What's your budget?
Have you considered a full sized backhoe?
I follow a lot of auctions and mini's are still selling for strong money but backhoes are not. If you don't mind turning a wrench and fixing a leaky hose or cylinder for what you'd spend on the machine you linked you're almost into a decent used backhoe. If you are a cash buyer watch auctions in your area and around closely.
Even a well used Case 580 you can sell for what you have in it as long as it runs so you can trade up later if you'd like. I doubt you could recoup half your money from a Chinese small excavator.
I have been looking for Ford 555s and Case 580s and everything that seems even halfway usable is well over $20G. Last month, I was looking at a mid1980s Kato excavator that asking was 10G, 28k-lb unit, no thumb, no plow, rode hard & put away wet, everything leaky, plus transport costs. A backhoe would work for most of anything I need, a mini-ex can get into places the backhoe can’t.
I would actually prefer an older unit with minimal/no computers and a diesel engine.
I check the CL almost daily, Mrs does the local Facebook market.
I really want to buy something instead of paying people to do work, or renting equipment, but I don’t want to take on a second mortgage— I could very easily go down to our local Kubota dealer and leave with a 12Klb unit on my signature, I would prefer to pay cash instead.
But what is Made In USA that is available in the up-to-$15G range That comes with a blade and thumb and diesel? Yes, this is gas not diesel, I know, but what are ya gonna do?
Heck - what meets that criteria at $25G. And how much of it is really “MADE IN USA“ anyway? Give me a lead on something Made In USA at twice the price of the Ageotk and I will gladly look at it rather than some Chinesium junk…
as to “minding turning a wrench”, me and a friend pulled the engine of my first car (‘75 Chevy, 350SB) with a chain, a couple of 2x4s on our shoulders, and a lot more brawn than sense…
