• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

best mini excavator opinions on the current market

trombeur

trombeur

Senior Member
Joined
May 2, 2014
Messages
1,284
Location
italia
hi sorry if I disturb, could kindly which in your opinion in the current market is the best mini excavator, the most practical manageable safe, such as the weight, the measures and the ideal power to do a bit of all the work both in the construction sector and in the agricultural sector landscaping and forestry. thanks sorry for the unusual question.
KUBOTA U55-4?
KX040-4 di Kubota??

TB370.jpg


TB235-2-NEW-RS.jpg
 
C

catalystgilles

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2021
Messages
22
Location
WA
We've got a KX-040 that we like. It has been good for about 2 years with no real issues.

Pros:
Good digging power even with added tilt unit length
So far everything has been easy to maintain.
Exhaust doesn't Regen much if you run it throttled up when working.
The 6 way blade is really handy for a do it all machine on small residential jobs.

Minor annoyances are:
Cab is pretty tight
Controls are fast, but almost too twitchy
We use it with a helac tilt unit and the extra weight makes it tippy with more than the ditching bucket.

Dislike:
The pin style quick change system is too loose.

If we were looking again today I would be focusing on Deere, Kubota, and Takeuchi. We would like to get a 20k lb machine next year now that we are starting to use the dump truck more. The TB290 is probably the current leader from basic research.
 
trombeur

trombeur

Senior Member
Joined
May 2, 2014
Messages
1,284
Location
italia
I believe that the ideal weight for a handyman machine is 3 maximum 4 tons to do small and maybe bigger jobs, I could be wrong, I think an excavator on 3 tons I could use it for the campaign for construction and landscaping works, of the famous caterpillar komatsu , volvo hitachi and bobcat what do you think, what limits and qualities do you attribute to it, I think the kubota is spartan but generous in terms of performance, weight and power. am I wrong ?? takeuchi I don't know them unfortunately.


upload_2021-11-19_17-57-1.jpeg



 
KSSS

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,333
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
I don't know that there is really a bad mini out there. Saying what is best, is really about what features you want, which machine you prefer to run, and which dealer you prefer to work with. Machines in the size your looking for beyond the machines you listed, I would consider the Wacker Neuson ET42. Very impressive performance and they are built just North of you.
 
Aarons81

Aarons81

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2021
Messages
133
Location
Central Ohio
KSSS said:
I don't know that there is really a bad mini out there. I would consider the Wacker Neuson ET42. Very impressive performance and they are built just North of you.
Click to expand...

Wacker makes many decent things. The hydraulics on there excavators leaves something to be desired. I've ran all of there minis up to the 100 series, and they just don't have a smooth feel to the controls. Sometimes it actually delays and doesn't stop where you want it, or delays and then you over correct and smack something. Just my personal opinion on Wacker. I'm not swinging iron every day so I've opted for the midrange equipment until we are really seeing more of that work. I've got a case-cx37c, a LB 80X3, and a JD 160lc. We only put about a 1000k hours a year on the smaller stuff, and the 160 is a work horse doing 8-10 hr days 6 days a week. It doesn't have a hard job, but it doesn't stop all day. I like most name brand mini's other than wacker and bobcat.
 
KSSS

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,333
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
If you get a chance to run the WN ET series of machines, do so, and see what you think.

They handle much different than the older series of machines.
 
uffex

uffex

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2012
Messages
4,464
Location
Lincoln UK
Occupation
Admin
Good day
May be of interest.
Kind regards
Uffex
 

Attachments

  • Which Excavator.pdf
    1.1 MB · Views: 54
Canuck Digger

Canuck Digger

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2012
Messages
264
Location
Mission, BC, Canada
Occupation
Business Owner, Equipment Operator, Fishing Guide
Out of the mainstream brands I don't think there are "bad" brands. They're all just a little different with different strengths and weaknesses. First and foremost, define your needs! See/run as many as you can. Make sure u can get parts. Is zero tail swing of importance? Are you running attachments? What are you transporting the machine with? You'll slowly start to eliminate a lot of models. Pick something with a Kubota or Yanmar power.
 
CapnDean

CapnDean

Active Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2021
Messages
33
Location
Gulfport MS
and while you are comparing machines.....make sure you make a fiar comparison. I just sold a Cat 303.5 and bought a Volvo ECR58D. The difference is night & day but the comoparison is unjust. Comparing a 30 HP 4 ton machine to a 50 HP 6 ton machine. Not even close.
 
zeroo

zeroo

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2003
Messages
166
Location
lexington/tollesboro
Occupation
plumbing contractor
catalystgilles said:
We've got a KX-040 that we like. It has been good for about 2 years with no real issues.

Pros:
Good digging power even with added tilt unit length
So far everything has been easy to maintain.
Exhaust doesn't Regen much if you run it throttled up when working.
The 6 way blade is really handy for a do it all machine on small residential jobs.

Minor annoyances are:
Cab is pretty tight
Controls are fast, but almost too twitchy
We use it with a helac tilt unit and the extra weight makes it tippy with more than the ditching bucket.

Dislike:
The pin style quick change system is too loose.

If we were looking again today I would be focusing on Deere, Kubota, and Takeuchi. We would like to get a 20k lb machine next year now that we are starting to use the dump truck more. The TB290 is probably the current leader from basic research.
Click to expand...

I stumbled on to this thread and have to mention that in my kx040 you can see the ground from the cab in the area around the track controls. Kubota did not try to seal the cab, at all. The only thing that keeps the outside out in the floor is the kinda loose fitting floor mat. I hope its something the new -5 series address.
 
skyking1

skyking1

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2020
Messages
7,620
Location
washington
I run a John Deere 35G for my daily machine. I rented a 303.5 Cat and just got off it a bit ago, and my impression is, I prefer the JD. For whatever reason the 303.5 seems a bit less stable. Both machines have angle blades, my JD has a cab. Both are the current model offering.
One of the features the 303.5 has is a blade float option, and that annoyed me as well. I want the blade to go down and stabilize my machine, and not have to monkey around getting down pressure out of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top