2-2.7 ton diggers?

[GazCro]

I personally think of the 1.8 to 2 ton machines as long reach 1.5 tonners, admittedly not much extra but enough to make a huge difference to what you can do with them. Fair enough you will get a lot more done with a 2.5 tonner but it depends on your work and access. You won't get a 2.5 through a 1 metre gap. It's also worth bearing in mind whether you're on priced work or day rate and what you're local competition is. If you're on day rate smaller machine might take longer but that just means you won't need to find as many jobs. You could always hire machines first to see what you think could work best for you.

 

[Smiffy]

I personally think of the 1.8 to 2 ton machines as long reach 1.5 tonners, admittedly not much extra but enough to make a huge difference to what you can do with them. Fair enough you will get a lot more done with a 2.5 tonner but it depends on your work and access. You won't get a 2.5 through a 1 metre gap. It's also worth bearing in mind whether you're on priced work or day rate and what you're local competition is. If you're on day rate smaller machine might take longer but that just means you won't need to find as many jobs. You could always hire machines first to see what you think could work best for you.

What about the tekuchi 2.5t with expanding tracks as a compromise
It's not quite a 2.5 and bigger than a 1.9

TB225 Compact Excavator

The TB225 Compact Excavator features all steel construction, a spacious operator station and meets the legal towing requirements.

www.takeuchi-mfg.co.uk

 

[doobin]

I personally think of the 1.8 to 2 ton machines as long reach 1.5 tonners, admittedly not much extra but enough to make a huge difference to what you can do with them. Fair enough you will get a lot more done with a 2.5 tonner but it depends on your work and access. You won't get a 2.5 through a 1 metre gap. It's also worth bearing in mind whether you're on priced work or day rate and what you're local competition is. If you're on day rate smaller machine might take longer but that just means you won't need to find as many jobs. You could always hire machines first to see what you think could work best for you.

Totally agree. Although 1.5t doesn't really exist any more, it's 1.8-1.9t with piston pumps or a 1.6-1.7t hire special with gear pumps. All tend to have long arms as that's what the UK market thinks it wants. For the extra few grand you may as well have piston pumps and a machine that's much more capable for your own priced jobs, yet still cheap enough to make some profit at paltry digger and driver hire rates.

What about the tekuchi 2.5t with expanding tracks as a compromise
It's not quite a 2.5 and bigger than a 1.9

TB225 Compact Excavator

The TB225 Compact Excavator features all steel construction, a spacious operator station and meets the legal towing requirements.

www.takeuchi-mfg.co.uk

I liked the look of that a lot when considerig getting a larger machine- would have chopped my 1.7t in and had a micro and that. However I went down the route of three machines and personally I'm glad I did. Whilst a nice machine, the Tak would have been too many compromises in power, width and towing weight for me.

 

[GazCro]

Totally agree. Although 1.5t doesn't really exist any more, it's 1.8-1.9t with piston pumps or a 1.6-1.7t hire special with gear pumps. All tend to have long arms as that's whaty the UK market thinks it wants. For the extra few grand you may as well have piston pumps and a machine that's much more capable for your own priced jobs, yet still cheap enough to make some profit at paltry digger and driver hire rates.

That's a bit like all the weight classes to be fair though most machines are misleading on weight if you go by the model number. Gunners will know better but I'm sure jcb 8026 are more like 2.8 ton. I know my tak 219 with hitch and bucket is nearly 2.1 ton not 1.9 like you'd expect. It's where you need to do your homework as a lot of machines specs are quoted on base spec machines of which often very few are actually sold.

 

[Nick...]

I’ve spent last week on a jewson hire jcb,one of the new models with 600 hours on it.every panel was damaged and canopy roof and no paint on counterweight.bucket pivot was so worn I could lift side of 600 trencher up 4 inches on either side aswell making levels fun.after my 2.5 ton zero tail swing I found it horrible with a huge arse and dreadful stability too.dont think I could ever go back to one of these machines.
nick...

 

[GazCro]

What about the tekuchi 2.5t with expanding tracks as a compromise
It's not quite a 2.5 and bigger than a 1.9

TB225 Compact Excavator

The TB225 Compact Excavator features all steel construction, a spacious operator station and meets the legal towing requirements.

www.takeuchi-mfg.co.uk

Bit over budget though. I agree they could be a good compromise but i think they are quite an expensive machine

 

[Nick...]

Bit over budget though. I agree they could be a good compromise but i think they are quite an expensive machine

What sort of money are these.looking at another 2.5 ton machine at moment and volvo and kubota Just about £25k with hitch and 4buckets.
nick...

 

[doobin]

That's a bit like all the weight classes to be fair though most machines are misleading on weight if you go by the model number. Gunners will know better but I'm sure jcb 8026 are more like 2.8 ton. I know my tak 219 with hitch and bucket is nearly 2.1 ton not 1.9 like you'd expect. It's where you need to do your homework as a lot of machines specs are quoted on base spec machines of which often very few are actually sold.

Loads of base specs are sold- hire specials! But yeah, I've specced my new '1.9t' with short arm, extra counterwight and canopy. Will probably be about 1.9t but would easily have been over two if I'd specced long arm, extra counterweight and cab.

JCB quote an operating weight of 2867kg for the 8026 so would be tight to get it legal on a trailer with hitch, bucket and diesel I'm sure. But that's the same for many others in the same class.

 

[doobin]

What sort of money are these.looking at another 2.5 ton machine at moment and volvo and kubota Just about £25k with hitch and 4buckets.
nick...

About 24k when I enquired. I think they are targeting the '100% legal when towing' niche and hoping for sales to utility companies etc. Like I said, too many compromises for me.

 

[Nick...]

I think a Volvo Ecr25d comes in under 2500kg with short arm and no extra counterweight but don’t know if you can buy them as they all come with extra weight and long dipper.probably be more money for a differant build Aswell
nick...

 

[GazCro]

About 24k when I enquired. I think they are targeting the '100% legal when towing' niche and hoping for sales to utility companies etc. Like I said, too many compromises for me.

Beat me to it although I've never actually priced one i was gonna say i think they are up there price wise with "full fat" 2.5 tonners which probably makes them dear for many.

 

[doobin]

I think a Volvo Ecr25d comes in under 2500kg with short arm and no extra counterweight but don’t know if you can buy them as they all come with extra weight and long dipper.probably be more money for a differant build Aswell
nick...

The differences between the 2.5t and the 2.7t 'premium' models iare similar to between 1.7t and 1.9t with the exception of all 2t plus models having piston pumps. Much more engine power in the larger models and other upgrades.

If you mean Kubota gave you a price of 25k for a KX27-4 then that sounds a bloody good deal to me, was 27k when I was asking.

 

[Nick...]

I’m sure I’ll get shot down but I just don’t get why people love takeuchi machines.ive used plenty of them but not over keen on them but can’t say why.id not consider ever getting a price on them either.i regularly use a micro version on servos for a builder customer and I reccomended he got one over the jcb version that I hate.i like the Volvo but find the controls a bit heavy compared to others.also like the kubota but dealers seem to think you buy on product reputation.woukd like to try a hitachi but despite local dealer I’ve been promised demo machines but they never appear either.does anyone get reps visit trying to sell machines or do you have to chase them all the time.i never see reps ever.
nick...

 

[Nick...]

The differences between the 2.5t and the 2.7t 'premium' models iare similar to between 1.7t and 1.9t with the exception of all 2t plus models having piston pumps. Much more engine power in the larger models and other upgrades.

If you mean Kubota gave you a price of 25k for a KX27-4 then that sounds a bloody good deal to me, was 27k when I was asking.

It was a u27
nick...

 

[doobin]

I’m sure I’ll get shot down but I just don’t get why people love takeuchi machines.ive used plenty of them but not over keen on them but can’t say why.id not consider ever getting a price on them either.i regularly use a micro version on servos for a builder customer and I reccomended he got one over the jcb version that I hate.i like the Volvo but find the controls a bit heavy compared to others.also like the kubota but dealers seem to think you buy on product reputation.woukd like to try a hitachi but despite local dealer I’ve been promised demo machines but they never appear either.does anyone get reps visit trying to sell machines or do you have to chase them all the time.i never see reps ever.
nick...

Nobody really makes a bad machine, they all have positives and negatives. I hear you on takeuchis, it's kind of a LandRover thing in my book. Fanatical devotion and high prices from those who love them, whilst the rest of us look on bewildered from our Jap pickups. Each to their own.

A dealer doesn't give a f**k about a customer speccing up a decent owner operator machine in that weight class- they are chasing the orders of ten base spec, off the shelf models for a hire company.

 

[Furniss]

Was the machine you hired a 8026 ?

I’ve spent last week on a jewson hire jcb,one of the new models with 600 hours on it.every panel was damaged and canopy roof and no paint on counterweight.bucket pivot was so worn I could lift side of 600 trencher up 4 inches on either side aswell making levels fun.after my 2.5 ton zero tail swing I found it horrible with a huge arse and dreadful stability too.dont think I could ever go back to one of these machines.
nick...

 

[Nick...]

Was the machine you hired a 8026 ?

No it was a 15c.
nick...

 

[GazCro]

No it was a 15c.
nick...

The base spec hire special then.

 

[Russell]

my thoughts were to be able to do what I cant with a micro so remove tree stumps and 3m deep footings. Having looked at some specs im not sure 3m deep is possible with 2.7 ton. My e10 was not far off max depth the other day at about 1500mm. It would prob go a tiny bit more if lined up better but not much. Also im not sure if it would handle a 600 bucket to well. I would like to mostly work in peoples gardens because I don't like waiting for my pay, certainly not 3 months but i would be happy to work for companies that don't take the piss. To be honest I think a 2 ton machine would suit the work im likely to get and also im guessing the price is £20,000 for 2t and £30,000 for 2.7t if looking to buy new. That seams a lot of cash for a little bit more digger?

 

[GazCro]

my thoughts were to be able to do what I cant with a micro so remove tree stumps and 3m deep footings. Having looked at some specs im not sure 3m deep is possible with 2.7 ton. My e10 was not far off max depth the other day at about 1500mm. It would prob go a tiny bit more if lined up better but not much. Also im not sure if it would handle a 600 bucket to well. I would like to mostly work in peoples gardens because I don't like waiting for my pay, certainly not 3 months but i would be happy to work for companies that don't take the piss. To be honest I think a 2 ton machine would suit the work im likely to get and also im guessing the price is £20,000 for 2t and £30,000 for 2.7t if looking to buy new. That seams a lot of cash for a little bit more digger?

Don't forget there's max digging depth and realistic digging depth. Two very different things. At max depth you are practically digging under the machine you can probably knock 25% off quoted max for a realistic figure.