Since we are talking about excavators: Chinese Mini X vs. Subframe backhoe on tractor.

[etpm]

Recently I had a pond dug out with an excavator. All the dirt excavated was piled around the perimeter of the pond. Now I need to move that dirt somewhere else. I do have an actual backhoe, a Case 580CK, but it is being worked on, so it didn't get used for the job. When the pond was being excavated I asked the guy to put the dirt where it is but he couldn't have put it hardly anywhere else. If you will need to move the excavated dirt then you will need to use the FEL on your tractor to move it. That's one of the things I like about my backhoe, the ability to move dirt that I just dug up. There is no doubt that an excavator will dig better than a backhoe most of the time but they do not move dirt very well. They really can't pick up a large amount of dirt and move it somewhere else. They can really only push dirt to move it by more than a bucket full.
Eric

 

[Fixastuff]

I made a skid steer type bucket for my mini. It has tabs that the blade catch on when you raise blade. Can carry dirt, rocks(when I used to do French drains you could fill it with rock drive over trench and scoop rock from it to fill as you go).

It also does a great job of carrying around the 3 extra buckets. Obviously not as fast at it as a backhoe or having a skid steer on site but it does bridge the gap a little.

 

[Carl_NH]

Fixastuff - how about some pictures of your Mini Ex / Skid Steer bucket setup? I put a receiver hitch on the back of mine and have a HF hitch carry all i was going to use to hold the buckets but the SS bucket sounds very interesting.

 

[2manyrocks]

I've been looking at minis on FB marketplace, the local ads, and at auction websites in Middle TN. My advice is to look for what is up for auction in your area because the actual auction sale prices I've seen this week are about half of the price sellers are asking on FB for the same machines.

 

[Carl_NH]

Auction in Dighton Ma - North Country Auctions this week - an AGT18 (1.8Ton) - Kubota 902 Diesel, Pilot Control, Mech Thumb went for $7800 then a 12% buyer premium, so $9K. The Ebay 1.8T similar machines are selling for $9500 delivered with a hyd Thumb.

FB adds here are selling the similar machine for $14-15K so yes the prices vary and FB and CL are higher than ebay and auctions.

 

[mike0000]

I have 42hrs on my Kymron 1 ton mini, it’s been great to have around, it has expandable tracks, side swing and hydraulic thumb, hydro cooler/fan. It’s held together very well so far, I did add a second fan to help cool it while using for extended times. Ground speed is painfully slow, I trailer it around my property for different jobs. I have dug some large stumps but some have taken me a couple days. 6” trees, not a big deal for it. I tow it with my RTV or my tractor. The mini and the tractor work well together, they make up for each other’s shortcomings.

 

[Fixastuff]

Fixastuff - how about some pictures of your Mini Ex / Skid Steer bucket setup? I put a receiver hitch on the back of mine and have a HF hitch carry all i was going to use to hold the buckets but the SS bucket sounds very interesting.

No problem. For a while I had a hitch on it and made a small dump trailer that it pulled around. I like the bucket more.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I have 42hrs on my Kymron 1 ton mini, it’s been great to have around, it has expandable tracks, side swing and hydraulic thumb, hydro cooler/fan. It’s held together very well so far, I did add a second fan to help cool it while using for extended times. Ground speed is painfully slow, I trailer it around my property for different jobs. I have dug some large stumps but some have taken me a couple days. 6” trees, not a big deal for it. I tow it with my RTV or my tractor. The mini and the tractor work well together, they make up for each other’s shortcomings.View attachment 2890720

That looks like a really good setup!! Yeah I think the combo of the mini to dig and the tractor to move dirt/grade can really get some stuff done.

 

[panamaguy]

I didn't mean to compare the two, just stating what I bought. Tractor backhoes are very limited in what they can do. However, as stated, they have no ground speed and you can't put a plate on them to go help a neighbor.

Load them on a trailer and go help the neighbors

 

[tbarrick]

parsley equuipment.com These are very nice machines above the base model and adequate if you just do the base model. Kymron is the brand. They have upgraded components compared to other chinese minis.

 

[kneedeep]

The subframe/mini debate will go on forever.
I bought a bh for a 35hp compact tractor 5 years ago. It performs as I expected, digs good enough for me. It takes about 30 min to attach it and half as long to remove.
I have a need for an excavator but not a small one as what I already have. It I were to buy one, it would be at least twice as big as my bh.

 

[ernieatv]

All this excavator talk has me itchin'. I have 3 or 4 jobs I need a digging tool for. The only financially feasible options for me in the near term is a Chinese Mini X or a subframe backhoe for my Branson. Of the 3 jobs only one has space issues where a mini ex would more than likely be better. The 3 jobs I have are: Digging out a hillside (12'wide x 40 feet long about 5 feet high at the highest) to make more space and install retaining wall, make a new road into my bottom land (only a couple hundred feet up out of a gully), and flatten an area and install retaining wall off the side of an embankment from the top. The last one is the one with space issues as the landing is only about 20'x15' and squeezes down to about 10' wide at one point.

It seems to me like the tractor backhoe would be a more capable digging tool on my full bodied 30 hp Branson tractor. The only disadvantage in my eyes is the lack of mobility and larger footprint of the tractor/backhoe combo. I could probably find something cheaper than a chinese Hoe in this combo as well. If you could only have one, which would you pick?

I know they say rent rent rent. And I have and am not opposed to it. But renting isn't getting any cheaper and I borrowed a machine this past summer to do my footers and it was nice to not be on a SUPER tight rental schedule.

What would you do in this case?

You would be ahead with an excavator. The reason why is that you'll have a 360 °turn vs 180° Not sure about Chinese excavator? If you need a part and or need to get it repaired, where do you go?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

You would be ahead with an excavator. The reason why is that you'll have a 360 °turn vs 180° Not sure about Chinese excavator? If you need a part and or need to get it repaired, where do you go?

I have heard they are made with parts that are readily available here stateside. And they don't seems overly complicated. But yes, having the ability to wrench on them is probably a good thing. It seem like their are forums and groups popping up everywhere about these things so mods and fixes are getting pretty well documented.

 

[dkmc]

I dunno.....I'm cheap. Don't like to tie up $$$$ in machinery I only need occasionally.
I picked up this Backhoe attachment off of CL years ago for $750, adapted it to the
$2500 1983 Mustang SS, and it's been a heck of a lot better than a pick & shovel ever since.
Both needed some work when I got them.
Slow? Maybe a little. Cumbersome? Not really if you're just doing work for yourself (I'm in no
hurry). It takes 6 minutes to switch from backhoe to bucket.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I dunno.....I'm cheap. Don't like to tie up $$$$ in machinery I only need occasionally.
I picked up this Backhoe attachment off of CL years ago for $750, adapted it to the
$2500 1983 Mustang SS, and it's been a heck of a lot better than a pick & shovel ever since.
Both needed some work when I got them.
Slow? Maybe a little. Cumbersome? Not really if you're just doing work for yourself (I'm in no
hurry). It takes 6 minutes to switch from backhoe to bucket.


View attachment 2908643

Good looking combo!! And for $750!?! You can't do much better than that!

 

[D'oh]

Mini +'s

360 degrees swing to dump dirt
fit in tight places
doesn't tie up your Loader
Maneuverability

Mini draw backs

long travel times

 

[Gl Dansk]

I think you’ll be disappointed with the tractor mounted backhoe. Your tractor is too small for it to be powerful enough. I have a Branson 3520 (so 35 hp) with a backhoe. My soil is hard and full of rock/slate. I struggle to dig anything very deep. Plus it’s nowhere near as “flexible” in reaching places as a mini X. BUT it’s a lot less expensive - and you could buy a tractor mounted unit and rent a mini X every time you need to for the money.

 

[newbury]

rent a mini X every time you need to for the money.

You have to realize renting is not a viable option for many of us.

I needed a backhoe for small jobs that were not going to be finished quickly. Rental required 2 hours to go get and return, not including hooking up trailer etc. IF THE RENTAL WAS available when I had time for the project. With my own I could just go out and fire it up.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Again my t25 backhoe is 7k. Thats a lot for a scut backhoe. Imagine what a JD or Kubota bh costs or a larger unit. You can get a mini ex for that.

 

[americium100]

I recently bought a new Chinese excavator. It’s 2400lbs and has a Kubota engine. It has nice controls, swing boom, hyd thumb and I bought a grading bucket as well. It’s definitely versatile and I prefer it over the old backhoe I had. It’s not super powerful but I didn’t buy it to move mountains, just dig trenches, remove small trees and brush and clean up debris piles. It’s working great for all that. Got it from a local guy that says he can provide parts and help if needed. I was looking for a bigger used one but most that are in good shape are 15k+ and get sold quickly. This one was 13k new and delivered.