Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[dfkrug]

Hard to see the D722 engine in the engine compartment. This is the same motor used in the Kubota K008 mini, and is rated 10-20hp, depending on RPM. Screaming at 3600RPM, you can get 20hp, but at 2000 or so, 10hp is what you get. More than adequate for most tasks.

But it is smooth and quiet. Plus, the torque characteristics make it a more pleasant power plant than the 420cc gas engine I use. The gas engine (rated about 15-16hp at 3600RPM) requires you run at least 3000RPM to be useful.

I love that diesel, but you can expect to pay at least $5000 for a new one here in the US. That is more than the whole basic excavator, sans engine.

 

[dfkrug]

One of the coolest things about these ultra small minis is your ability to transport them in a 3/4-ton or larger pickup. You do need to remove the tailgate and get a decent set of ramps.

Jason had these aluminum ramps made to his specs, and they are rated at 2000# each.

The truck in the photo is a 1-ton PU, which handled this load with ease.

 

[dfkrug]

...a couple of action shots, using the thump lifting logs

 

[Chrisall]

A local contractor, Jason, just imported 3 of the latest 1-ton minis from Xiniu, aka Shandong Landworld. They seem to want to use the name Rhinoceros, which is the English translation of the Mandarin word Xiniu. They will still put any name on them that you request.

Been looking at importing one of these to Australia for quite a while now. Difficult to narrow it down between Longsheen, Landworld, Infront, Hightop. Any experience of the pros-cons of them?

What exact model Landworld is that in the pics? I can't see an identical one on the Shandong Landworld Alibaba page.

Cheers,
Chrisall

 

[dfkrug]

Just got a chance to see and try out the latest batch of Chinese minis here in the San Jose area. Jason (in the above photos) has specced and received new units with lots of improvements.

The mini-X in the above photos is made by sdhechuang (sdhechuang.cn), which is the former factory for Hightop. SDH does not have their own sales operation and has been very willing to improve their machines to Jason's specs.

I will post some more pix shortly. I have seen the latest unit from Xiniu (Rhino), as well as the smallest Sany, which Jason bought new a few years ago from a dealer in LA.

 

[dfkrug]

Here is my favorite improvement, found on both the gas and diesel SDH 1-ton units: a wheel brake valve on both wheel motors. I looked into retrofitting these valves into the wheel motors on my 3yo XN08, but it looks like the valves are integrated into slightly different wheel motors.

I guess my XN08 will continue to be kinda hard to control when driving down hills.

 

[dfkrug]

Xiniu (Rhino) has implemented many improvements on their 1-ton minis, including the wheel braking valves above (SDH).

This is the company that made my XN08, which is now more than 3y old and still going strong. Quality of construction from this company looks very good; they may be the biggest of these factories in Shandong. Here are some of their improvements:

The boom now has swing function. This improvement, and others have bumped up the weight a bit, so the new name is XN12. The frame, body, boom, and dipper seem to be the same as my XN08.

The swing frame seems to be partially of cast steel, rather than all fabricated like the one from SDH above.

 

[dfkrug]

The ROPS is more substantial, with four posts, and much stronger braces.

 

[dfkrug]

I really like the new valve housing, made of formed plastic, with an access hatch in the front. The former steel enclosure was a bear to remove, which was necessary to change hoses.

Also, there is now a well-designed gauge cluster (hours, temp, voltage) in easy view for the operator.

The engine is an EPA-approved 3-cylinder Yanmar. No EPA-approved gasoline engine is available.

 

[dfkrug]

You can also see the foot pedals now available to operate the direct-acting spool valves for AUX and boom-swing. Servo controls are not available on this model.

 

[Cataclysm]

Dang, I just saw this thread. I have a Kubota K-008 and it is a great machine.

I didn't read the whole thread yet. Does anyone that actually has one want to share the model and price?

Thanks to you guys now I want to import a container of these to assemble and sell.

 

[dfkrug]

I think the days of getting them for under $10K (gas) in the US are gone. Being able to buy them under that price really exploded their import. And diesel? That very slick Kubota or Yanmar 3-cyl adds thousands. Even Northern Tool sells one now for $18.5K in the US.

As for the K008, the quotation I got (see above) for $25K-ish is also long gone. Try to find one now. Container shipping has gone nuts. Jason, who imported the above 2 units, still uses LCL and gets them individually crated. Each new batch seems to have improvements, specified or not.

 

[nate0918]

I joined to follow this thread and see how the import of these mini excavators is panning out. I'm in the market for one and getting quotes through alibaba and directly. I just got a quote for a 2ton unit with swing boom, pilot controls, a 3cyl diesel kubota engine, and about $1000 in attachments. The quote, with shipping, was about $15k not including the tariff or anything after the container leaves China. How are the prices looking for you guys on a 1 or 1.5ton excavator lately? I work for a company that does importing(not machinery) and I've asked them to get a quote to see what kind of pricing that they could get locally as a comparison. I'd like to keep the total cost, including machine, shipping, tariff, etc at $12k. Does that sound reasonable for a 1 or 1.5ton?

 

[dfkrug]

I work for a company that does importing(not machinery) and I've asked them to get a quote to see what kind of pricing that they could get locally as a comparison. I'd like to keep the total cost, including machine, shipping, tariff, etc at $12k.

There are lots of importers of Chinese minis in the US now. You don't say where you are, but finding one new already imported will cost more, but much of the unpredictability of importing your own will be avoided. Container shipping is still crazy, sometimes running 7x what it used to cost.

$12K can get you a 420cc gasoline-powered 1-ton unit here, but not a diesel. Those Yanmar or Kubota diesels will add at least $3K to the price.

At 1.6T-2.0T, you can also expect to find a swing boom, servo controls, and sometimes even adjustable track width. Higher cost, of course.

 

[nate0918]

I am near Salem, OR. Adding retractable tracks was another $650 on the quote I received and $780 on another. Has the subject of group purchasing been discussed? I would assume that a small discount would be given and better shipping rates if an FCL was hard packed with excavators vs having them all crated.

 

[dfkrug]

Has the subject of group purchasing been discussed? I would assume that a small discount would be given and better shipping rates if an FCL was hard packed with excavators vs having them all crated.

Yes, you can get 6 of the 1T minis into a 20' container, as we did with the 6 black units from Oking (see above). Jason gets his units individually crated, but that is not efficient. One vendor he knows can pack even denser inside a container by stacking them. In that case, you get better per-unit shipping cost, but you have to have a way to unstack them. A decent forklift and loading dock. With the six units in the same container, I just drove them out onto a platform with ramp.

 

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

I am currently in the market for an excavator in the 6,000lb range.

There is an outfit that has a High Top 30 with a Kubota motor in stock.

Out the door with 3 buckets and a quick attach would be just over $26k.

I have read the entire thread and searched other places, just not a ton of info on them. Parts and service would be my primary concern.

I am on the fence between a used Deere, JCB, or one of those name brands versus the unknown.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[dfkrug]

I am currently in the market for an excavator in the 6,000lb range.

There is an outfit that has a High Top 30 with a Kubota motor in stock.

Out the door with 3 buckets and a quick attach would be just over $26k.

I have read the entire thread and searched other places, just not a ton of info on them. Parts and service would be my primary concern.

I am on the fence between a used Deere, JCB, or one of those name brands versus the unknown.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I was looking for a used 1-1.5T mini-X, and all I could find was out of state and all beat up. That's when I first heard of these units from Shandong. Now there are tons of them here, and they are certainly improving.

Sany, the world-class Chinese excavator maker is widely available and supported in the US. $27K got you a new SY16C unit 3 years ago in CA. Other brands from China are much cheaper due to not being as well-made and having no support in the US. The unit in the photo does not have a lot of hours on it, but the owner rents it out (!). It has all the parts and systems of any CAT or Kub.

Buying a non-Sany Chinese mini is a gamble, but the much lower price compensates for that. I bought a lot of spares when I got my first machine, but I will use few of them. Spares are cheap if you buy directly from the factory. Those Yanmar engines are great, tho also made in China.

 

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

I was looking for a used 1-1.5T mini-X, and all I could find was out of state and all beat up. That's when I first heard of these units from Shandong. Now there are tons of them here, and they are certainly improving.

Sany, the world-class Chinese excavator maker is widely available and supported in the US. $27K got you a new SY16C unit 3 years ago in CA. Other brands from China are much cheaper due to not being as well-made and having no support in the US. The unit in the photo does not have a lot of hours on it, but the owner rents it out (!). It has all the parts and systems of any CAT or Kub.

View attachment 739851Buying a non-Sany Chinese mini is a gamble, but the much lower price compensates for that. I bought a lot of spares when I got my first machine, but I will use few of them. Spares are cheap if you buy directly from the factory. Those Yanmar engines are great, tho also made in China.

I have looked at the Sany. The price for those have gone up considerably. They seem to be making a pretty good name for themselves.

I have noticed more and more High Tops. And now seeing more of the Rhino excavators. So that makes me feel better about parts.

I just wish there were more hands on reviews online. I don’t want to be the guinea pig.

Good looking machine…..

 

[dfkrug]

Note that Rhino is a factory that makes and sells its own machines, while HighTop is a reseller. It is hard to tell who makes and who just sells. SDH used to make some of the machines for HT. All of them seem to allow any buyer to specify the name or brand on the units. I have heard that even Sany makes some units for others, but I have not verified that.

Our monthly local auction (Sacramento) has 3 different re-branded new Chinese mini-excavators right now: Cougar, Stag, and Sunward, 1T, 2T, 2.6T, and 3.5T. Dunno who makes each.

I have sent folks who have bought Chinese minis to this thread to share tech details, including repairs and improvements. People who import a container and sell them often neglect the technical support side of this effort. Utube is perhaps where you are going to find most online analysis of these machines right now.