollars. I have pretty much given up on finding a cherry unit in the teens, though I am still looking, in the mid to high 20's seems to be the price range for one less then 5 years old.
I'm in SE Idaho, if anybody wants to chime in on any good Kubota sources in the Western side of things I can contact to see if I can scare up a lightly used U 25, feel free. Thanks. BTW, my first use of the machine will be putting in/clearing the way for the tractor to go to work, a 1/4 mile+ path through a steep wooded hillside, I like to think my small crane developed sense (especially the sphincter sensor) will keep me out of trouble. I'll be starting on the easy part, and working my way up to the 25 degree slope, clearing 4 to 8" trees and moving rocks and small boulders as I go, learning as I go. What could go wrong?!
I already have a 10K dump bed trailer I use to haul the L 3301 around, besides other stuff, so it and my projected work needs determined the size of the machine I am shopping for, something around 6K all up weight. Since I have gotten a crash course education in the various models of minis in the last several days, it has all boiled down to the u 25s. I have several email request out to various outlets, made over the weekend, so I'll see what happens in the next couple days. One thing I have learned from being in the hoisting business (I operate a 30 ton National rider boom truck with 110' of boom for a living, my 5 th unit, one at a time) is that most of what you see on the internet is either : sold months or years ago, or junk! The other thing I have learned is these compact excavators wear, just like boom trucks, and rather then become expert in working on them, I'd rather spend more up front and get something in the low triple digits hour wise, a non rental unit is another big plus. I have a couple that LOOK pretty good, 3 to 700 hours TT, for mid 20 K dollars. I have pretty much given up on finding a cherry unit in the teens, though I am still looking, in the mid to high 20's seems to be the price range for one less then 5 years old.
I'm in SE Idaho, if anybody wants to chime in on any good Kubota sources in the Western side of things I can contact to see if I can scare up a lightly used U 25, feel free. Thanks. BTW, my first use of the machine will be putting in/clearing the way for the tractor to go to work, a 1/4 mile+ path through a steep wooded hillside, I like to think my small crane developed sense (especially the sphincter sensor) will keep me out of trouble. I'll be starting on the easy part, and working my way up to the 25 degree slope, clearing 4 to 8" trees and moving rocks and small boulders as I go, learning as I go. What could go wrong?!