A mate got a new fixed boom 8t Hitachi a bit back and I was going to have an hour in that sometime when Im back in the U.K - I knew it was near the 9T mark but he hasnt mentioned the cab been small - he will look like he has been poured in if it is
A mate got a new fixed boom 8t Hitachi a bit back and I was going to have an hour in that sometime when Im back in the U.K - I knew it was near the 9T mark but he hasnt mentioned the cab been small - he will look like he has been poured in if it is
Personally would only consider fixed boom if it was with a tilt/rotator
Having driven a 8 t Kubota with 3 piece boom I can honestly say it's the worst balanced machine i've ever driven and I would strongly avoid buying one. There a pig to work on for routine maintenance and the cab makes you feel like your in the early 2000's again.... Black LCD screen
JCB do a ten tonner which IMHO is the bollocks in terms of a general site machine. But quality of finish is the issue - Current experience with JCB is they are without a doubt the most proactive and eager to please company with cracking after sales factory support and some of the most operator freindly machines on the market at present...... But a 5 year old with Lego would do a better quality finish.... particularly on paint and PDI.... It can't be just the one machine I deal with either. The question I would be asking on it is whether it will be kept for longer than the 5 year warranty period.... if not, then get the JCB
I’d second that, always been a bit of a kubota fan when it comes to that size of machine, however, after going in a Wacker et90last week, I wouldn’t have an hesitation in buying one.
The extra price cost for a 13 as against an 8. Speaking to the Wacker rep last week, he was saying there getting a lot of trade-ins for this size machine because of there size and they (the 8ton machines generally) pack a punch in what they can do, obviously they don’t lift as much, but that size machine is usually for the ground worker, small contractor, so it’s not as if your dropping big pipes down a hole all day, and maybe a couple of minutes extra to load a wagon, but that’s about it, compact enough to work round the houses and scaffolding, so would I want to pay an extra £20/25K for a 13tonner, I wouldn’t personally.
Are you looking new or 2nd hand Fred? Kubota make some damn good machines but the 8t is not one of them in my opinion. As Rory says, the cab is basic, the air con fan will drive you nuts and as its a reduced counterweight, the machine isn't that stable. I had a brand spanker on hire for a few weeks doing up to DPC on a house and it will lift a track with the arm out at full stretch with a full bucket. I'd hate to think what the VA boom version is like but I'd hope they add counterweight. Machine drove well otherwise but it just feels like it needs an update and I think there are better machines in this class now.
The CAT 308 is a surprisingly good machine and not bad value either. Saw an advert the other day for a dealer selling them for mid £50's with steel tracks with pads, air con, hitch, buckets, fuel pump, 4 proportional aux lines etc which I thought was very good value and it will lift a pack of dense blocks with a block grab out to very nearly full stretch. Its much more stable than the Kubota and the screen has a nifty levelling feature which is quite handy. I didn't used to like CAT's but the new generation stuff is very smart and well finished. And I believe they have updated the 8t again recently which I haven't driven yet.
I've also spent a decent amount of time in the Volvo and to be honest, I wouldn't consider it. Its not a bad machine but there's much better out there and its in need of an update for sure.
People rave about the Hitatchi's, I cant say I've driven one so cant compare to the above three which I have. But other brands I would consider are the JCB (who are doing a 0% finance offer at the moment) and have recently updated the 86c. The Wacker Neuson, who seem to score highly with those who have owned one or driven them. And the Kolbelco's who seem to be taking the mini market by storm at the moment. We have a 2004 one in the yard and whilst its an old machine, its still a very competent 8tonner. The new ones are likely to be pretty decent as well and of course @TiltyShaun has just parted with his hard earned for one so can tell us more when he updates his thread
- I am out in the sticks without dealer support and have to look after the kit myself so my requirements are different.Was on this, which I think is/was and 308E, and yeh, what a lovely machine to drive, big cab, nice and fast, and extremely good at pushing.
I would probably buy the CAT if I was in the market for an 8t. As its me, I would have to give the JCB a very close going over as it looks a lovely machine and the options list is very tempting. But certainly wouldn't be disappointed with the CAT.
