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which 12,000 pound class mini

roadbuilder6

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
103
Location
us
Hi guys, I would like to get a 12,000 pound mini. Im looking a the takeuchi tb153fr, bobcat e55, and the case cx55. I want a hyd thumb, quick attach, auger, mulcher, etc. I want the aux hyds to be controlled on the joy stick. Which one is the best, thanks, john
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,321
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
I have a TB153. I have had a couple small things go out (auto idle solenoid just last month), AC has never worked since new. I have 2000 hours on it. Its productivity is impressive. I really like the side to side boom mechanism. I will demo the CASE CX55 next time as well. That machine specs very well.
 

Bliz

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
82
Location
9 Miles from Quebec
Occupation
Excavator/Logger
I just got a Cat 305.5E a couple months ago and love it. I have thousands of hours operating bigger excavators and I thought the Cat would be a toy, but it is far from it. We regularly use it on bridge and highway drainage work. If you haven't tried a Cat, do yourself a favor and demo one. Good Luck with your choice.
 

Carl Peter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
50
Location
NewJersey
Just got a cat 305.5D last week, very nice machine, I looked at them all.. You can debate for months which machine is faster or can lift more or is smoother the two things you can't debate are the parts and dealer support will never be better than a Cat and the resale will absolutely never be better than a Cat !!!
 

stumpjumper83

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,974
Location
Port Allegany, pa
Occupation
Movin dirt
I have a takeuchi tb053fr which is the earlier model of the 153. Their boom design is the one to have for these reasons.

Picking power, no other machine can match a takeuchi in lifting a load thats 10' high, you can knuckle the boom in so that the weight is in tight to you compared to having to lift at full extension. When would you need this? Lifting an outside wood boiler off a deck over trailer, lifting a tree off a house... etc

Ability to spin around in 7' with a loaded bucket. When do you need that? When your doing a perimeter drain around a house and you dont have alot of room. Any confined space work really.

You can also comfortably load a triaxle dump.

They also seem to be very stable. I have a 36" digging bucket and while its possible to tip the machine all the way out, over the side with a bucket heaping full of gravel, it handles the 36" bucket very well.

I run a hydraulic thumb on mine and find it indespensible.

What do I do with mine? Demo single story houses, dig basements, dig utility lines, dig and place sandstone boulders, clean up after a tree company, clear and grub ground. push over small and medium sized trees, load fill into my single axle dump, loaded a firebird into the dumptruck once...

Down side, the thing is too heavy to move with a reg. pickup safely. Mine scales in at 17k for machine on the trailer, and that was with a 4k pound trailer.

Post pics of whatever you get!
 

toomuchtime

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
49
Location
California
Congrats Carl you will be real happy with the 305.5 I love mine. you hit the nail on the head you can find something wrong with every mini ex out there jus t depends what is most important to you . I demoed them all and cat was no brainier for me.
 

Carl Peter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
50
Location
NewJersey
Congrats Carl you will be real happy with the 305.5 I love mine. you hit the nail on the head you can find something wrong with every mini ex out there jus t depends what is most important to you . I demoed them all and cat was no brainier for me.

No brainier for me to !! Super impressed with it !!
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
Congrats Carl............The CAT is a nice machine but the E50 is head and shoulders ahead of it...................ha ha
 

stumpjumper83

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2007
Messages
1,974
Location
Port Allegany, pa
Occupation
Movin dirt
While I may take issues with cat making the best mini, and they do a good / great job. Bobcat in my experience is on the other end of the spectrum. If I couldn't have my takeuchi, I'd have a komatsu, or probably a cat, then a deere, I'd pick bobcat just before I picked "shovel"
 

lake side bob

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2009
Messages
252
Location
minnesota
Occupation
owner operator
What no Kubota owners have replied?
Kubota is the highest quality mini excavator on the market.
Demo a kubota before you purchase a machine, you will be surprised at the quality of the machine.
An isn't the Kubota line the largest seller of mini excavators in the world?
 

DGODGR

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Messages
1,062
Location
S/W CO
What no Kubota owners have replied?
Kubota is the highest quality mini excavator on the market.
Demo a kubota before you purchase a machine, you will be surprised at the quality of the machine.
An isn't the Kubota line the largest seller of mini excavators in the world?

I like the way the Kubotas work when they are new. In my opinion the machines just don't hold up for the long haul. Pins and bushings wasted in less than 2,00 hours; Broken thumbs in less than 1,000 hours (on many machines, not just one); Operator interface items often are broken or feel worn out with less than expected hours (I've seen this in the Ag tractors too). It's too bad really. As I said I like the way that they work when new....Oh yeah, except for the ergonomics. They are terrible IMO.
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,321
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
Kubota is the highest quality mini excavator on the market.
Demo a kubota before you purchase a machine, you will be surprised at the quality of the machine.
An isn't the Kubota line the largest seller of mini excavators in the world?


Is there some kind of JD POWER survey out that I am not aware of that has data to support Kubota being the highest quality mini ex on the market? Or is that really just a "talking out of the seat of your pants" comment?
 

Colorado Digger

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
1,169
Location
Carbondale,co
how many times are you guys going to go round after round with this one? every couple months the same thread comes up with a few new players that always think their brand is the best. who cares? buy whatever you want, it comes down to price, performance, dealer support and parts. so please...give it a break
 

Digdeep

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Messages
704
Location
Wisconsin
how many times are you guys going to go round after round with this one? every couple months the same thread comes up with a few new players that always think their brand is the best. who cares? buy whatever you want, it comes down to price, performance, dealer support and parts. so please...give it a break

You're right that it comes down to the points you mentioned, but it's kind of like Ford and Chevy.

I just recently got to spend some time on a new CAT 304E and I was quite impressed with the standard features- hyd quick coupler, auto two speed, adjustable aux flow, ECO mode, standard security system, removable and storable lower window, dedicated lifting eye, aux lines all the way out to the stick with couplers, in cab electronic pattern changer, all controls on the joysticks, front shovel capable, sliding door, 500hr grease intervals. I found it smooth with plenty of grunt. I think it had 40hp. I thought it was far superior to the Kubota 121 in standard features and in operation, particularly the ability to multiple task.
 

Georgia Iron

Senior Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
872
Location
USA - Georgia
Occupation
Concrete building slab and grading contractor
I had a Cat 302.5 excavator and hated every minute I owned it. I went to CAT to buy the stuff for a basic service on the hydro, oil, filters, engine coolant and a new switch, cost me $500.00 for cat parts. I could have got everything other than the switch from some where other than Cat but at the time I thought I must get CAT fluids and fliters. CAT is way proud of there parts and there is no relief on their pricing. I think they hold the value the best but I do not think the pricing is fair after you have bought the machine. I also think they have started cutting corners on the metal they use. Mine was rusting out and not holding up like the older stuff did.

Every hydralic line leaked under the cab when I sold it. Almost all seeped at the fittings where the hoses where attached to the fittings on the ends. The machine had 850 hours when I got rid of it. The final straw for me was when I hit some rock on a job and it would not dig threw it. It was soft stuff that made for a hard day. All that being said I would still buy a CAT if it were used and the price was right.

I moved over to a used TB145 with cab with 3000 hours used. 11,000 pds. I had to repair the AC for $750 and I had to repair the main house pins and bushings on the arm. The dealer wanted 8 k for a new swing post and bushings and labor. I had mine welded and line bored and bought new pins for $1000.00 Total repair cost $2k. It is tight now.

I love my TB145. It will run a 1' and 2' bucket fast and it is strong. It rips out 6" concrete and footings with no problem. The 4 cyclinder diesel gets good fuel eff and it is just a great machine. Better than the 3 cyc cat. I almost bought a new Case excavator but the dealer here runined it for me. I changed course and bought a used machine and I am so happy I did. I saved 40K and I love the machine I have. I would look at the TB 153.

Here in GA on craigslist there are some nice used minis for sell right now at good prices. 18,500 and 32 K.

Let us know what you decide on!
 
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