About to pull the trigger on a new KX027-4 - talk me out of it!

[Furniss]

Not a lover?

Nope - surprisingly poor - noisy - savage take up on tracking - jumpy to grade with.
I know theres a few on here like theirs but mate got shut of his in shortish order and has a 3.5t now and says its still v moderate, he has a little tak and loves that.
Just got to see for yourself, I think some of it is a relative thing.

 

[Simon edwards]

Nope - surprisingly poor - noisy - savage take up on tracking - jumpy to grade with.
I know theres a few on here like theirs but mate got shut of his in shortish order and has a 3.5t now and says its still v moderate, he has a little tak and loves that.
Just got to see for yourself, I think some of it is a relative thing.

I find the tracking pretty good,way better than my old kx61 which was proper harsh.
Not the smoothest to grade with for sure but fine when you get used to it,my old Cat ( which I still have’nt changed yet due to my lorry search ) is much smoother,I feel it punches well above its weight when actually digging or moving a lot of material,feels more like a 3.5 ton machine in this aspect.
Probably is quite noisy,but I’m half deaf anyway.
I would have another one on balance ,but if I was doing a lot of towing would consider dropping back to the 027.

 

[Smiffy]

The thing is the 27u has none of the issues the 027 has. You would think they would run the same engine hydraulics and drive motors

 

[Brendan]

That looks a very good price,think I paid 32k for my standard spec in 2022.
They are a good tool though and will just about come in legal on weight with the right trailer and the buckets in the truck.

Was quoted just under £30k for a kx030 lux in Oct 2021 but couldn't deliver till Feb 2023.

Have seen prices for the dx27 at just under r30 no idea on spec and jcb 25z 28k ish

 

[Fms1]

I’ve just bought a few new kubotas and they’d all come down in price compared to a few yrs ago, i have someone that gives a keen price if anyone is interested in any kubotas

 

[Storrsy]

So I think based on what I can tell the 027-4 is just too compromised when compared to my Takeuchi. Because I have the Wacker at 2.2t which has same digging force as the Kub and actually only 35kg less lift capacity over the side at 3meters. I think back to sticking to proper 2.8t size. The whole idea behind the Wacker was meant to be that if I needed a digger with all the buckets and attachments for a day or twos work I'd take that anyway. So trying to mimic that with a slightly larger machine too is probably pointless.

 

[Storrsy]

On another note look at this lovely paint job from a 2021 doosan I passed on a walk yesterday- shocking. I could never own a doosan (or bobcat if they're the same) if this is what they're like also ridiculous step up into the cab- it's like trying to scale a tower block!

 

[Brendan]

So I think based on what I can tell the 027-4 is just too compromised when compared to my Takeuchi. Because I have the Wacker at 2.2t which has same digging force as the Kub and actually only 35kg less lift capacity over the side at 3meters. I think back to sticking to proper 2.8t size. The whole idea behind the Wacker was meant to be that if I needed a digger with all the buckets and attachments for a day or twos work I'd take that anyway. So trying to mimic that with a slightly larger machine too is probably pointless.

Looks like the Kubota is too close the wacker, is the dig depths similar too?

 

[Stroppymonkey]

So I think based on what I can tell the 027-4 is just too compromised when compared to my Takeuchi. Because I have the Wacker at 2.2t which has same digging force as the Kub and actually only 35kg less lift capacity over the side at 3meters. I think back to sticking to proper 2.8t size. The whole idea behind the Wacker was meant to be that if I needed a digger with all the buckets and attachments for a day or twos work I'd take that anyway. So trying to mimic that with a slightly larger machine too is probably pointless.

What you need is a 5 tonner and a tractor to tug it with

 

[Storrsy]

What you need is a 5 tonner and a tractor to tug it with

Don't I know it! A TB260 or ET65 like Furniss would be perfect tbh.

 

[Storrsy]

Looks like the Kubota is too close the wacker, is the dig depths similar too?

The Kubota has a more reach. But I have short dipper on the Wacker which obviously reduces it somewhat. I think I'm obsessing too much about having everything easily transportable- I have all that with the Wacker so the 2nd machine just needs to the best I can just about move around for boulder handling

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Don't I know it! A TB260 or ET65 like Furniss would be perfect tbh.

Is it something you can work towards?

 

[doobin]

The Kubota has a more reach. But I have short dipper on the Wacker which obviously reduces it somewhat. I think I'm obsessing too much about having everything easily transportable- I have all that with the Wacker so the 2nd machine just needs to the best I can just about move around for boulder handling

Agree, I'd get as big as you can tow and put the bucket/grab/grapple in the truck- more weight in the truck is always good, especially on hills.

Have you considered changing back to a more modern defender? Yours sounds like an absolutely ideal use case for a high cap or even tipper 110 with a chipped Puma engine and some airbag-inside-coils shocks. You can chuck a ton of attachments and buckets in that, put the digger in a GH1054 behind and then trundle in low range 4x4 up your greasy 1in3 inclines.

Seriously. Or just get a tractor? You're always working for farmers, and I can't think you'd be going more than 25mph average speed on your trips regardless.

 

[doobin]

What were the prices for the machines?
I was recently contacted about upgrading and quoted £34,640 plus vat for a JCB 26c "pro" with 3 year servicing and bare stick no buckets

They are now offering that for £29k including buckets but without twin aux.

Bunch of duplicitious cnts.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Agree, I'd get as big as you can tow and put the bucket/grab/grapple in the truck- more weight in the truck is always good, especially on hills.

Have you considered changing back to a more modern defender? Yours sounds like an absolutely ideal use case for a high cap or even tipper 110 with a chipped Puma engine and some airbag-inside-coils shocks. You can chuck a ton of attachments and buckets in that, put the digger in a GH1054 behind and then trundle in low range 4x4 up your greasy 1in3 inclines.

Seriously. Or just get a tractor? You're always working for farmers, and I can't think you'd be going more than 25mph average speed on your trips regardless.

And get a tractor with decent loader with 4in1 bucket on a QH... Then you can use that as well! Trailer needs to be a tipping/hooklift so you can move machines and materials with the same trailer

 

[Storrsy]

Trouble is I've been down most routes now. Had the tractor and multipurpose herdst trailer. Was a great setup and could have up to 5 tonner in the back and being able to move stone around on site- I never even owned a dumper back then and didn't really need one either- all turns up together in one job. Then tractor started throwing up big bills, the last was £8k and I thought stuff this and bought the 8t case with the idea I'd get someone else to move it- again worked ok to a degree but relying on a third party all the time- we will glaze over the duck ownership for now. But the 3tonner and wacker is a great money earning outfit for much of my work with just hiring in a 9t for occasional work so tending to try not to make mistakes again based on previous purchases.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Trouble is I've been down most routes now. Had the tractor and multipurpose herdst trailer. Was a great setup and could have up to 5 tonner in the back and being able to move stone around on site- I never even owned a dumper back then and didn't really need one either- all turns up together in one job. Then tractor started throwing up big bills, the last was £8k and I thought stuff this and bought the 8t case with the idea I'd get someone else to move it- again worked ok to a degree but relying on a third party all the time- we will glaze over the duck ownership for now. But the 3tonner and wacker is a great money earning outfit for much of my work with just hiring in a 9t for occasional work so tending to try not to make mistakes again based on previous purchases.

8k :-(

 

[Storrsy]

But I am looking at tractors and dump trailer as we speak

 

[Stroppymonkey]

But I am looking at tractors and dump trailer

This is what you need !

 

[Storrsy]

This is what you need !

Not sure if hookloader would really suit me Vs a standard tipping dump loader like the Herbst I had- would happily have one again if it wasn't for the hateful ramp design!