Bobcat e19/20 or alternative?

[Treetom15]

Again, another rambling……

 

On from the skid steer idea, after chatting to a few people my way who run both I’ve decided a digger makes more sense for the workload/type, plus they are similar money and more versatile! 
 

I’ve got my heart set on a 1.8/2t machine, that will go on my 2700 plant trailer (weighs 600kg) and has vari tracks for access. I know 2.7t machines will move more but the lower weight/versatility is more important to me currently (plus they are cheaper)

 

Does anyone out there run the smaller bobcat e19 or e20 as an arb digger, or a machine if a similar size-if so how do you find them? I did try trawling the arb digger thread but ran out of concentrate……..

[doobin]

This is the thread you need. Barely 2 pages and my posts cover the essentials.

 

Basically the spec you need to run a grab and rotator sucessfully (four aux lines, short dipper) will be special order from new and expensive. And still painfull to use compared to a 2.7t machine. You're probably only looking at 8, maybe even just 6k difference between a new 2.7t and a 2t in the spec you are asking about. Recent prices I've seen for the E19/20 in that spec were 23/34k, the Yanmar 2.7t is available from around 30.5k.

 

Sany or LuiGong often have four lines as standard and are the cheaper end of the market, so worth a look. But don't underestimate the frustration of having a long dipper coupled with a grab and rotator.

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by doobin

[Treetom15]

Thanks mate, that was basically what I was after! 
 

I can’t afford new, and don’t want the overhead of finance with a machine that may not come out every day. I’m looking at 2nd hand e19’s that come in around 10/12k, but obviously I need to make sure they have a short/regular dipper.

 

Towing a 3.5t rig would be a lot of extra load for my vehicles as we’re doing up to 2 hours each way some days, so the lighter weight would be a big bonus. 
 

It’s basically a bit of a demo for me-if the machine is a godsend and I quickly realise I need bigger, then so be it. If not, I haven’t spent £25k plus to try it out. 
 

I know the e19 would never match up to an e27, but as a stand alone machine how do you find it @doobin?