Best towable excavator (over next 10 -20 years)

[DaveDCB]

That would have bought a 5 tonner not so long ago

In 2016 to be precise…….

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Bobcat E27Z with manual QH and 3 buckets is 32K+vat with a January price rise coming. 10% down and 36months at £800pcm.
I'll be passing that opportunity up.

 

[doobin]

Bobcat E27Z with manual QH and 3 buckets is 32K+vat with a January price rise coming. 10% down and 36months at £800pcm.
I'll be passing that opportunity up.

I wouldn’t trust anything bobcat tell you re pricing. Always pressure selling. They’ll be dropping prices soon as they get desperate.


Pricks were trying for 38k for an E27 at the height of covid, dropped it to 33.5k as a ‘special one off for a loyal customer’ when I said they must be joking.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

My neighbour who has the 2.6t is possibly looking to change his at some point as he gets bored and changes every few years. 2014 Kubota 61/3 with 2500ish hours. 30hp? 4cyl. Long dipper. Tilt grading bucket (newish) / thumb/ grapple (newish) / 2 x riddle buckets and 5 other buckets./Tilt grading beam/ Still on original tracks. 3rd owner, not ex hire. Guessing about 16K to 17k plus vat for a next door machine?

 

[Storrsy]

My neighbour who has the 2.6t is possibly looking to change his at some point as he gets bored and changes every few years. 2014 Kubota 61/3 with 2500ish hours. 30hp? 4cyl. Long dipper. Tilt grading bucket (newish) / thumb/ grapple (newish) / 2 x riddle buckets and 5 other buckets./Tilt grading beam/ Still on original tracks. 3rd owner, not ex hire. Guessing about 16K to 17k plus vat for a next door machine?

Personally I'd snap that up at £16k if it's an owner op machine with low hours. That's alot of machine and attachments for the money. I bought my TB228 similar age and slightly less hours for £16k back in the summer, only standard buckets though. No regrets at all. New machines are still silly money.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Personally I'd snap that up at £16k if it's an owner op machine with low hours. That's alot of machine and attachments for the money. I bought my TB228 similar age and slightly less hours for £16k back in the summer, only standard buckets though. No regrets at all. New machines are still silly money.

2300 hours. Couple of knocks and 2 cylinders weeping, but if it had a good wash it would be respectable. Watching a few on Ebay and prices definitely deflating. Hes not interested in selling right now, but was keen to show me the machine and talk about prices, so I think he has the itch!

 

[doobin]

2300 hours. Couple of knocks and 2 cylinders weeping, but if it had a good wash it would be respectable. Watching a few on Ebay and prices definitely deflating. Hes not interested in selling right now, but was keen to show me the machine and talk about prices, so I think he has the itch!

There’s a newer and tidier kx27 near me for the same money. I know the guy selling.

 

[DaveDCB]

Personally I'd snap that up at £16k if it's an owner op machine with low hours. That's alot of machine and attachments for the money. I bought my TB228 similar age and slightly less hours for £16k back in the summer, only standard buckets though. No regrets at all. New machines are still silly money.

I remember selling my 2.5 tonner for 5.5k same kinda hours… no leaks! It was 10 years ago mindyou!

 

[Storrsy]

There’s a newer and tidier kx27 near me for the same money. I know the guy selling.

Yeah they're definitely dropping. When I was looking back in early summer I really couldnt find a decent 027 for much less than £20k.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

There’s a newer and tidier kx27 near me for the same money. I know the guy selling.

Now that I am looking... there are a lot of Kubota 2.6-2.7t about. However a local machine+Tilt grader+grapple+thumb+tilt beam+5 buckets would help swing it for me..

 

[SatS]

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 own a KX027-4, which is a fantastic machine. It's worth noting that it nearly reaches the maximum allowable weight limit when loaded on a trailer with a couple of buckets, so one needs to be cautious. Do you have a secure and dry location for storage?

 

[Stroppymonkey]

I own a KX027-4, which is a fantastic machine. It's worth noting that it nearly reaches the maximum allowable weight limit when loaded on a trailer with a couple of buckets, so one needs to be cautious. Do you have a secure and dry location for storage?

Thanks for the feedback.
Yes storage indoors would be the plan... My E10 has been outside parked on various small jobs since August as I have rented my container - and it has noticeably aged :-( . Towing weight limits isn't observed much round here, but I am fairly careful. My Dmax has an open back so I tend to heave weight in there if needs be. Its got a few war wounds so not scared of loading it. Basically I have reached stage of life where I am lucky to have some savings for a rainy day/illness (kids all up and gone) and feel that putting some of them into used machine (with good/easy resale value/low devaluation) that can be useful and possibly earn the odd ££) might be a sensible idea. I feel like prices are still dropping so will keep my powder dry for a while.

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Yeah they're definitely dropping. When I was looking back in early summer I really couldnt find a decent 027 for much less than £20k.

Million dollar question - where and when will be the bottom? @Regy53 ?

 

[Lancs Lad]

Million dollar question - where and when will be the bottom? @Regy53 ?

That...is a question and a half...I hope I'm wrong but I've got an impending feeling of doom for the near future...can't shake it off ...so many things just propped up .
My dad said the other day groundworks the first area where the sh*t hits the fan

 

[Stroppymonkey]

That...is a question and a half...I hope I'm wrong but I've got an impending feeling of doom for the near future...can't shake it off ...so many things just propped up .
My dad said the other day groundworks the first area where the sh*t hits the fan

Architects usually first - And I know a couple that have got very empty books.

 

[Regy53]

Million dollar question - where and when will be the bottom? @Regy53 ?

Its hard to know, its not so much a falling knife anymore most of the drops have happened, we see some prices have stabilised or they are a few examples of things going up since the summer.

The main issue is we cannot see a route to market with kit. There is so little export market unless stuff is very cheap.
The next issue is the amount of fresh kit for sale is a huge change from the last 3 years where you couldnt get anything.

If you have a 2021 plate or newer the compition is manufactures with 0% finance 3 years warranty etc etc etc

 

[Giles]

That...is a question and a half...I hope I'm wrong but I've got an impending feeling of doom for the near future...can't shake it off ...so many things just propped up .
My dad said the other day groundworks the first area where the sh*t hits the fan

A lot of landscapers on the facebooks groups whinging about no work, I’m getting 3-5 calls a week from lads looking for work wasn’t happening last year

 

[Giles]

Now that I am looking... there are a lot of Kubota 2.6-2.7t about. However a local machine+Tilt grader+grapple+thumb+tilt beam+5 buckets would help swing it for me..

3-5k of attachments with it so good buy

 

[SatS]

Now that I am looking... there are a lot of Kubota 2.6-2.7t about. However a local machine+Tilt grader+grapple+thumb+tilt beam+5 buckets would help swing it for me..

If you are seriously interested in the KX027-4 then try and hold out for the hi-spec model because it has an extra aux circuit factory fitted. If you do ever decide to upgrade to a rotating grapple/grab then you will need this or you will need to pipe in a new circuit -- the issue with this is that the KX027-4 does not have a servo that can just be tapped into so you end up compromising -- this is what i had to do

 

[Furniss]

Thanks for the feedback.
Yes storage indoors would be the plan... My E10 has been outside parked on various small jobs since August as I have rented my container - and it has noticeably aged :-( . Towing weight limits isn't observed much round here, but I am fairly careful. My Dmax has an open back so I tend to heave weight in there if needs be. Its got a few war wounds so not scared of loading it. Basically I have reached stage of life where I am lucky to have some savings for a rainy day/illness (kids all up and gone) and feel that putting some of them into used machine (with good/easy resale value/low devaluation) that can be useful and possibly earn the odd ££) might be a sensible idea. I feel like prices are still dropping so will keep my powder dry for a while.

On the Kx61 - im guessing all tilting will be off the pedal on hammer circuit