best mini excavator on the market current opinions opinions reviews ranking

Storrsy

Storrsy

Well-known member
It's all well and good saying get a wagon- but there's no getting around that its a whole another level of added expense and compliancy required- which is fine if your day to day machine is 5 ton plus. But if the bread and butter work is carried out by a towable excavator I think I'd struggle to justify the additional expense. My current tow setup is an older disco costing a couple of grand and a new ifor for similar, I can carry all my tools around with me and when I'm leaving the machine on site which I do most of the time I have something nimble and convenient for coming home in and parking straight outside my house!
 
S

Smiffy

Well-known member
It's all well and good saying get a wagon- but there's no getting around that its a whole another level of added expense and compliancy required- which is fine if your day to day machine is 5 ton plus. But if the bread and butter work is carried out by a towable excavator I think I'd struggle to justify the additional expense. My current tow setup is an older disco costing a couple of grand and a new ifor for similar, I can carry all my tools around with me and when I'm leaving the machine on site which I do most of the time I have something nimble and convenient for coming home in and parking straight outside my house!

If you are using a towable machine you still could find having a wagon profitable depending on your exact works
Being able to take materials with you and muck away yourself, especially if you regularly work on sites where stacking materials and muck away is not possible.
I think 3 driveway firms round here run 18tand 26t grabs towing 2-3t machines.
I work on the highways so alot of the time we have to clear site overnight. It wouldn't be possible without a wagon as it would be impossible to arrange materials and muck away
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
Guys, buckets aren't my problem - I have too many machines!
My Navara is 6130kg GTW. Of all the pickups, its one of the lightest (along with the Dmax) because the Datsun is made of the thinnest tin and the engine is French so consists of cheese and baguettes. This gives me 540kg of capacity in the vehicle including fuel and myself - so around 100kg for each gives me 300kg. By the time you put your spare coat, lunch, and a few tools, its possible to stay within it but not that easy.
The Ford Ranger 3.2L is the worst for this as its so heavy, think you are down to 200kg and that's got to include yourself! Add a truckman/ roller shutter etc and of course the obligatory wide wheel arches that no Ranger owner would be without - and you are over on train weight.
I have considered getting a tipper but they give the wrong vibes, aren't that nice to drive and I cant take my Nan out in it. The Navara does a great job of being a car and a work truck. As I said, buckets for the digger aren't a problem, they go in my dumper which would be a 2nd load no matter how you look at it.
What I really need is a vehicle to fit the two machines, dumper, roller, track mats, site office, mixers, wacker plates, attachments, buckets etc in one trip. 😁
8 legger then
 
V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
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excuse me if I intrude, but what kind of vehicles do you usually use for the transport of machinery? we call trailers "flatbed"( CARRELLONE A PIANALE RIBBASSATO), that is dedicated and specific vehicles set up for the transport of heavy and agricultural earthmoving machinery. crane, depends on the equipment and needs of the user company.
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Furniss

Furniss

Well-known member
It's all well and good saying get a wagon- but there's no getting around that its a whole another level of added expense and compliancy required- which is fine if your day to day machine is 5 ton plus. But if the bread and butter work is carried out by a towable excavator I think I'd struggle to justify the additional expense. My current tow setup is an older disco costing a couple of grand and a new ifor for similar, I can carry all my tools around with me and when I'm leaving the machine on site which I do most of the time I have something nimble and convenient for coming home in and parking straight outside my house!
Well I don't know how much parking and a restricted 'o' license cost but my wagon pays for itself easily - and it's just so much easier running a wagon than either pickup/defender/ 3.5t tipper and trailer.
I have a fair idea tbf I've run all the above combinations 🤷
And I'm that convinced I'm off upto 12/15t wagon next year.
 
Bri963

Bri963

Well-known member
As usual, you’re all over-thinking it. No HGV required, no tacho, no CPC, will fit down footpaths and country lanes, and perfect for nipping to the hairdressers after work. Also no confusion about red or white diesel.
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V8Druid

V8Druid

do it as well as you can,but learn to do it better
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This is my new to me 14 tonner, just over 7 ton payload so I can get most of the yard on it & stay legal but small enough to park on a driveway 👍
want a good driveway to park that on ... mine qualifies ... but is a fair drive way :ROFLMAO:
 
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