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Mini to haul in dump trailer

Donm

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
9
Location
Houston, Tx
I am getting ready to purchase a mini ex that I will plan on hauling in my new 16k 16'x7'x3' gooseneck dump. I am limited on weight by my pickup that is rated to haul 13,500#. I have been looking at buying a used Bobcat E35 with a cab and thumb and the 33hp engine. Is there anything wrong with this choice? What other machine under say... 8500# at the absolute max would serve me better? thanks
 

John Canfield

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2009
Messages
431
Location
Texas
Occupation
Ranching
Bobcat, Deere and Kubota were all on my short list because there are dealers in our smallish city. The older Bobcats have the Kubota engine and the newer ones use the Doosan engine if that makes a difference. I think the engine switch happened maybe 2-4 years ago? I’m quite pleased with my E42.
 

rondig

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
517
Location
fort macleod alberta
Occupation
excavation
E35 is very nice machine..kubota make a very nice machine also. I like the kubota motors....proven and bullet proof.
 

Camshawn

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Messages
585
Location
Langley BC
Occupation
retired
Neighbor has a small bobcat excavator, loaded it into a 12k tandem dump trailer. Worked well except the rear wheels of his pickup had no weight on them with the machine at the tip point. Good thing there was no slope.
He used the D rings on the bed floor for tie downs. It was a little tricky to tie it down though.
Cam
 

rondig

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
517
Location
fort macleod alberta
Occupation
excavation
I haul my mini in dump trailer all the time....works great...i tie down through blade eyes on one end...and through house hook on other end. Balance is only a problem if you put blade at front and house weight at rear. ALWAYS USE WHEEL CHOCS..
 

Donm

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
9
Location
Houston, Tx
Thanks for the replies... I am a lot closer to buying now. I need a machine under 10k so I have also considered the E42. Not sure how big of a deal the zero tail swing is to me. It will probably make a big difference in my dump trailer to spin around though. I have looked at mostly Bobcat and Cat used mini ex. either the E32/35 or E42 for Bobcat... might be able to swing trailering an E45 but the weight is pushing the limit more than I like. I am looking at either the 303c 303.5c or 303.5e 304e as options for Cat... I am leaning toward a cabbed machine and also a good thumb is a must-have. I cannot actually demo any machines right now because I work 14hrs a day 7 days a week for another month. I really want to buy American made but I don't know how... American owned CAT is made in Japan and Korean owned Bobcat is made in USA
 

melli

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Messages
260
Location
BC
I had a dump trailer, but eventually bailed on it because it was a pain loading/unloading my Bobcat 331. A dump trailer sits high (and it was heavy), and being unable to swing around in box (walls too high), forced me to back off down steep tracks. Not exactly a comforting feeling. Also, I welded on jacks on back end of trailer to avoid the 'runaway effect' when loading. Living in a hilly locale, I used blocks on all tires, including truck. If I was to do it again, I'd get a low flatdeck...way less weight, drama and fussing. BTW - my dump trailer had tie down rings in box.
 

Donm

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
9
Location
Houston, Tx
I will more or less be working with the same... I have purchased jacks to weld on and I have 3ft (32 inch) sides... with 6ft 9in between walls. I will be buying another trailer but I would like the convenience of a mini ex with thumb that can ride in the dump and load it out.
 

code54

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2012
Messages
94
Location
Hurricane WV
If you have a Kubota dealer around I would look at the KX 91 or 121. I personally own a 91 and it has been great! They seem to last and hold up well.
 

Ronsii

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
3,464
Location
Western Washington
Occupation
s/e Heavy equipment operator
Yeah, with those sidewalls you'd definitely need a zero swing to spin inside the trailer and anything over a 35 size.... you might want to try it first or do some careful measuring.... backing in/out of the trailer isn't too bad if you do it all the time and are used to it but if this is something you'll only haul once a month you might find it unnerving.
 

Donm

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
9
Location
Houston, Tx
Thanks! Yeah this is the ramp angle. I think I should be fine just backing out and not have to spin around. Sorry for the bad picture. It was the only thing I had on my phone. I guess I can set the boom on the gooseneck of I need to for getting the right weight distribution since it is only a 16ft trailer.
 

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Ronsii

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
3,464
Location
Western Washington
Occupation
s/e Heavy equipment operator
Those ramps look a bit on the thin side for a 35 or larger size.... How are they hooked to the trailer, I beefed our mounts up right after we started using it they were bending.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,432
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Just don’t forget the inspections the cab paperwork the signage on the machines tie downs AND chains
DOT has no pity and getting worse
 
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