Good deal on mini ex under 30K

[Builder]

Is it possible to get a used, clean, low houred, brand name mini-ex with full cab, AC and aux hydraulics for 30K or less?

 

[Rhino59]

Yes it is - depending on:

1) how deep do you want to dig?

2) how old of a machine / how many hours will you accept?

3) how wide of a ditch do you want to dig?

 

[coopers]

What brand? I see Kubota 121-3's around $33,000 and up. I think I've seen some under but they weren't low houred. What's low hours to you? I only look for cabs so the prices I see are not with open ROPS since I don't care.

 

[plowrup]

Got one on the lot-I think in these times you should not have a problem finding one-

 

[Builder]

I'd like to be able to dig footings and smaller foundations with it. Definately need comfy cab. I don't know how long mini-ex's are supposed to last but I'd think under 1,500 hrs would be pretty low hours.

I'd like to be able to easily switch between buckets, maybe 12" - 30" and run a hammer (aux hydraulics)

 

[George2615]

There are two places around the Syracuse area that advertise in Equipment Trader Magazine that have lots of ads for mini excavators under 30K. Carroll Equipment and CNY Rack & forklift (aka CNY Rack and Surplus). You can see some of their ads at equipmenttraderonline.com

 

[Robert_in_NY]

There was a nice Gehl in the 8000 pound range just outside of Erie, PA with around 1600 hours and cab but no AC. The guy was selling off his construction equipment and was asking $19k.

I know Gehl doesn't have the big name like Kubota, Bobcat and a few others but I would own one in a heartbeat.

 

[Builder]

Gotta have AC. Too old for anything less, guys.

 

[AKfish]

When I was chasin' all over the internet tryin' to make my mind up about buying a used excavator or a full-sized TLB or a small dozer or a small TLB or any of those combinations.... I seem to recall a fair number of mini excavators in the 8-12K range that would fall into the $30K bracket.

I spent a fair amount of time on Construction Equipment at Machinery Trader: Caterpillar, Komatsu, Case, John Deere, Volvo -- Used Heavy Equipment for Sale - Point2 UsedIron -- IronPlanet - Used Heavy Construction Equipment - Auction - Backhoes Dozers Excavators Farm Tractors - Caterpillar John Deere Case Komatsu for sale. They seemed to have a good cross section of construction equipment.

Also spent some time rummaging around Richie Brothers, too. (You never know when they might have an auction just down the road!)

AKfish

 

[Eagleview]

I traded my Yuchai YC35-7 on my new(Chinese) 23tonner last week . It had 173 hours on the clock and like new . Do'nt be scared of Chinese excavators , mine came with air cab swing boom(which i'll never have again) blade rubber tracks(which i'll never have again), 3 buckets and hitch , Cummins engine , jap pump and valves and was a really neat and strong little digger . I'd better explain about the swing boom and tracks . The extra purchase the swing boom has over the machine is very noticable being front mounted compared with a digger with a normal type arm which mounts over the slew ring . I found they are very tippy toed and see saw when digging , which gets to the point of having to wait for the machine to stop rocking before resuming the task . As for rubber tracks , if your on loose dirt or sand and screw the tracks to turn or walk accross a slope the dirt will spill into the track gear race and being incompressable the sprocket will climb it and walk out of the track regardless of how tight it is .(My tracks came off daily and sometimes together and they were Bridgestones). Also the rediculous way the tiny track rollers run on top of the serrated track gear race tops shakes your teeth out . If i was to buy another mini excavator it would have steel tracks with rubber pads and a standard boom . Google Yuchai , you will buy a new one with all the good bits for $30,000 , new Chinese or used/abused Jap i know what i'd rather .