Would you buy a KX41

[Big Bri]

Do I really need one, no but I definitely want one. Mini ex that is.
Live been looking at Craig's list, ebay, and everywhere else locally and on the net for 2 years and haven't found the right one in the price range and condition I'm willing to pay for. I had thought I wanted a machine in the 8-12k lbs range. Some thing I could dig out a tree or two with, take care of some small projects around the house, and keep a boat ramp free of silt.
Well today I looked at a KX41-3 (2007 model). Much smaller than what I thought I wanted but it is a real clean machine. So my question is how capable is this little guy. Will I be mad for buying this in 6 months or will I be pleasantly surprised by what I can do with it.
any advice would be great
thanks.

 

[radair]

I am considering the same mini-ex, mainly for narrow bench-cut trail building purposes. Subscribing to your thread hoping for some real experiences.

 

[Sodo]

I have a 2006 KX41-3v ~1200hrs. I like it, maneuverable, and hardly takes any space in my barn. But it does not have much power (17 hp?), can't climb hills well. Mini-ex travel speeds are really slow (like 1.9 & 2.4 mph) travel takes forever and a day, its almost faster to trailer it a half-mile. I got it to pick up logging slash and make burnpiles. Also to cut ATV trails into steep hillsides. I have no real need for a bigger ex as I'm not trying to make a living with it. I hope to sell it for about the same when done.

You should know that if it needs new track drive motors they are something like $5,000 apiece. Take out a plug, see if it has clean oil. Change the drive oil every time you change the engine oil those things could almost total the machine.



Got rid of the little backhoe (BX24) this KX41 barely larger than that backhoe. And the KX can drive out of the barn, the Backhoe would just plug up the barn if not on the tractor. Sold the BX-24, bought a little bigger tractor.



Experimenting with an attachment to rake & pick up sticks for the burnpile.





Putting minibikes up on a shelf for winter.

Here's an ATV trail I dug, first excavator project. It was so much fun, I'd start at 7AM, dig all day (almost skip lunch) then dig until dark. The trail came out GREAT, a real asset on the property, keeps the bikes and ATVs off the driveway. Been using it for snowmobiles too.

As to your question,,, Excavators are like chainsaws, tractors, (welders :laughing: ) the bigger you get the more you can do, and there are other things that become more difficult. Like wiggle between two trees, park it in a small space. Smaller machine is safer to transport. A big chainsaw cuts fast but what if you have to carry it all day and never see a tree as big as the bar? Really hard to "recommend a size" to someone else, the uses are so different. How big are your jobs and how quick must you get done? Is it better to be lest costly and compact 364 days of the year?

 

[Big Bri]

Great review, tks Sodo!
I did go back and talk to the owner, I was allowed to use the excavator on his land to dig and play a little. while it did have lots of power and dug surprising fast I think it's a little small for what I'm wanting to do.
Then owner also talked me out of buying it as well. After telling him what my plans were he advised me that was what he bought the machine for and he was upgrading to a more powerful machine.
Tks

 

[Roadbuilder6]

I would not buy any smaller machine then a 5 ton and nothing bigger for your purposes. I have had 3 minis and 2 backhoes over the years. 2 three tons (TB135 Takeuchi and a 804 Super JCB) and 1, 5 ton (Bobcat 335). I love that machine, tons of power, very comfortable. Only downside is it likes fuel lol. I would go with the 5 ton due to the reach and power. I don't know your budget but a 335, E50 Bobcat would work great, 305CR or 305CCR cats are good, any deere 50d newer then 2010 is great, takeuchi TB145-153 are great machines. Kubota makes a great excavator, the KX121 is an awesome machine as is the U45. There are 3 things that I would not buy a mini without. HYDRAULIC THUMB, I use mine all the time, the 804 super and my jd tractor backhoe attachments, had fixed thumbs and I would never go back to them. The hydraulic thumb is an awesome attachment, and I would not buy a machine without it. A Cab with heat and ac is a must have lol. I have mild asthma so doing burn piles without it would be not fun at all. Also a q/c, you will end up buying many buckets lol, trust me banging out pins is not fun. Just try and buy a mini 2007 or newer and you will be fine. Good luck, and please keep us updated!
The Bobcat (friend has it now, finished my projects)

 

[David Devuono]

I just bought a KX 41 with thumb. Ground is frozen up here so I will have to wait another three months to use it. Its a 1994 with 3000 hours. As I got stuck trailering it into camp in the snow, I ended up unloading it and driving it 1/4 mile. This older machine is a single speed and it is slow at 1.2 MPH. I kept the revs down and took about 25 minutes to go up the driveway. Needed to take it easy as it was -20 C and lots of ice in the tracks. I will be building a trailer just to move it around on my property. This machine is extremely quiet compared to my farm tractors.

 

[Sodo]

That sounds somewhat similar to bringing my KX41 home. Had to drive 1 mile, uphill. I was cold.

 

[mike69440]

I would not buy any smaller machine then a 5 ton and nothing bigger for your purposes. I have had 3 minis and 2 backhoes over the years. 2 three tons (TB135 Takeuchi and a 804 Super JCB) and 1, 5 ton (Bobcat 335). I love that machine, tons of power, very comfortable. Only downside is it likes fuel lol. I would go with the 5 ton due to the reach and power. I don't know your budget but a 335, E50 Bobcat would work great, 305CR or 305CCR cats are good, any deere 50d newer then 2010 is great, takeuchi TB145-153 are great machines. Kubota makes a great excavator, the KX121 is an awesome machine as is the U45. There are 3 things that I would not buy a mini without. HYDRAULIC THUMB, I use mine all the time, the 804 super and my jd tractor backhoe attachments, had fixed thumbs and I would never go back to them. The hydraulic thumb is an awesome attachment, and I would not buy a machine without it. A Cab with heat and ac is a must have lol. I have mild asthma so doing burn piles without it would be not fun at all. Also a q/c, you will end up buying many buckets lol, trust me banging out pins is not fun. Just try and buy a mini 2007 or newer and you will be fine. Good luck, and please keep us updated!
The Bobcat (friend has it now, finished my projects)
View attachment 407641

Agree, but also consider a 7-8 tone machine, if one drops in you lap. Anything less than 3 tons just way is too small for outdoor / farm work.

 

[David Devuono]

I think I was too excited to be cold. I live three hours from camp and all I can think about are all the jobs I can do next summer. Going to build a couple of swamp mats so I can get in and finally work on my pond project. Dig lots of test holes as I want to build on my current gravel pit, so need to find another one. Want to push some x-country ski trails into hilly areas. My camera froze so could only take a couple of pictures with my phone. Watched every U-tube video on mini excavators. My first project will be to build a single tooth ripper. Some good videos using a ripper for stump removal.

 

[Sodo]

I know that feeling I'm 3 hours from my hideout too. Good idea to build a ripper I'll keep that in mind, and interested to see yours. I've sure been enjoying my trails. I rode snowmobiles on it too, they use up the whole trail.

One thing I like about this mini-ex is 3700lbs is easy to move around, no problem towing it with my F150. And it packs away tight in the barn. I wish it had a 6way blade.

I have a buddy with a KX121 (9,000lb), he tows it with a dually pickup. He loves that machine, he claims he will take it to the grave with him. He's only 55 and plans to live a long time. He is a professional excavator operator (and instructor too). His opinion of the 121 makes me want one but realistically I can do what I want with the KX41. My wants may change over time though...

 

[David Devuono]

I will be looking at Freedom 55 in about 10 months. Then we will move to the camp, live in a trailer while we build our house. I have been reading up on code for building septic systems and burying electrical cable so definately will have lots of jobs for the mini. Nice trail. Definately handy to be able to move it around with a 1/2 ton. Problem is my Home insurance does not cover excavators so taking a chance that it does not grow legs and dissappear.

 

[moriboy]

I bought a low hour KX41 last year for digging small ditches and doing a little work around our place. It's a handy little machine and will dig just fine in hard, dry soil. The blade is so handy for leveling small pads out as well. I ended up buying another piece of property this year that needs a lot of brush and stump removal. It's too small for that kind of work, so I am going to purchase something bigger. If anyone is interested I am putting the little guy up for sale...

 

[David Devuono]

Took a couple of pictures this weekend should give you an idea what the KX41 can lift. I don't know what the big log weights but I can't lift it with my B3200 which is good for 900-1000 lbs. Its softwood but approx. 22 inches in dia and 12-14 ft long.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I'm going Friday to pull the trigger on a new Kubota kx-91. I want it for the thousand jobs that need to be done on our hilly 80 acres. I will also add a Stumper 220 grinder as soon as save the money. Can't wait to start building trails.

 

[Sodo]

Man I would love a KX91 it's still small, but twice the power of what I have. New one, huh? And not to make you money?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Man I would love a KX91 it's still small, but twice the power of what I have. New one, huh? And not to make you money?

Well, I figure over several years of using the mini ex I will increase my property value and maintain a high re sale value on the hoe. Money doesn't make a nickle in the bank, anymore...

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ Got that right and it's exactly as planned.

Punish savers and spur consumption to rewarded those buying on credit.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

^^^ Got that right and it's exactly as planned.

Punish savers and spur consumption to rewarded those buying on credit.

Who is buying on credit? Did I miss something? $42 grand, cash, out the door.

 

[ultrarunner]

Money in the bank is to the point where some have started charging for the "Convenience"

I have a well to do friend since he sold his business and was looking to deposit the cash... his business bank pays 1% on checking to 500k... no interest paid over 500k which seems strange to me until he told me it's not like the old days when savers with large balanced were catered to.

So paying cash would be neutral since there is no taking advantage of low market interest rates.

I had planned to retire my mortgage two years ago and then the credit union said they would give me 15 years fixed at 2.75% at no cost with auto pay... goes contrary to being debt free but I made an exception and my 22 year remaining loan balance will now be retired in 15... well 13 now.

Never bought anything on time except a first mortgage on real estate... guess it's the old family farm mentality passed down from my grandparents who saw too many of the friends loose the farm when they couldn't repay borrowed money.

 

[Sodo]

Well, I figure over several years of using the mini ex I will increase my property value and maintain a high re sale value on the hoe. Money doesn't make a nickle in the bank, anymore...

Ain't that the truth. Wise of you to get the machine sooner than later, you only live once, and a life lived with no excavator, is almost like a life lived with no tractor. It's doable, but again, you only live once.

I bought a new pickup last summer, declining $14,000 in googaws (leather, chrome, nav system, emblems, etc) appx. the cost of my excavator (which I had bought a few months before).

I will dig a couple ponds near the driveway, hadn't occurred to me that it would increase my property value but you're right. And a few more ATV trails, so the ATVs & dirtbikes don't dust up the driveway. Actually I will have my kids dig the ponds, because I think creating something beautiful, at an early age, will do them well in life. That's the value I'm looking at now, not thinking of selling the property.