[knox gsl]

If your looking at a 35 sized mini ex, you could haul it and a skid steer on a gooseneck trailer to help in mobilization. The 35 sized machine is a good size, big enough you can dig waterlines and so forth with enough lift capacity to be able to put a decent sized rock retaining walls. Yet its light enough that you can transport it easily. A skid steer is just so much faster than a compact tractor or TLB. The 180 degree limitation on a backhoe always seems to be an issue on smaller jobs. There issues with a SSL is it making a mess at times, laying down plywood can be an option on sensitive ground, goes back to what you want to do with it.

I have a good bit of seat time with a bobcat E35 can model. Very smooth, quick and quiet machine. 2 drawbacks for me were the tightness of getting into the cab (I'm 6ft 225lbs) and the proprietary bucket attachment.

 

[Mowing monkey.]

I have a good bit of seat time with a bobcat E35 can model. Very smooth, quick and quiet machine. 2 drawbacks for me were the tightness of getting into the cab (I'm 6ft 225lbs) and the proprietary bucket attachment.

A pin grabber coupler would reduce those concerns but virtually every mini excavator suffers from both of those problems.

 

[knox gsl]

A pin grabber coupler would reduce those concerns but virtually every mini excavator suffers from both of those problems.

That's the only mini I've run with an enclosed cab. All the rest were open platforms. Honestly if I worked with a helper or had crews running the machine I'd stay with an open cab. Cheaper, easier to communicate with a ground guy and the glass is easily busted out by everything. Another reason not to run with a bobcat is not being able to put the bucket on backwards. Very handy feature for concrete work and backfilling.

 

[Mowing monkey.]

That's the only mini I've run with an enclosed cab. All the rest were open platforms. Honestly if I worked with a helper or had crews running the machine I'd stay with an open cab. Cheaper, easier to communicate with a ground guy and the glass is easily busted out by everything. Another reason not to run with a bobcat is not being able to put the bucket on backwards. Very handy feature for concrete work and backfilling.

A cab machine is nice. You can always work with the front window up with a helper which I do most of the time. But you can’t turn on the heater with an open station. A pin grabber coupler is the only option I know of that can go on backwards and have some degree of freedom of bucket choice.

 

[Mark Oomkes]

I have a good bit of seat time with a bobcat E35 can model. Very smooth, quick and quiet machine. 2 drawbacks for me were the tightness of getting into the cab (I'm 6ft 225lbs) and the proprietary bucket attachment.

I'm about done with Bobcat and their proprietary BS with everything. Nice machines but between the computers, electrical everything, sensors, etc I'm likely not going back when I need a tracked skidsteer again.

I was leasing a Bobcat for 3 years, numbers worked out pretty well but ended up buying a used compact loader for the plowing I need it for. Numbers work out even better as it is faster, more efficient and visibility is 100x better. I wasn't used the tracked machine enough in the summer to justify it. Since I can just rent one if I really need it.

 

[carolina start up]

I have a good bit of seat time with a bobcat E35 can model. Very smooth, quick and quiet machine. 2 drawbacks for me were the tightness of getting into the cab (I'm 6ft 225lbs) and the proprietary bucket attachment.

I'm not to sold on bobcat honestly the dealer is just as far away as everyone else and thinking the yanmar for that true zero tail swing

 

[carolina start up]

That's the only mini I've run with an enclosed cab. All the rest were open platforms. Honestly if I worked with a helper or had crews running the machine I'd stay with an open cab. Cheaper, easier to communicate with a ground guy and the glass is easily busted out by everything. Another reason not to run with a bobcat is not being able to put the bucket on backwards. Very handy feature for concrete work and backfilling.

no matter what i buy its more then likely gonna be open cab buying used anyways

 

[wmitchell]

Talking mini excavators ,Takeuchi has the highest resale and better parts availability than Cat and is saying something.! Takeuchi has some models that have unriveled versatility when working in confined spaces. Quality product!

 

[carolina start up]

Talking mini excavators ,Takeuchi has the highest resale and better parts availability than Cat and is saying something.! Takeuchi has some models that have unriveled versatility when working in confined spaces. Quality product!

id like to have a tb240 from them I like the dealer to always been nice to me when I sent emails before

 

[j77parsons]

I was thinking like a Yanmar vio35

I have a friend selling a yanmar 35 cab hydro thumb, less than 800 hours . I think it’s a 2020 model

 

[carolina start up]

I have a friend selling a yanmar 35 cab hydro thumb, less than 800 hours . I think it’s a 2020 model

I can already tell you its out of my budget would be nice though

 

[wmitchell]

Yes, mini exc. are out of a lot of budgets. You can always rent and charge the full cost to a given job.
Good luck.

 

[TPendagast]

For a landscaper who’s doing mostly maintenance still
the TLB Makes a lot of sense
It can use a brush mower or aerator
For the uninitiated the Harley and York rakes are easier to use
The type of work you’re likely to do is going to be fine with the back hoe

until You get into major excavation, wall building and hardscapes or grading , the mini ex doesn’t out shine the TLB

I myself would really like a full size backhoe like a case 590 super n

reason Being is travel speed and versatility
When the job sites are much larger or farther apart the distance becomes a big time factor
When the job site is fixed and smaller , the compact equipment is more efficient

 

[ksss]

I have a loaded 590 Super N. Love that hoe, best damn back hoe I have ever run.

 

[Mowing monkey.]

I used to have a Deere 310j and after I sold it I bought another Deere 410. I’ve since sold it as well because it wasn’t doing anything besides watching my skid steer and mini do all the work. The plus to a full size backhoe is they’re cheap enough to buy. Much more so than buying a mini and skid steer combined. They’re also strong. The downside is they’re heavy enough to require a CDL to haul them and they’re also too heavy to large to do much in yards. The other big downside is that you’re pretty much stuck with the front bucket and a pin on bucket for the rear. The quick couplers on the skid steer and mini adds a lot of versatility.

 

[wmitchell]

KSSS, so right on the Case 590 super N. a beast. weight almost 21,000 lbs and retails for $120,000. !! Case has a backhoe hydraulic quick coupler option. Case is # 1 in TLB resale.

 

[carolina start up]

For a landscaper who’s doing mostly maintenance still
the TLB Makes a lot of sense
It can use a brush mower or aerator
For the uninitiated the Harley and York rakes are easier to use
The type of work you’re likely to do is going to be fine with the back hoe

until You get into major excavation, wall building and hardscapes or grading , the mini ex doesn’t out shine the TLB

I myself would really like a full size backhoe like a case 590 super n

reason Being is travel speed and versatility
When the job sites are much larger or farther apart the distance becomes a big time factor
When the job site is fixed and smaller , the compact equipment is more efficient

I was looking last night and honestly, for 40k I could get a used skid and excavator and have both or go with a tractor. it will be later in the year but always better to plan now than last minute

 

[carolina start up]

I used to have a Deere 310j and after I sold it I bought another Deere 410. I’ve since sold it as well because it wasn’t doing anything besides watching my skid steer and mini do all the work. The plus to a full size backhoe is they’re cheap enough to buy. Much more so than buying a mini and skid steer combined. They’re also strong. The downside is they’re heavy enough to require a CDL to haul them and they’re also too heavy to large to do much in yards. The other big downside is that you’re pretty much stuck with the front bucket and a pin on bucket for the rear. The quick couplers on the skid steer and mini adds a lot of versatility.

a customer of mine her son has a cat 416tc backhoe and says he rather just have the mini and skid steer for some of the same reasons

 

[TPendagast]

I was looking last night and honestly, for 40k I could get a used skid and excavator and have both or go with a tractor. it will be later in the year but always better to plan now than last minute

For 40l you could get BOTH machines?
That sounds like a scam or rusted junk that’s not going to move

 

[Mowing monkey.]

For 40l you could get BOTH machines?
That sounds like a scam or rusted junk that’s not going to move

40k definitely isn’t going to buy the nicest skid steer and mini pair but it would do better than non operating equipment. I’ve seen decent wheeled skid steers for $20k. That’s about what I paid for my Komatsu and it’s a nice machine. A 20k mini will be harder but if you’re looking for something fairly small and 20 years old it’s possible.