Best mini digger?

[Mick Dempsey]

No dilemma for me, get the bigger one.

[csservices]

That's the way my gut says to go, have found a nice bobcat 323 1.5 ton full spec expanding tracks etc but it's right at the top of the budget whereas 2.5 tonners with low hours seem to be coming up around 6-7k at about same age.

[Mark Bolam]

What's the crack with transportation?

[njtimber]

I've got a kubota kx41-2 had it for 10 yrs apart from replacing the tracks ,bucket pins and bushes,and servicing it regularly ,it's never let me down . Service is quick and simple all the filters are easy to get at. Plenty of power. Well worth getting a thumb or 3+2 grab. Always found Digbits and local kubota agent very helpful. If I was buying it would be kubota or takeuchi.

[LGP Eddie]

I've got a kubota kx41-2 had it for 10 yrs apart from replacing the tracks ,bucket pins and bushes,and servicing it regularly ,it's never let me down . Service is quick and simple all the filters are easy to get at. Plenty of power. Well worth getting a thumb or 3+2 grab. Always found Digbits and local kubota agent very helpful. If I was buying it would be kubota or takeuchi.

 

I would say pretty much anyone I've ever come across with the Kubota 41 or Takeuchi TB016 has pretty much the same experience as yourself.

The Takeuchi will always edge it for multiple operators, as damage is so easily and cheaply remedied on them, but for me Kubota always have that extra touch of refinement some owner operators really appreciate.

Running costs and residual against actual work produced can be extremely low, and specialists like Digbits really help keeping consumables down in price, but not at the expense of quality.

 

I have a brand new 1.5 hour Volvo Ecr25D this weekend on Demo to try as I'm looking myself at this end of the market and decided that I'd rather go just that but bigger than a 1.5 tonne as an all rounder, and the instances I simply must have the smaller machine they are readily and cheaply available.

 

I'm going to demo this Volvo and the Kubota U27-4 as that's what I have my shortlist down to, but on paper they both start off on slightly different starting points.

The Volvo has a very large cab, with flat floor and a lovely set of full size track pedals that allow true multi function operation just like much larger machines.

The Volvo is also available with two double acting auxiliary circuits controlled by rollers on the joysticks that will allow easy installation of a grab with fantastic control.

I'm looking forward to a few hours on the Volvo, but it's certainly impressed me in many aspects having studied all the details.

I doubt the Kubota will dissapoint much, and I shall be making enquiries as to the availability of any extra pipework in other markets, which can happen as the UK always take low spec.

 

 

 

Eddie.

[csservices]

What's the crack with transportation?

 

 

Got a 300tdi discovery and a fairly aged 2 ton plant trailer or 12ft ifor Willian's flat bed

[csservices]

I would say pretty much anyone I've ever come across with the Kubota 41 or Takeuchi TB016 has pretty much the same experience as yourself.

 

The Takeuchi will always edge it for multiple operators, as damage is so easily and cheaply remedied on them, but for me Kubota always have that extra touch of refinement some owner operators really appreciate.

 

Running costs and residual against actual work produced can be extremely low, and specialists like Digbits really help keeping consumables down in price, but not at the expense of quality.

 

 

 

I have a brand new 1.5 hour Volvo Ecr25D this weekend on Demo to try as I'm looking myself at this end of the market and decided that I'd rather go just that but bigger than a 1.5 tonne as an all rounder, and the instances I simply must have the smaller machine they are readily and cheaply available.

 

 

 

I'm going to demo this Volvo and the Kubota U27-4 as that's what I have my shortlist down to, but on paper they both start off on slightly different starting points.

 

The Volvo has a very large cab, with flat floor and a lovely set of full size track pedals that allow true multi function operation just like much larger machines.

 

The Volvo is also available with two double acting auxiliary circuits controlled by rollers on the joysticks that will allow easy installation of a grab with fantastic control.

 

I'm looking forward to a few hours on the Volvo, but it's certainly impressed me in many aspects having studied all the details.

 

I doubt the Kubota will dissapoint much, and I shall be making enquiries as to the availability of any extra pipework in other markets, which can happen as the UK always take low spec.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eddie.

 

 

I do like the kubotas, not used the smaller ones but have driven 5 and 8 tonners and they are lovely machines, it's trying to find one I can afford, I was hoping to have a bit more in the budget.

[LGP Eddie]

I do like the kubotas, not used the smaller ones but have driven 5 and 8 tonners and they are lovely machines, it's trying to find one I can afford, I was hoping to have a bit more in the budget.

 

Always a hard call and everyone has a different take on it, but you have more than enough to purchase your trailer outright, put a tidy chunk in and take a little bit of finance to get something that in reality isn't going to be a huge chunk of money more, but almost certainly will provide a better starting point.

Keeping a bit back for issues and the simple fact you will soon be looking for attachments in some form, as the reality is these are what can really earn the money in comparison to a base machine.

Just a thought, and I fully appreciate both sides of the arguments, but I do know a couple of guys who have switched their thinking and running something a bit newer than they originally intended and the odd attachment has worked well for them.

 

If that is your budget end of, my advice is go with a Takeuchi TB016 and trailer, you will be looking at real tidy examples for this money, literally no running costs and if you lost £500 getting out of it in a panic if it wasn't for you I'd be surprised.

Chip away at it and perhaps a Kubota Kx61 after if you see the bigger machine is for you?

 

 

 

Eddie.

[csservices]

Always a hard call and everyone has a different take on it, but you have more than enough to purchase your trailer outright, put a tidy chunk in and take a little bit of finance to get something that in reality isn't going to be a huge chunk of money more, but almost certainly will provide a better starting point.

 

Keeping a bit back for issues and the simple fact you will soon be looking for attachments in some form, as the reality is these are what can really earn the money in comparison to a base machine.

 

Just a thought, and I fully appreciate both sides of the arguments, but I do know a couple of guys who have switched their thinking and running something a bit newer than they originally intended and the odd attachment has worked well for them.

 

 

 

If that is your budget end of, my advice is go with a Takeuchi TB016 and trailer, you will be looking at real tidy examples for this money, literally no running costs and if you lost £500 getting out of it in a panic if it wasn't for you I'd be surprised.

 

Chip away at it and perhaps a Kubota Kx61 after if you see the bigger machine is for you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eddie.

 

 

Thanks Eddie, I was hoping to get enough out o the tractor to put a deposit on a new machine but as that hasn't happened im on plan b, I'm leaning more towards a larger machine as have got a definite job booked to put in a hundred metres o trackway across a hill plus ongoing drainage work, the other side is which is going to have wider appeal and also I have to consider that as my folks are selling the farm so worst case scenario I need a machine I can store on the drive at home, which leans me back to 1.5 tonner, there's plenty of tidy canopied ones in the price range, I'm trying to find a cabbed one as it will have to live outside if not at the farm.

[dumper]

I would invest in a made to measure tarp and get a canopy better vision less weight and no glass to break