Mini Excavator Stuff

[Burdekin]

Gents,

Some advice please. I’ve got a mate buying a small holding. It needs lots of ground work. Lots of soil to be moved, soak always to be dug, outbuildings the floor need digging out etc. He doesn’t need to fit through narrow doorways though.

He’s got 6-8k to spend. What should he get? Is a compact tractor with a backhoe a better option than a mini excavator.

 

[Pete.]

6-8k would allow for a lot of machine rental and what you'd get to use would be more than 6-8k's worth..

 

[tom2207]

just because you buy a digger , it does not make you a digger driver .

get a local contractor in ,,, tenth the price ten times faster ,,, and lots of change.

 

[Burdekin]

Thanks for the advice but would appreciate if we could just stick to answering the question please; Is a compact tractor with a backhoe a better option than a mini excavator.

 

[lincoln2013]

I would say the mini digger is going to be the best option for ground work and digging soak aways

 

[Robbie260]

Depends on what he wants to do mini ex wise 7 grand ain’t gonna get you much other than a bag of bolts that’s old, I mean really old, probably will spend more time fixing it than working it, sub compact tractors with backhoes are rare as hens teeth in the uk they are more a US thing. Stay away from 3 point linkage mounted backhoes for tractors you want ones with specialist frames that index down the length of the tractor as they are so much stronger and put less stress on the tractor. Tractor will be more useful afterwards mowing etc etc loading trailers will be quicker. As for jcb there is a 1cx based on a wheeled and tracked skid steer chassis but they are again rare and very expensive. 2cx are more common but command high prices again.

Probably best going for a 3 ton plus excavator as it’s not towable behind a pickup these machines don’t command the price premium the smaller machines do. 5 ton is where they seem to be best priced if he has the space for one and can be found cheap in good enough condition. Don’t buy off a farmer what ever you do it will be shagged. @8ob is a much bigger expert in this area than me so probably he will pickup something I have missed.

 

[Burdekin]

Depends on what he wants to do mini ex wise 7 grand ain’t gonna get you much other than a bag of bolts that’s old, I mean really old, probably will spend more time fixing it than working it, sub compact tractors with backhoes are rare as hens teeth in the uk they are more a US thing. Stay away from 3 point linkage mounted backhoes for tractors you want ones with specialist frames that index down the length of the tractor as they are so much stronger and put less stress on the tractor. Tractor will be more useful afterwards mowing etc etc loading trailers will be quicker. As for jcb there is a 1cx based on a wheeled and tracked skid steer chassis but they are again rare and very expensive. 2cx are more common but command high prices again.

Probably best going for a 3 ton plus excavator as it’s not towable behind a pickup these machines don’t command the price premium the smaller machines do. 5 ton is where they seem to be best priced if he has the space for one and can be found cheap in good enough condition. Don’t buy off a farmer what ever you do it will be shagged. @8ob is a much bigger expert in this area than me so probably he will pickup something I have missed.

Thanks. He has loads of room so space isn’t an issue.

 

[Robbie260]

Dingwall has a big plant and tractor auction each month go every so often been some nice second hand contractor machines for sale they’re well looked after.

 

[cocker]

Mini digger is better than a backhoe everyday .
I wouldn't get anything smaller than 3 tonnes though .
Aaaand then you might want a dumper aswell !

 

[tom2207]

Thanks for the advice but would appreciate if we could just stick to answering the question please; Is a compact tractor with a backhoe a better option than a mini excavator.

apples and oranges ... strange question really .

 

[addjunkie]

For inside buildings a mini digger everytime. He can always sell it on once he needs a tractor.

But in reality have done as you describe, no one machine does all jobs. Mini digger digs, but doesnt shift stuff far. A compact tractor wont lift a bag of sand or gravel, their on the edge for older 50/60 hp jobs as the loaders only lift 700-800 kg.

Id say a digger and a dumper for building work, then punt them on when time to mow and maintain ground.

 

[Agrismith]

Tractors are for tractoring, diggers are for digging.
It takes a skilled op to get the most out a purpose built backhoe, god knows what it would take to get much out of a compact tractor. Not even got extend a dig.

Even an unskilled operator can do a lot with a digger and impress themselves. Although the wind is severely taken out their sails when they see a skilled operator.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Is a compact tractor with a backhoe a better option than a mini excavator.

Possibly more versatile long term?

 

[More Amps]

Buy a reasonable digger, use it for the big stuff - a working dumper can be had for cheap money, Once the big work is done, flog the digger and buy a tractor to keep.

 

[Robbie260]

Personally for me 3cx is what I’d run yep they aren’t really good at anything in particular but they do everything good enough and they are roadable which comes in handy. But you really need to know what you’re doing with them to get the most out of them. Although most complain about them never walked past a building site without one pottering about doing something they are just to valuable if your specialist equipment gose down the 3cx will get you by till it’s fixed or a new one arrives invariably.

 

[Guzrik]

Thanks. He has loads of room so space isn’t an issue.

I bougth a 11 ton Atlas it can dig a few meters away from you, without having to drive up and down.
Has reasonable lifting capacity to unload a truck or so, I like it.
My brother has a minidigger which is nicer in narrow spaces or close to buildings.

 

[Guzrik]

wont mow the lawn though

What lawn?

 

[tom2207]

What lawn?

you soon get a lawn when youve got a digger ,,, hills and all ....

you dont see half , maybe quarter the jcbs you used to .... once upon a time they were everywhere , round here now its all 3 ton diggers , personally i think a 3 ton is light, 5 tons the useful starting point though helicopter cab can be worthwhile too..

 

[James1979]

Thanks for the advice but would appreciate if we could just stick to answering the question please; Is a compact tractor with a backhoe a better option than a mini excavator.

No

Out of that choice, mini excavator every time.

As above, go as big as funds allow then sell the excavator if it’s no longer needed then get a good tractor for land work. Not a compact one.

If you go down the JCB-Esque route, as above they do everything but none of it brilliantly, but look for extra dig.

There’s also the 2CX which is a smaller machine and possibly a bit more manoeuvreable for his place? They did a road crew 2CX with a pto compressor on it which might be a handy thing. Can’t remember what that model was called.

 

[Guzrik]

I bougth a 11 ton Atlas it can dig a few meters away from you, without having to drive up and down.
Has reasonable lifting capacity to unload a truck or so, I like it.
My brother has a minidigger which is nicer in narrow spaces or close to buildings.