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Best mini Excavator for the money

Digdeep

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Messages
704
Location
Wisconsin
Can a decent mini ex be purchased for 10k ? Or I'm I just dreamin... Personal I like most of the machines out on the market today. I think every machine has its positive and negative points. Whats important to me and I feel that most people seem to overlook is your locsal dealer and how does he support the brand. I happen to farm quite a bit and use JD equipment. The last 10 years or so I have moved some of my time over to the construction worlsd and I still run JD and its not becasue of the machine, its more because of my great local dealer.........Just my 2 cents...................Farmer

I already own a JD80 and love it would like a smaller , less expensive model top add to the fleet........:)

They can definitely be found, but much of it depends on the size you are looking for and how much work you want to do with it. Good 1.5t machines can easily be had in the $10k range, but larger machines above 3.5t that are realtively new (2000 and newer) and haven't been beaten to near death will be hard to find.
 

hougie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
153
Location
Alberta, Canada
Occupation
municipal worker
Nicely played willie! Much respect. I haven't been in the business for long but i've found that every brand has there own perks and draw backs, The biggeset thing is to make sure that the machine you decide on is in good mechanical shape! It will be a pretty small machine for 10k or have many hours on it.
 

Seabass

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2011
Messages
78
Location
Canada
I never thought I'd say it but I'm impressed with our Kabota KX 121-3 (2007 I believe). Has 3400hrs on it and still going strong. There's a couple things I would change on it (better engine access, filter access) but a tough little machine good power, good controls. Ran Cat 303, 304, but they were brand new so there was very little to complain about them. Also ran a Bobcat 331 or 332? it was pos, had a lot of issues, breakdowns, but then it was never maintained so its hard to compare.
 

Colorado Digger

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
1,169
Location
Carbondale,co
I talked to my Bobcat rep yesterday and he informed me the E50 loaded out will be close to 70k. that is with the angle blade, hydraulic quik coupler. cab with heat/ac,radio. i don't know if the e50 has a fast track or not. this was major sticker shock! can it be 25k more than the last 435 i bought in 2008. is inflation creeping up on us or why is a mini so frickin expensive. i am sure the cat is the same price. i don't know how much the deere is. there is also case/kobelco,kubota/tak, none of whom has a strong dealer presence. yanmar is not turboed in that weight class last time i checked. i don't know what to do. the price of these minis is insane. i have one 435 with over 6000 hours and another with over 3000. i need to update soon but the cost is killing me. i have done well with bobcat because the dealer is awesome and the machines have help up pretty darned well.
regards, cd
 
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KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,319
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
Are they giving you anything for your used machines? My 07 TK (TB153FR) was around 57K with thumb, manual coupler, and cab. It didnt have the angle blade. Adding the angle blade, hyd coupler and 5 years of price increases I can see how you would get close to 70K. I priced a 305C Cr and it was 12K more than the TK at that time. I was/am mildly interested in updating to a current 153 (they increased the aux. flow) or to a CASE CX55. They are showing me 30K trade value in my current machine (just under 2K hours) and it was another 30 into a new machine. Add the thumb and coupler and I was into the mid 60's. I can roll with what I have but what I don't want to happen is essentially starting over with no trade value and having to put 30-40K down to get a monthly number that doesn't make me lose sleep in Mid January. I would guess that regardless of the color, the numbers will be from 60-70K. I think you must have got an exceptional deal on the 435 at that time. With 6K hours it certainly doesnt owe you anything, but thats of little comfort when your looking at 70K to replace it.
 

NoCrapmatsu

Active Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
27
Location
Great White North
I have been looking into the minis, mostly see Hitachis for sale around here. The reason I am looking is cause we have some odd jobs at the farm to do and I read on HEF that they are a very profitable machine. For the winter I could probably get work for it too, considering the position I am in, and then summer do my stuff and any other little jobs.

What are your guys' thoughts on the Hitachis, that is the only mini I ever ran, and honestly it seemed weak, but that was probably cause I just hadn't been on anything smaller than a 330 in months. Other than that though I liked it. Not saying I am gonna buy one tomorrow or anything, just curious I 'spose.
 

firetrack

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
144
Location
Australia
Colorado Digger,
I see you put a lot of stock into whether a machine is turboed or not and in fact have indicated you have taken the yanmar out of the running because it is not turboed - why is being turboed so important?
Firetrack
 

firetrack

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
144
Location
Australia
NoCrapmatsu,
I have a 2010 Hitachi(which I believe is sold in your country as JD) and have no problems with it(1100hrs). We constantly work with Cat and Kobelcos on site with machines of the same size(3.5t) and have no problem as far as performance comparison. Probably a bit better than the Cat. I had a Yanmar before the Hitachi and the only problem with it was failing final drives and poor over the side performance. The Yanmar certainly has the smoothest hydraulics in my opinion. Yanmar has hyd cylinder guards on all cylinders and comes with OEM quick hitch(which is the best on the market in Aust) As far as mini excavators I believe whoever gives the best backup and price gets the deal - they are all good, I would not be too proud to own any of them as the Japanese have these thing down pat.
Firetrack
 

dirty4fun

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
N. IL
firetrack, I am pretty sure colorado digger wants a turbo is due to where he lives and works. He lives in the mountains and does work up on the ski lifts and slopes the altitude takes the power away very fast.
 

firetrack

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
144
Location
Australia
dirty4fun,
Fair enough. Many years ago(1976 onwards) I worked in the highlands of Papua New Guinea selling Ford and County tractors. A couple of these were working in excess of 10000ft doing timber work. We had a couple of County 120hp tractors with Dondi wheel ditchers doing ditches to drain the Whagi Swamp near Mount Hagen and we had to fit M&W turbo's to them to get enough power and the swamp was at 5500ft. These units had duals wheels at the front and triples at the rear to get floatation on the swamp. From memory i think we had 23.1 - 34 and 18.4 - 38 on the front and 2 x 18.4 - 38 and 1 x 23.1 - 34 on the rear. I would have some old photos somewhere. If I can find them, I'll post on the site.
Firetrack
 

Seabass

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2011
Messages
78
Location
Canada
I never thought I'd say it but I'm impressed with our Kabota KX 121-3 (2007 I believe). Has 3400hrs on it and still going strong. There's a couple things I would change on it (better engine access, filter access) but a tough little machine good power, good controls. Ran Cat 303, 304, but they were brand new so there was very little to complain about them. Also ran a Bobcat 331 or 332? it was pos, had a lot of issues, breakdowns, but then it was never maintained so its hard to compare.

I ment to say 3900 hrs at the time of this post. Its at around 4100 hrs currently. Very few days it doesn't work. Great little mini.
 

Revicm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2011
Messages
63
Location
Mitchell Ontario Canada
Occupation
Contractor
Pricing out mini excavators right now. So far I have quotes on a JD 35D and a Kubota U35 both with similar options and to my surprise the Kubota came in at 3 grand more. Waiting on Cat and Bobcat prices and I may get a price on a Takechi as soon as I find a dealer around here. I did rent one a couple years ago and was impressed with it. It will all come down to the dealer and service and I haven't any complaints about the JD dealer and no experience with the others.
 

Revicm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2011
Messages
63
Location
Mitchell Ontario Canada
Occupation
Contractor
I rented a kubota last week that had 1800 hrs on it. Seemed like a capable machine. I like the fact that a mini can get into areas I can't get to with my loader backhoe. At $180 bucks a day to rent I figure I might as well own one. I wasn't going to get a thumb but reading on here has my mind changed.
 

OBPM

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Messages
65
Location
NJ
I like my Kubota U55. It's comfortable, smooth, fuel efficient and very capable.
 

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pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
I really feel that the kubota is the best mini excavator on the market. Smooth operating units with little problems and this is coming from a dyed in the wool john deere owner. All of my equipment is jd with the exception of my mini ex which is a kubota.....can't go wrong with the little orange digger. And get the thumb , its worth its weigh in gold.
 

Revicm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2011
Messages
63
Location
Mitchell Ontario Canada
Occupation
Contractor
Did you try a JD pafarmer? I think I am going to call JD and tell them to get me one to try. My main concern is service when I am in Northern Ontario. JD will and has came to my rescue on site if needed. I haven't seen a mobile Kubota mechanic yet. I have time right now to take my time and make the right choice. I do agree that the Kubota is a good machine just want to cover my bases. BTW Cat and Bobcat have yet to get back to me with a price.
 
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