doobin

16.5-17k base spec, 19k in that spec with lots of options ticked inc lights, proportional rockers for services/offset, extra service for rotator, comfy seat, extra counterweight, more powerful track motors from e20 and a hydraulic hitch. Got in on 5 years 0% too, but that was the March price and I waited till November for delivery as factory special. God knows what lead times are like now even for basic uk spec. Bobcat wins for me (at the moment) on price inc free finance and most importantly the ability to customise cheaply, such as twin aux which is a must for Arb work. Only three manufacturers would provide a similar spec (cat and Takeuchi) and both worked out around 7k more once you take finance over 5 years into account. Both base machines were more, and both wanted stupid money for the extra service, in Takeuchis case as a third part mod. With bobcat it’s all integrated. the finance over 5 years gives me good leverage. I have a micro, 1.9, 2.7 and a 2t tracked dumper and my repayments are £1200 a month. With these machines and my attachments I can tackle all small jobs and plenty of mid scale ones too. I have a bit of a niche where we are highly mechanised but also diverse, so I can’t have any one thing costing me too much money per month as there’s no guarantee if will be used that month! On the plus side, we are never short of work. But bobcat backup isn’t always brilliant and stevie wonder must do their pdi. They are only really winning on price currently, though I’m getting on well with the e27 and the micro is the best true micro on the market for me. twin aux is easier to find when you get up to 2.7t, and I almost had a kubota rather than the bobcat then as there was only the finance in it. hope this helps.

That looks a very fair price.

Customers kid having a go. Start em young 👍🏻

Wacker is also top of the price. The vds is for levelling up when running sideways on a slope- for real steep slopes you have to go up them perpendicular with the blade at the bottom so vds is no help whatsoever as it also raises your centre of gravity! Better off with a tilting bucket for bank work in my book.

You’d barely get decent stock net and and two barb for that price round here.

Picco chain is very forgiving. If you have to put that much pressure on maybe the file is goosed.

Not a bad saw. Never tried anything else so there might be better out there but if you already have batteries then it’s cheap as chips. Use ours for fencing, quick small garden take-downs and indoors. Handy to have.

Still one rose flower hanging on in my garden too. Dan, I'd need to see your missus first. No offense like.

I got myself a set of those digital torque reader things that you put between the bar and the socket. No idea how good they are as not had call to use them yet.

Secondhand market is superheated currently due to BBLs, Brexit and lack of new supply due to Covid. Make sure you factor this in, as I can't see kite flying prices for second hand junk lasting. Personally it would be too big a risk for me. There's just one dealer, he could easily fold as soon as the warranty claims start coming in. Residuals will be low. They just look the worst of the Chinese stuff. And the dealer's spelling doesn't inspire me with any more confidence than I have in the 'hydrolicks' of the machines he's selling. No reflection on your signature- but if you are running a professional business then you should know to employ a proof reader or copyrighter if it isn't your strong point. That's business- play to your strengths. What else might they not be so good at?

A Chinese honda will be more reliable than a briggs and shatton.

Looks fine to me too. My stihl file guides are the same colour, and you’re only gonna replace the file itself after a few sharpens so what’s the problem?

Any Chinese wee chipper will be at home on very small diameter young willow.

Point of order- quotas are no more for either. These commodities are produced on contract, often an amount per ton or litre up to a certain quantity, then a lesser price for any oversupply.

BJ. snigger 😂

Sounds dirt cheap to me going by the photo. Check that they have insurance.

All the Chinese ones are much of a muchness. You might want to add a couple of hundred to your budget to get the larger engined models however.

Yes but in your example the boss disregarded all established protocols by not securing the drop zone. I’d then draw a comparison with the Somerset lorry crash where the driver wasn’t prosecuted but the boss and mechanic went to jail for falsifying maintenance records. I do agree with your position that insurance is sensible to have regardless. I disagree with a lot of hypothetical scenarios you outline.

When it ends up in court, my money is on the judge ruling the main contractor to be at fault for not securing the drop zone properly. There’s also the unavoidable fact that any claimant is going to chase the party with the money/insurance cover. As far as I understand, and it doesn’t appear to be complicated, if you take orders from the main contractor, then you are a labour only subcontractor/disguised employee, and the buck stops with them.

The attachment list is only so big because they buy in from the companies who make them, add Avant brackets and 40% to the price. You could do the same far cheaper with a welder.

Lots of reports of those trailers cracking.

Huge difference between 1.9t and 2.7t both in terms of price, width and weight. Horses for courses. Depends what work he has.

Kubota wanted around 2k for extra aux, not a factory option on that.

Not the weight class he’s after but yes, I considered it for my 2.8t machine.

If you're thinking tilt rotator then you also need to be thinking short dipper arm and twin services to run a 4 pipe tilty (unless you want to spash out on a control system) With regards to the services- anything other than a proportional rocker switch on each joystick is a step backwards in my book. In this weight class twin services can be hard to find. I've just been through this- only Cat and Bobcat/Doosan could actually offer twin pipe models from the factory. Tak refused to do it entirely, other manufacturers wanted thousands for third party soloutions. Went for Bobcat in the end as I have two already and it was far cheaper than the Cat even before the free finance. Seems an OK machine- I need to get used to it before I can say for sure, only put a dozen hours on it so far. However- you're going to struggle to find any new machine in stock currently, let alone one with such extras unfortunately.