What can your Mini excavator do?

[davygp38]

I am in the market for a mini excavator. Most likely used, but we will see. I have never used one, but I have used various backhoes. I am looking for one in the 9000# to 12000# range. I was hoping to get some of you guys, to post some pics of your machine, and some of the more impressive work you have done with them. My biggest concern, is that this class will not have as much digging force as a full size BH, for arguments sake like a 580 case. I can read all the specs in the world, but unless I am able use them all for a decent while, I won't know for sure. So If I get a big enough response on this, I can narrow it down to three or four machines, then I can maybe demo a few or rent one. Any additional info would be great. thanks in advance.

 

[MaJYk]

You will give up a little reach (vs. Extenda-hoe) and a good bit of lifting capacity plus the loader as well as the loss of self transport, but they will dig circles around around a tlb and are easier safer and legal to haul with a 3/4-1ton truck.

 

[Kays Supply]

My mini is smaller than what you want, but the TLB I had was also. I wouldn't trade my mini for two TLBs of the same size. Mine is only a VIO 27 but it works well for me in my plumbing business, putting rough in inside foundation walls and walkin basements. I also have a mini tracked truck that is the berries for putting the spoil in and not having to put it on the gravel and then clean it up and haul it out.

 

[davygp38]

You will give up a little reach (vs. Extenda-hoe) and a good bit of lifting capacity plus the loader as well as the loss of self transport, but they will dig circles around around a tlb and are easier safer and legal to haul with a 3/4-1ton truck.

This is what I have been hearing from many sources. The kubota dealer said that a 12000# mini ex, could dig a large stump out quicker than a 580, even with the 580s greater breakout force, just do to the ease of repositioning the machine. I also need to be able to pull the machine with a 3/4 ton p/u. I sold my dump truck due to high insurance in NY. I also bought a 22.5K goose neck trailer, so I can haul up to 15500# net. Has anyone done lot clearing, or demo with one? How about stump work?

 

[20 20]

I own a baby mini{4,000lb} and wouldn't trade it for anything{except maybe a 10,000lb + or- excavator } I owned a backhoe and operated others, an excavator will walk all over them any day. Not saying BH's are bad but IMO an ex can do twice the work with a lot more flexability. I have dug ponds loaded logs on my mill and taken huge stumps out with my mini. It does take some work with a small machine to get stumps out but with a little knowledge it can be done. IMO comparing a BH to an excavator is like comparing a motorcycle to a tractor. The only advantage of a BH is that it can be driven for a distance at a higher speed. I don't need my machine for the highway though I need it for digging.

 

[burntside bob]

We have a Kubota KX151 a 12,000 pound excavator older version of KX161, same machine new number. This machine is the one that gets the most hours usage, also have a 30,000 pound CAT excavator.
If the machine you are looking at does not have a HYDRAULIC THUMB go look at another machine, it makes a big big difference in productivity of the machine.
We have dug hard soil with it where we have had to scrape the earth to dig it, we use a narrow bucket, one of four for it to this.
The new machines have the high pressure hydraulic motors resulting in much more power at the bucket end of the machine compared to the KX-151.
The dozer balde is used all the time, it works really well.
Loads tandem dump trucks with no problem.
Plenty of power to dig trenchs or holes.
Bucket Turns around in a circle on the tracks, big advantage in tight places.
With the tracks it goes anyware vs wheels that get stuck (in clay, mud etc)
I have two loaders big CAT and small 3/4 yard so do not need a TLB bucket machine.
If I were you I would purchase the mini excavator not the TLB.
If you can get a zero tail swing machine all the better.
Of what make to purchase well its hands down a Kubota they are the best, just try various machines before you purchase one, you will see and feel the quality of Kubota. I have operated CAT mini and just perfer the Kubota.
Now lets see you have a 4,000 lbs trailer, a 12,000 lb mini hoe, a 6,000 pickup, thats pushing the 26,000 limit of a CDL, and that pickup might be toooo small to controll the trailer and mini in an emergency on the highway.
16,000 lbs pushing a 6,000 pickup that does not sound too good.
Others are doing it, well they may have a 6,000 lb mini on the trailer not a 12,000 lb mini hoe.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have only run Bobcat mini excavators and I can say a 325 will do alot of digging work and some stump work as long as you are patient with say a 14" stump. A 335 is a bit bigger and the 435 and 442 took out alot of stumps for me. I do not run these professionally but I have a friend with a large concrete business and he will drop one off when I need one at the farm and he has one available, hence they have all been bobcats and various sizes. Actually the 325 machines I have rented because I needed one now and he didn't have one handy. As far as productivity I am not a pro at it but I can get alot done with one quick. I really like the swing boom on them coupled with rotating the house and digging on either side of a stump and not moving the machine. I guess you could call me an advanced amateur operator on a mini that could hold his own with the pros on most things. The only thing I wasn't able to do was lift an old set of concrete steps that were about 3' wide, 3' tall and 5' long with the 325. That machine had a thumb and it was downhill in a ditch. I ended up going down in the ditch and cramming the concrete between the bucket and the backfill blade and then walked up out of the ditch and set the concrete in the middle of my driveway and picked em up with my 50 hp tractor and pallet forks. FWIW it was a heavy load to pick up on my tractor too.

Also for what it's worth the 442 machine took out a 20" ash stump and I was able to pick it up with the bucket/thumb and toss it into a ditch. The 442 is a bit much to haul with a 3/4 ton but any of the others I mentioned are 3/4 ton gravy.

 

[davygp38]

We have a Kubota KX151 a 12,000 pound excavator older version of KX161, same machine new number. This machine is the one that gets the most hours usage, also have a 30,000 pound CAT excavator.
If the machine you are looking at does not have a HYDRAULIC THUMB go look at another machine, it makes a big big difference in productivity of the machine.
We have dug hard soil with it where we have had to scrape the earth to dig it, we use a narrow bucket, one of four for it to this.
The new machines have the high pressure hydraulic motors resulting in much more power at the bucket end of the machine compared to the KX-151.
The dozer balde is used all the time, it works really well.
Loads tandem dump trucks with no problem.
Plenty of power to dig trench's or holes.
Bucket Turns around in a circle on the tracks, big advantage in tight places.
With the tracks it goes anywhere vs wheels that get stuck (in clay, mud etc)
I have two loaders big CAT and small 3/4 yard so do not need a TLB bucket machine.
If I were you I would purchase the mini excavator not the TLB.
If you can get a zero tail swing machine all the better.
Of what make to purchase well its hands down a Kubota they are the best, just try various machines before you purchase one, you will see and feel the quality of Kubota. I have operated CAT mini and just prefer the Kubota.
Now lets see you have a 4,000 lbs trailer, a 12,000 lb mini hoe, a 6,000 pickup, thats pushing the 26,000 limit of a CDL, and that pickup might be too small to control the trailer and mini in an emergency on the highway.
16,000 lbs pushing a 6,000 pickup that does not sound too good.
Others are doing it, well they may have a 6,000 lb mini on the trailer not a 12,000 lb mini hoe.

Thanks for the feedback. I am leaning towards kubota. I have a Kubota tlb already, so the loader end is covered. I will definitely be getting a machine with a thumb. As far as brands go, I am open to suggestions, I have met a few contractors, who swear by Takeuchi, but there are no dealers close by, and that makes me wary. as far as a cdl goes, I hve a class A. As far as the Truck goes, I agree that an upgrade is needed. I have lots of power, but stopping safely is a question. I was looking at the new Ford 350. The tow computer looks amazing, but thats a little ways down the road, (like when I can get one used,)

 

[Cooter Brown]

I have a KX 161 and do septic work with it. My friend has a JD 310 BH and we both have ran both machines extensivley. The Kubota does not have the raw power of the Backhoe(although pretty close) but digging trenches I will dig more feet per hour than the 310 in 90% of the scenarios. He agrees as well but the 310 is more versatile and if you have one machine only then get the Backhoe.

 

[Builder]

I own a backhoe and rent a Yanmar excavator and each tool has its' own adv/disadv.

The excavator is quieter, easier to haul, and is ergonimcally better for pure trenching. I can talk over the engine and I feel closer to my work. I can get alongside a house if delicate trenching is the job of the day.

My backhoe is way more versatile. I can do anything the excavator can, but the backhoe can also shuttle & spread dirt around the jobsite way faster/better. It can also plow snow, which is a big source of income for me. It can also pallet fork material off a trailer or truck, like shingles, RR ties, palletized stone, etc. I can also use the hoe for other valuable operations, like hooking it to a platform to make a poor mans work scaffolding up to 10' high. I also use it to spread stone on driveways. At 19,000lbs and with big tires and locking diffs, it goes over sharp, bumpy ground better, even though the ex has tracks. I also run into situations where the location I'm digging is too far to load the dumptruck. The backhoe can shuttle the dirt out to the dumptruck. The mini ex would require a skid steer to make up for this shortcoming.
I can also drive the backhoe short distances over the road, or from one end of the farm to the other without transporting it.

In short, the backhoe can do a lot more jobs than the ex., but the ex is a better pure digger. The little one we tow behind our pickups are great, but they are limited compared to a backhoe for brute force on lifting.
As far as diggin out stumps, it's no contest on big stumps. I'll dig & lift a BIG stump out better with a backhoe. I did ~20 3-4' diameter stumps last year. There's no way I could have done them without haviog a bigger excavator than a pickup can pull. Then I can scoop & load them in the truck with the loader side if they're really big without switching buckets.

Seems like my backhoe has more hydraulic capacity than the Ex for running a hammer, too.

Taks are great, but don't be afraid to look at a Yanmar. VERY sweet machine.