Mini-excavators? Alternatives?
 

Wife and I are seriously considering adding another rental property, a house. Its need a huge amount of work, entire backyard needs to be redone. I was thinking it would be great if I had mini-excavator to dig stuff up, lift deck sections into the dumpster, install drainage tile, etc...

I will admit that when it doubt, RENT IT, is generally good advice. But these things can be had for $5-6k, and it would be fun just to have one. My big question is this: Can you actually get anything done with them? These are all cheapie Chinese companies, any of the cheapies stand above the rest?

I have one. Paid $3,600 US for it and bought the accessories for it separately. It's a small machine and can do small jobs. It's not going to push down 60' trees with it but you can dig up the root ball.

A friend is into them and says buy the newest brand name one you can buy. He said the only trouble he has, and has lots of it, are the hydraulic hoses everywhere.

Where? If it's of any size to do much it's gonna closer to 20K unless it has issues. I've been looking for an 8000lb machine for a few weeks now and let one slip away at 17K but I'm wanting a cab because I'm a big baby.

There are tons of little chinese made machines out there in that price range or lower, and down to 3k used with short hours. Some have no name diesels, others kubota. They're really mini, like 2000lbs. Great for trenching and the like, or small stumps, but not really "excavators".

Yeah I've seen those. I've never operated one. I don't have the patience required to dig with those small machines. When it comes to mini X's my rule is, if my skid loader can lift it, I'm not gonna use it.

Sub compact TLB like this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1744549541.jpg

Around 10k used and is perfect for smaller properties.

My personal preference would be a stand on skid steer like a Bobcat MT85 or similar but not gonna find one the price range unless you go China route. As long as it has mini universal interface, there are all sorts of attachments that go on them. You can get them into fenced areas if the gate is 36-42" wide depending on track width. They're highly maneuverable in tight spaces. And they have decent lift capacity. My only issue with them is, if you're not careful you can toss yourself off of them.

I have had two MF CG 2300's for over 23 years and they both still run great...and are very similar to the picture BK posted, just older.

We have a lot of implements for them, including mower decks, PTO powered rotor-tiller, a front end loader, harrows, aerator, sprayer attachments, etc.

I don't mow with them all that much since I have a zero turn Kubota and a smaller Kubota tractor I like quite a bit.

For excavations, I borrow a small one from my neighbor...there are a number of folks in my area that are in the equipment, "circle of trust".

For property management, I think a smaller compact diesel tractor would be more efficient and versatile than a small excavator. If my neighbor didn't own an excavator, I would get one for the small tractors that fits on back and is PTO powered.

Frankly, the PTO powered rotor-tiller was a complete game changer for us...and my neighbors:D

All that said, my advice would be to rent a small excavator and see how you like it...it takes some practice. I'd then visit the local tractor place (any make) an get a few minutes on a small compact tractor.

I don't like to rent equipment unless absolutely no other option exists...I invariably get in a time crunch or the weather is bad, etc.

Whatever you decide, if you buy you'll need all the support gear for transportation and maintenance.

Edit: I saw Cabs post after I posted mine. They are very popular here and have many attachment options.

Enjoy!

Yup.
Massey, Kubota, deere, etc all have diesel sub compact tractor loader backhoe. TLB.
Just sold a MF GC2410 with a bunch of implants for 11k.
Huge sellers remorse.
Picked up a skid steer.
No regrets on the skid steer, but shudda kept the MF.

I think the compact tractor/loader/backhoe machines are like a Swiss Army knife... not great at any one particular thing but functional for a variety of things. The one BIG benefit to a T.L.B is that attachment costs are CONSIDERABLY less than the cost for skid steer or mini skid steer attachments. The one plus to skid steer or mini skid steer machines is that there are loads of rental yards with attachments to rent.

I've ran them all. I wouldn't trade my tracked skid steer for anything other than a nicer CTL.

Agree completely, a skid steer is the cats meow. :D
But 30k versus 10k for a sub compact TLB that will do EVERYTHING a smaller homestead needs, it's a no brainer.
Wish I didn't sell mine, but I get semi over it when I fire up the cat. :)

A neighbor just picked up a 2016 Kubota L2501 with a FIL & box scraper with 200+ hyrs. for $14K. I have to say I was very jealous. At that price he could easily afford a back hoe attachment.

The only issue with a compact tlb is that if you use the backhoe a fair amount it beats the c...p out of the tractor.
I have two compact jd's from the good yanmar years-early 90's. One is more or less dedicated to woodsplitting (with a Chinese pto pump as it lacks rear hyd) and tiller. I agree with Paul, pto tillers are awesome, just set the slip clutch correctly or you'll break expensive stuff. The other tractor does loader duty. Don't really need 2, but the one without rear hydraulics was free and only had 400 hrs.

I think I would get a backhoe. A smaller one with accessories. An excavator seems more challenging to operate.

[QUOTE=greglepore;12446689]The only issue with a compact tlb is that if you use the backhoe a fair amount it beats the c...p out of the tractor./QUOTE]

The Kubota L frame tractors are mid sized between the B series compacts and the M series for ag use. It would fare better than a compact.

These guys have a lot of fun doing silly things with machines. Now it's Chinese excavators!

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