Best towable excavator (over next 10 -20 years)

[Stroppymonkey]

If you were to select and purchase a towable 360 machine (2.6/2.7ton) that would do about 100 hours a year and be the best balance between outlay/reliability/running cost for your own personal jobs for the next 10-20 years.... what would you do/buy?
Toying with the idea but not committed. Locally have Bobcat dealer who I like, and a Case/Wacker Nueson dealer who are decent. I quite like the idea of the WN VDS but not read much on it. What's most likely to be least hassle over the duration?
Also a few deals popping up on used kit (0-5 years old) locally for £18-24K+vat with approx 500 hours which seems interesting.

 

[doobin]

Gotta be used in the current climate. Bargains to be had.

As you will be putting very few hours on it I’d say this goes double. Let someone else take the hit on depreciation.

 

[Lee]

Just hire whatever you want, try them all and be much cheaper than owning

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Gotta be used in the current climate. Bargains to be had.

As you will be putting very few hours on it I’d say this goes double. Let someone else take the hit on depreciation.

That was my thought given the hours.

 

[JerryRtilt]

Never going to be as convenient as owning but call the local hire company, zero outlay/up to date machine/zero maintenance and just stick bit of diesel in it. Use the capital for something more productive. ?

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Just hire whatever you want, try them all and be much cheaper than owning

Probably.. but this is a passion project so is the odd half day here and there so makes hiring a nuisance as I'm on call most weekends so never know what's going to pop up.

 

[JerryRtilt]

Is there a machine on the market currently that would remain reliable for the next 10/20 years with about 100h a year use ? interesting thought ? Electric ?

 

[Storrsy]

Is there a machine on the market currently that would remain reliable for the next 10/20 years with about 100h a year use ? interesting thought ? Electric ?

Don't see why not. My 2007 tak is on 4000hrs which is low for the age, I've done 3000 of them in the last 5 years. Think the TB230 should be able to do the same without much bother, few more electrics for sure but generally the Japs know how to do that kind of thing pretty well.

 

[JerryRtilt]

Don't see why not. My 2007 tak is on 4000hrs which is low for the age, I've done 3000 of them in the last 5 years. Think the TB230 should be able to do the same without much bother, few more electrics for sure but generally the Japs know how to do that kind of thing pretty well.

Agreed, probably got to be Takeuchi or Kubota from a earlier generation, with ass few hrs. as possible.

 

[Bri963]

I know it’s a smaller machine but my K008 is a 2003 with under 3000 hrs. Now the repairs are finished I expect it to outlast me.

 

[Storrsy]

If you were to select and purchase a towable 360 machine (2.6/2.7ton) that would do about 100 hours a year and be the best balance between outlay/reliability/running cost for your own personal jobs for the next 10-20 years.... what would you do/buy?
Toying with the idea but not committed. Locally have Bobcat dealer who I like, and a Case/Wacker Nueson dealer who are decent. I quite like the idea of the WN VDS but not read much on it. What's most likely to be least hassle over the duration?
Also a few deals popping up on used kit (0-5 years old) locally for £18-24K+vat with approx 500 hours which seems interesting.

I think you've got the right idea tbh. I think machines are going to get smaller and smaller engines, more electrics etc (look at the new Cat)
Personally I really like my Takeuchis- they have all been so bloody reliable it's almost a joke. WN too small engine, put me off tbh plus their zero tail. The VDS is a pretty simple system and would definitely have it's uses but I decided I didn't actually want one myself- limited uses for my line of work and can sits higher as a result .

 

[JerryRtilt]

Don't see why not. My 2007 tak is on 4000hrs which is low for the age, I've done 3000 of them in the last 5 years. Think the TB230 should be able to do the same without much bother, few more electrics for sure but generally the Japs know how to do that kind of thing pretty well.

Assuming you can still buy diesel for it, in 20 years time, i think you will but maybe not manufactured from fossil fuels ?

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Assuming you can still buy diesel for it, in 20 years time, i think you will but maybe not manufactured from fossil fuels ?

HVO works well. Ran a few vans on it last year with no dramas.

 

[JerryRtilt]

I know it’s a smaller machine but my K008 is a 2003 with under 3000 hrs. Now the repairs are finished I expect it to outlast me.

Nice simple diesel engine with minimum of electronics to keep it running

 

[Stroppymonkey]

I think you've got the right idea tbh. I think machines are going to get smaller and smaller engines, more electrics etc (look at the new Cat)
Personally I really like my Takeuchis- they have all been so bloody reliable it's almost a joke. WN too small engine, put me off tbh plus their zero tail. The VDS is a pretty simple system and would definitely have it's uses but I decided I didn't actually want one myself- limited uses for my line of work and can sits higher as a result .

Used to use Takeuchi on hire from Eagle Plant. Liked them. What models are you looking at for pre electronic towable?

 

[Smiffy]

That size generally has little electronics.
I drive mostly Hitachi's and the current 2.6 will will run with the dashboard not working.
They are really not the best comfort wise but 100hrs a year that's unimportant. But some of the ones I've driven have been so unbelievably abused it is actually quite impressive as they still operate perfectly fine.They do thousands of hours with virtually no maintenance. Let alone grease. For a machine to keep for a long time I think they would be hard to beat.

 

[Furniss]

Kubota would be my choice in that scénario.

 

[Storrsy]

Used to use Takeuchi on hire from Eagle Plant. Liked them. What models are you looking at for pre electronic towable?

Hmm that's tricky. I have a TB228 and the older TB125 (and a 216 but we won't go there!) They're both borderline towable but can be done with the right trailer. Same as the newer TB230. On a LM106 it can just squeeze on but let's face it most of them are going to be overweight by the time you've got a full set of buckets/quick hitch. Theres the TB225 too which weighs 2.4t but a funny machine really spec wise.
Kubota KX027-4 could be another good option

 

[Lancs Lad]

If I could get one tomorrow...I'd go with what I'm familiar and punches well for it's weight...KX027 full fat
So many about that parts won't be an issue ..

 

[DaveDCB]

If I’m buying new I have to justify it by keeping for 10+ years now. In reality if you considering 20 years than depreciation isn’t really even a thing if inflation keeps at a couple of %