Which new 5ton mini??

New to the forum, but have been reading info on here for years. looking at buying a new 5 ton mini X with a cab. It seems to be a good time to buy new with manufacturers offering a lot of incentives. In the process of getting some pricing now. So far, I like the price and warranty(4yr/4k hours) of the Yanmar sv40. Dealer quoted $47k w/ 4 way blade and 2 buckets (12", 24"). Seems like the price would be hard to beat, but still checking around. Any advice or experience on the Yanmar or other machine brands would be helpful. Any pricing of guys that recently purchased machines..etc. Options? Not sure i need a 4 way blade??
This will be my first excavator. I have rented a lot of different sizes and brands over the years for my Landscape company and my farm. Im starting to transition into more dirt work, Finish grade, land clearing, driveways, drainage, etc. I am building some relationships with some home builders now. I see myself getting out of the landscaping business in a few years, 15+ years in business and 20+ in the landscape industry i am really burnt out. I find running a machine all day to be relaxing(especially in the AC) to some extent and something i can do as i get older. I have owned a Case TR320 skid steer for several years that will be paired with the new excavator. Appreciate any input or advice!

Welcome to Mojock! Glad to have you.

That sounds like a great price on a 10K mini. I don't have much experience with Yanmar but they make great engines and I can only assume their compact equipment is top notch as well.

What is the dealer like? Is it a real heavy equipment dealer with service trucks and a parts warehouse or a dealer that sells chainsaws and lawnmowers that has a few mini's on the yard?

I’m currently demo’ing a Bobcat E50 R2. Got to say I’m pretty impressed with it. I’ve got a Bobcat e42 and in my opinion the difference between the two is significant. On paper the bucket breakout on the e42 actually wins, but the arm force and lifting capacity of the e50 is significantly greater. I spent a few hours pulling stumps and there is no comparison between the two. I’m leaning towards upgrading. Plan to take a look at the Kubota as well. The price you posted looks really good compared to what I’m seeing here in Michigan. I predominately use my equipment for land clearing and maintenance. Very little true digging work.

That price does seem very good on the Yanmar. As i have said before there are a few around here and I dont hear anything negative about them. As far as warranty, that is a pretty solid warranty, Wacker Neuson has a 5 year warranty on their machines. I am not aware of anyone topping these two (Yanmar or WN) on warranty. The only issue I personally have not been able to wrap my head around, is the low spec numbers that Yanmar typically has in comparison to similar sized machines from other OEMs. I have never demoed one to make an "in the dirt" comparison to another, but on paper they don't seem as strong as some others performance wise. However, spec numbers dont always tell the whole story. You demo one, and if does what you need it to do, then the numbers dont really matter.

CM1995 said:

Welcome to Mojock! Glad to have you.

That sounds like a great price on a 10K mini. I don't have much experience with Yanmar but they make great engines and I can only assume their compact equipment is top notch as well.

What is the dealer like? Is it a real heavy equipment dealer with service trucks and a parts warehouse or a dealer that sells chainsaws and lawnmowers that has a few mini's on the yard?

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Dealer is Vermeer Heartland in Knoxville, TN. I have had no previous dealings with them before. So it would be a leap of faith somewhat. It does appear to be a larger dealership and they do offer onsite service. I know Yanmar makes great engines and that is one reason im considering them.

OTG AuGres said:

I’m currently demo’ing a Bobcat E50 R2. Got to say I’m pretty impressed with it. I’ve got a Bobcat e42 and in my opinion the difference between the two is significant. On paper the bucket breakout on the e42 actually wins, but the arm force and lifting capacity of the e50 is significantly greater. I spent a few hours pulling stumps and there is no comparison between the two. I’m leaning towards upgrading. Plan to take a look at the Kubota as well. The price you posted looks really good compared to what I’m seeing here in Michigan. I predominately use my equipment for land clearing and maintenance. Very little true digging work.

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I have heard a lot of mixed reviews on Bobcat since Doosan took over so im a little skeptical, plus they are on the higher end of pricing from what im seeing. I do like the Kubota machines a lot, waiting to hear back on pricing on the KX40. But looks like it might be about $10k higher.

honestly cant beat the CAT, but the Deere 50G or the Volvo would be the next best choices.

KSSS said:

That price does seem very good on the Yanmar. As i have said before there are a few around here and I dont hear anything negative about them. As far as warranty, that is a pretty solid warranty, Wacker Neuson has a 5 year warranty on their machines. I am not aware of anyone topping these two (Yanmar or WN) on warranty. The only issue I personally have not been able to wrap my head around, is the low spec numbers that Yanmar typically has in comparison to similar sized machines from other OEMs. I have never demoed one to make an "in the dirt" comparison to another, but on paper they don't seem as strong as some others performance wise. However, spec numbers dont always tell the whole story. You demo one, and if does what you need it to do, then the numbers dont really matter.

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KSSS, thanks for the reply. I have read a lot of helpful info from your posts in the past. Very helpful, thank you. Mainly on the Case TR320 i purchased used when i was doing research on it. It has been a good machine but has had some issues along the way and i have recognized some of the design flaws, but still gets it done for now. I think the spec numbers on this new Yanmar SV40 are supposed to be some of the best in class, but at 9500lbs they have it listed in the 4ton class i believe. Also considering the Vio50. Seems most of the 5 ton 40hp machines are a lot more money. Buying used is not something i want to consider after dumping about $5k out the gate after buying the Case used a couple years ago and still having a payment on it. I have rented a couple Wacker machines and dealer seems to be good. But the AC sucked on them i do remember. I would prefer to get a machine with a Kubota or Yanmar engine. What have you been using in the comparable class machine?

Norwegian Steam said:

honestly cant beat the CAT, but the Deere 50G or the Volvo would be the next best choices.

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I would love to get a Cat because im sure it would be a very solid machine, but not sure i can afford it. Cant spend $80k. Deere is supposed to be getting me a price but im thinking they might be to rich for my blood as well. Volvo doesnt have a comparable machine from what i have seen. Volvo has a 25hp 9k lb but jumps to a 49hp 12.5k lb machine i believe. The Deere is a 35hp but i would like to stay around the 35-40 hp range and close to 10k lb for towing.

Cat doesn't always get the best reviews.

I am using a Takeuchi TB153FR. This is my third one. Taki is soon to release the new version of this machine. I ran a prototype of that machine and i really liked it. Near zero swing, and zero tail but you can shift the boom over so it will dump like a typical conventional excavator. I have an order ready to drop when the dealer can officially order them. This machine will have a Kubota engine, which I am less than excited about, all my others have had the Yanmar which I am happy with. Having run CAT mini excavators, the best thing I have found on the machine is the name. I have not seen them perform as well as other machines. Although the new 306 I think could be a class leading excavator, have not run one yet, but they improved a lot of the shortcomings of the 305.5 machine it looks like. WN released recently an ET42. If your looking for a machine in that weight class you may want to have a look. I spent some time testing it against competitive machines and it is a beast for its size. The cab and AC are improved (WN realized that the AC performance was an issue on older machines). It would certainly be worth a look in comparison to the Yanmar.

My 2019 Bobcat cab E42 was about $62k out the door, I paid cash so that was about a $2500 credit and we are ag exempt so no sales tax . Radio, ripper, 12"', 24" and a 40" grading bucket. Also a 500 pound optional weight on the tail (mainly sold for the extended boom model.) I'm wishing I ordered the 7 way blade (or whatever way) since I've found the hoe so useful for maintaining my roads.

My boss bought a kubota u55 -4 and it is absolute trash in my opinion. The fuel cap allows dirt into the filler neck, if the thumb has not been activated and the machine goes into a regeneration you can not activate the thumb.The cab is so small, the pedals are not centered to the seat, the controls and arm rests are too low so i have to have the seat right down with no suspension to feel a little comfortable, the seat does not move far enough back. I have to hold my legs together because i always hit them with the joysticks. If you put the back rest back it blocks the cabin air intake.
I can keep going on with more stuff wrong with it. Sorry for the rant

Mojock said:

I have heard a lot of mixed reviews on Bobcat since Doosan took over so im a little skeptical, plus they are on the higher end of pricing from what im seeing. I do like the Kubota machines a lot, waiting to hear back on pricing on the KX40. But looks like it might be about $10k higher.

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I’ve got just shy of 300 hours on both my e42 and my t595 CTL. Honestly, I’ve had really good fortune with the Bobcats. I had to have the dealer readjust the hydraulics on the e42 (slow operation) and a few leaks here and there on both machines. Overall, I have no complaints. My salesman bends over backwards for me, so that’s a plus. I not aware of the perceived issues with Doosan, but I don’t have any issues.

I've had had couple of yanmars and in my opinion only, they're probably one of the most underrated machines on the market. So reliable. They were the first to the market with a zero tail swing machine. Hydraulic quick change is standard. They're not flashy. Their dealer network isn't as big as most of the bigger players, but you're also not paying for the big overheads. Keep in mind their re-sale won't be as high. "Nobody is going to pay you more to show up at a job site with a machine that cost 10K more."

OTG AuGres said:

I’ve got just shy of 300 hours on both my e42 and my t595 CTL. Honestly, I’ve had really good fortune with the Bobcats. I had to have the dealer readjust the hydraulics on the e42 (slow operation) and a few leaks here and there on both machines. Overall, I have no complaints. My salesman bends over backwards for me, so that’s a plus. I not aware of the perceived issues with Doosan, but I don’t have any issues.

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My E42 has about 130 hours on it and I've had zero problems with it aside from 2 glitches when brand new. One pin wouldn't take grease and the slider window on the right side leaked. Dealer took good care of me. The AC will freeze your rear off and happens to cool the cup holder, a design bonus. The track tension has been stable after I pumped in some grease at 10 hours.

One PITA is 2 Zerks on the quick connect that are difficult to reach unless the bucket is curled just right. The thumb control for boom swing way too sensitive, wish that could be dialed down.

Mine is the "M" series, the new E42 and E50 are the "R" series. I looked at an E32 which was an "R" series and it took the salesman and me about 5 minutes to figure out how to open the two piece side cover. Mine is one piece and is easy to open.

I too am an e42 owner. Ours has just shy of 500 hours on it as of this week. We've got the long arm with bolt on counterweight and run a steelwrist tilt rotator with a 48" grading bucket. Works great. No major issues, but there are some quirks. Like no remote grease fitting for the inside pivot of boom swing cylinder. Oil fill location is stupid. No issues with any of our Doosan engines, though its really too soon to tell I think.

John Canfield said:

My E42 has about 130 hours on it and I've had zero problems with it aside from 2 glitches when brand new. One pin wouldn't take grease and the slider window on the right side leaked. Dealer took good care of me. The AC will freeze your rear off and happens to cool the cup holder, a design bonus. The track tension has been stable after I pumped in some grease at 10 hours.

One PITA is 2 Zerks on the quick connect that are difficult to reach unless the bucket is curled just right. The thumb control for boom swing way too sensitive, wish that could be dialed down.

Mine is the "M" series, the new E42 and E50 are the "R" series. I looked at an E32 which was an "R" series and it took the salesman and me about 5 minutes to figure out how to open the two piece side cover. Mine is one piece and is easy to open.

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+++ on the quick connect grease zerks and the way to sensitive boom control. I’ve got a 2017 m series with the extendible arm. The extendible arm control is on the RH joystick and the thumb and boom share the LH joystick. There is a toggle switch on the LH console next to the wiper switch that toggles between the two. I don’t use the boom control very often, so it’s nice that it’s a deliberate move to make it happen.

The e50R2 that I’m demoing has the boom on the LH joystick and the thumb on the RH. That boom control is just as sensitive or more so than it is on the e42, and it happens to be in the same location as the thumb on my machine. It wakes you up when you go full switch on the boom. You’re right, a means to tone it down a tad would be nice.

I have a vio 20 and vio55 Yanmar’s no complaints here probably be adding a vio35 soon

My Vio 35-3 has treated me very well. Love the hydraulic pin grabber as it can fit a wide variety of buckets