Is there anything similar to this still being manufactured

A lot of supply and demand, for a mini excavator you can pay 60k for a used one or get a giant link belt for less money, not much demand for the monsters but everyone wants a mini. The pre purchase inspection is key and an oil analysis is helpful.

Used machines are only worth what someone will pay for them. The worry I have about a rubber tire machine is the sand. A skid steer will do a lot of work but in loose sand won't do much. It depends somewhat on what kind of sand it is though. You don't need high flow to run a backhoe on a skid steer. It would be way too fast for even the most seasoned operator and running at idle or low throttle is not good for any diesel machine.

That is a Ditch Witch machine. It is still made although don't know how old the one is in the add. The fencing company I used to repair my fence after a 4x4 pickup slid thru it on ice [dumbass] owned one.

Welder Dave said:

Used machines are only worth what someone will pay for them. The worry I have about a rubber tire machine is the sand. A skid steer will do a lot of work but in loose sand won't do much. It depends somewhat on what kind of sand it is though. You don't need high flow to run a backhoe on a skid steer. It would be way too fast for even the most seasoned operator and running at idle or low throttle is not good for any diesel machine.

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Sugar sand, even my tractor with new tires can struggle

fast1buzz said:

That is a Ditch Witch machine. It is still made although don't know how old the one is in the add. The fencing company I used to repair my fence after a 4x4 pickup slid thru it on ice [dumbass] owned one.

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As far as i can tell ditch witch didn't make anything similar any more.

I'm off the witch though anyway, can't afford to continue making mistakes

Can someone hear give me some suggestions on who I should be contacting locally just to find more information.

I'm afraid to do anything through a rental company or through the auction.

rental companies **** is going to be all worn-out and the stuff at the auction is there for a reason as well.

the suggestion of having a mechanic that knows what he's looking at was a good one.

I'm a bodyman I've been a bodyman for a little more than thirty years I do most of my own mechanical I can do dashboards or suspension, nothing that I can't do I just don't know anything about heavy equipment maintenance or repair.

what types of businesses sell used equipment? I'm not even sure how to necessarily Google that to find someone locally that specializes in the sale of this type of equipment such as skid steers

1930 said:

Thanks, I am still amazed at the cost of heavy equipment, I cant see how its justified except Im assuming that its assumed people are gonna make money as used in business so they escalate the prices.

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If you think that prices of used machines are unjustified then I would suggest that you price similar new machinery for comparison purposes. The market price for used machines generally mirrors the price for new machines of the same type.

Regarding rubber tyres in sand, maybe a track version of a skid steer might be more suitable..?



For used equipment Machinery Trader is one of the web sites you can look at.

Your absolutely correct on your thinking 1930 about buying from rental company or auction its a good chance it wore out. The only thing I have ever been around that functions well in sand has tracks. The skid steers are a good bet. Almost all larger equipment manufacturers build them. A friend of mine has a Bobcat with a set of bolt on after market rubber tracks. Its an older machine and I know he wouldn't spend a lot on anything. I would browse the dealers and local papers see what is available. Obviously depends on how badly its needed.

What's the downfall to buying something like this. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-JOHN-...878511?hash=item1a7305532f:g:Qn4AAOSwe7ZcN32m

It's kinda local looks to be in decent condition.

Would it really take that much money to put a motor in it?

My other hesitation is if it's profitable repair why aren't they doing it and selling it?

I may be now wasting people's time. I called the seller of that e bay item. Ok guy but definitely a business owner.

Short and too the point.

Told him where I was coming from, he told me don't even look at that machine.

Told me be ready to spend 20 grand plus for a decent machine, told me unless I had business I'd never get financing regardless of how high my credit score.

This thread and the one on the other forum have been a real eye opener.

Different world,

To me buy the machine, go to a junkyard, buy a low mileage ( or hour ) drivetrain for 3 gees tops, stick it in and call it a day.

No biggie.

Evidently I'm missing something

Here's another one https://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-John-...884563?hash=item23b48b5153:g:sZUAAOSwoURcS592

Why not do a head job, maybe re ring or worst case scenario rebuild at maybe 4000?

Seems like a ok machine but not as nice as the one above.

What am I missing?

Can't I worst case scenario buy a low hour engine off e bay for couple thousand tops?

I can do the work, nothing I cannot fix

If you have excellent credit, go talk to your banker or credit union and see what they'll give you for a loan. Then decide how much you want to spend.

The problem with a newer machine is the engineering, the engineers get sharper pencils and learn how to do more with less, which the accountants and first buyers like. That's not so good for you, look up some threads on rebuilding a Case 580 engine and then look up some threads on blowing engines in newer skidsteers. The newer skidsteer has aluminum, puts out twice the horsepower from half the weight, not good for YOU as a shade tree mechanic. I'm not even getting into the hydraulics, cooling system, HVAC, etc. all crammed into a phone booth.

If you're complaining about the cost of obsolete used equipment you obviously have no idea what it costs to fix newer stuff. Even thinking about a newer tracked machine with a $10k budget is foolish. You have no experience with equipment mechanics or you'd see what people are trying to tell you about machines and the cost of keeping them going. The exception to what Nige said in post #26 "The market price for used machines generally mirrors the price for new machines of the same type." is what Fast said in post #21 about supply and demand. Mini excavators and skid steers (especially tracked skids) are in demand, so the prices will be higher and the ones in your budget will be even more questionable. Backhoes are being replaced by the minis and skids (and they've been around for far longer so there are more sitting around) so they're more available and cheaper. Tires aren't ideal on sand, but beggars can't be choosers, and if you can't get a backhoe unstuck then you shouldn't be operating it, they will pick themselves up and move with NO WHEELS.

Writing off auctions and rental companies isn't going to help you find a machine. Rental companies aren't likely to sell something for $10K because they run newer stuff, but auctions are where you should be looking. Maybe not bidding at first, but you have to know what stuff goes for locally and get an eye to spot what's wrong with them quick. Most auctions I've been to will let you operate the machine to some extent. Paying a mechanic to go down to Bobs Budget Skid Steers under $10K lot is not going to work.

Ok I get it.

Lots more than I anticipated

If you think $10k is a lot of money in the world of heavy equipment you'd probably have conniptions at my workplace. We're just overhauling a fleet of equipment and the parts budget alone is into 7 figures, and that's per machine, not for the fleet ......... I can't buy an engine for much less than $100k.

It's a wonder anyone is surviving.

We have bigger budgets, that’s all there is to it. You want to make money you have to be prepared to spend it first.

Delmer made some very valid points in the post above.

Just to give you a taste of naive I thought if I could buy an OK/kinda decent backhoe for 15 - 20 surely I could buy a smaller skid steer for 7-12 that would used but real nice.

Might be its back to looking at backhoes again

One idea, if it's feasible, is to flip it. If you have the means to buy something, use it for what you need it for, and then resell it. I'm not saying this is best answer. Once you're finished you have to have the time and patience to wait for someone who is willing to pay what you're asking, dealing with the low-ballers, no-shows, and the like. You might have it longer than you would like. There's always TNT for those really pesky stumps!

You would be surprised what you can get at an auction if you know what to look for and have money in your pocket I have seen backhoes go for stupid cheap like 10 and under because no one there wanted a backhoe that day

Owning equipment is not a cheap hobby if your not in business what will really be eye opening is just the nut and bolt stuff and what it adds up to that's not to include self inflicted damage to learning I bought a new hydraulic hose on a hoe this week cause the operator caught a rock under the swing tower a shank broke on a bucket today and last week a window broke from road debris on the freeway going between jobs it's never ending

Dont be discouraged I say all this to point out that this will probably cost more in the end than hiring it done but if its something you want to do just have your eyes wide open and expect to spend money

Don't buy a newer damaged machine because you think it's cheap and can fix it up and have a newer machine for less or the same money as an older machine. It will be a giant can of worms. I think your biggest problem might be the sand if you expect to get traction to dig or push with rubber tires. Steel tracks wear the fastest in sand and aren't cheap to replace. I imagine sand is hard on sprockets and stuff on rubber tracks as well. Not every machine that is rented or sold at auction is worn out or junk. There are great deals if you know what to look for.

You can get deals if your saavy enough when your looking. Be at the right place at the right time in an auction, just don't get in a hurry and really look them over good.