Looking for a 1.5t mini digger (and any advice)

[Lffsam]

Hi all, newbie here, have made my intro, please be gentle lol.

I live in central France (born and bred in West Yorkshire). Looking for a 1.5t mini digger. I am fed up of looking at overpriced ancient diggers here in France. So after reading a thread on here regarding the same subject, decided to explore buying one in the UK ( have exported / imported lots of cars/boats/tractor pre Brexit, nothing since).

Found a thread recommending George White for the export/transport, called and spoke to Mick, very happy with his price and advice, so am now actively seeking a digger.

Plenty of scams advertised, some good looking machines at dealers. Have spoken to a couple, but they seem to have little interest in selling to a private individual who wants to export (ie no VAT). I have explained that my transporter will supply the relevant export paperwork, but little response.

So I am looking for a machine up to £8k (+ VAT), around 1.5t, would like a quick hitch, 2 digging buckets + grader, expanding tracks would be good, as would some history. The right machine is more important to me than age or beauty.

I have looked at the specs and reviews of most of the well known manufacturers in this category, but have no experience except a couple of self drive hires locally (Volvo EC15 and an Hitachi???).

So if anyone knows of anything that might suit, or has any (helpful ) suggestions, I am all ears. I will be in the UK from 7-18th June and an looking to buy something in this time period.

I have looked at the forum owners website, but unfortunately nothing in my price range.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Diggerdave]

Hi all, newbie here, have made my intro, please be gentle lol.

I live in central France (born and bred in West Yorkshire). Looking for a 1.5t mini digger. I am fed up of looking at overpriced ancient diggers here in France. So after reading a thread on here regarding the same subject, decided to explore buying one in the UK ( have exported / imported lots of cars/boats/tractor pre Brexit, nothing since).

Found a thread recommending George White for the export/transport, called and spoke to Mick, very happy with his price and advice, so am now actively seeking a digger.

Plenty of scams advertised, some good looking machines at dealers. Have spoken to a couple, but they seem to have little interest in selling to a private individual who wants to export (ie no VAT). I have explained that my transporter will supply the relevant export paperwork, but little response.

So I am looking for a machine up to £8k (+ VAT), around 1.5t, would like a quick hitch, 2 digging buckets + grader, expanding tracks would be good, as would some history. The right machine is more important to me than age or beauty.

I have looked at the specs and reviews of most of the well known manufacturers in this category, but have no experience except a couple of self drive hires locally (Volvo EC15 and an Hitachi???).

So if anyone knows of anything that might suit, or has any (helpful ) suggestions, I am all ears. I will be in the UK from 7-18th June and an looking to buy something in this time period.

I have looked at the forum owners website, but unfortunately nothing in my price range.

Thanks in anticipation.

I personally would recommend a 1.8 or so tonner with the expanding undercarriage. Much better than a standard 1.5t. Bobcat, hitachi, kubota or takeuchi are all very good.
You should find something fairly decent for 8k plus vat I should think.
Keep looking, one will come up .

 

[Storrsy]

I personally would recommend a 1.8 or so tonner with the expanding undercarriage. Much better than a standard 1.5t. Bobcat, hitachi, kubota or takeuchi are all very good.
You should find something fairly decent for 8k plus vat I should think.
Keep looking, one will come up .

There's quite a few cabless models around at that money- although they do tend to me ex utility/hire fleet and as such not had the kindest life.

 

[V8Druid]

any particular reason for the stated size choice ?? - this could be an awesome choice for lake work

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[pettsy]

Give Ross at Sandhill a call or private message ( @Regy53 ) as I don’t think the website is always up to date with current stock.

 

[Lffsam]

Wow, thanks all for your welcome and response! I have a 1.5t trailer gross which will be overloaded with a 1.5, but it will only be going 5 km in rural France at lunch time, so hardly be likely to pass another car, hence my reasoning! I have a gaylander 2 to tow it with.

I will contact Regi, but didn't feel comfortable being a newbie, glad to hear he may have other stock available..

I would prefer a cables model as most of my work will be in the warmer months and it can get bloody warm here, but conversely cold in the winter!

Would much prefer an owner operator than ex hire for obvious reasons, but keep talking to me ..... Your input will be invaluable .

 

[doobin]

Wow, thanks all for your welcome and response! I have a 1.5t trailer gross which will be overloaded with a 1.5, but it will only be going 5 km in rural France at lunch time, so hardly be likely to pass another car, hence my reasoning! I have a gaylander 2 to tow it with.

I will contact Regi, but didn't feel comfortable being a newbie, glad to hear he may have other stock available..

I would prefer a cables model as most of my work will be in the warmer months and it can get bloody warm here, but conversely cold in the winter!

Would much prefer an owner operator than ex hire for obvious reasons, but keep talking to me ..... Your input will be invaluable .

A bigger trailer is cheap compared to a life of misery with a pathetically small digger.

 

[Lffsam]

There are a few reasons I decided to go for a smaller machine. One bank of the lake is so wet, that it wobbles like jelly. I think I will have to use "crawling boards" even with a small digger. It's the bank where the access is so I can not even go around it.
The rules in France are draconian. Trailers over 750kg have to be registered, have their own insurance, towing train weight on a normal licence is 4250kg ( my hgv has lapsed, need a medical). Then there is the cost. Stupid money here for a 3t plant trailer. I could import one, but that would need reams of paperwork, just the same as a car ( certificate of conformity, or certs for axle, brakes, drawbar and hitch), then a visit to the DREAL ( ministry of transport) for inspection, then import fees, vat and registration fee. I would also need a larger tow vehicle. The local roads are tiny and as the Freelander is my daily driver, I don't really want to go any bigger.
I know that hire is my best option, but the nearest hire place is around 30 miles away, delivery and hire isn't cheap, €100 delivery and collection and €150-250 a day depending on the size of machine. The local places are usually booked up well in advance. I need the digger in dribs and drabs as it's just the two of us with lots of other commitments. Hope this explains my reasoning for a smaller machine.

 

[Smiffy]

There are a few reasons I decided to go for a smaller machine. One bank of the lake is so wet, that it wobbles like jelly. I think I will have to use "crawling boards" even with a small digger. It's the bank where the access is so I can not even go around it.
The rules in France are draconian. Trailers over 750kg have to be registered, have their own insurance, towing train weight on a normal licence is 4250kg ( my hgv has lapsed, need a medical). Then there is the cost. Stupid money here for a 3t plant trailer. I could import one, but that would need reams of paperwork, just the same as a car ( certificate of conformity, or certs for axle, brakes, drawbar and hitch), then a visit to the DREAL ( ministry of transport) for inspection, then import fees, vat and registration fee. I would also need a larger tow vehicle. The local roads are tiny and as the Freelander is my daily driver, I don't really want to go any bigger.
I know that hire is my best option, but the nearest hire place is around 30 miles away, delivery and hire isn't cheap, €100 delivery and collection and €150-250 a day depending on the size of machine. The local places are usually booked up well in advance. I need the digger in dribs and drabs as it's just the two of us with lots of other commitments. Hope this explains my reasoning for a smaller machine.

How often do you return to the UK ??
My dad had several friends with houses in the south and they kept a car registered in the UK that they would use with a English trailer. But they returned relatively often. With the trailer too.

 

[Lffsam]

Thanks for your reply Smiffy. Brexit changed all the rules. When I re- enter France, I now have to show my residency card, to avoid getting my passport stamped, and applying the 90 day rule. If I am in a UK plated car questions will be asked. I would also have to temporarily import the digger, which has time constraints. It's all so complicated now. Pre Brexit I used to regularly import speed boats and cars for resale, making a tidy profit. Sadly that ship has sailed lol.

 

[V8Druid]

There are a few reasons I decided to go for a smaller machine. One bank of the lake is so wet, that it wobbles like jelly. I think I will have to use "crawling boards" even with a small digger. It's the bank where the access is so I can not even go around it.
The rules in France are draconian. Trailers over 750kg have to be registered, have their own insurance, towing train weight on a normal licence is 4250kg ( my hgv has lapsed, need a medical). Then there is the cost. Stupid money here for a 3t plant trailer. I could import one, but that would need reams of paperwork, just the same as a car ( certificate of conformity, or certs for axle, brakes, drawbar and hitch), then a visit to the DREAL ( ministry of transport) for inspection, then import fees, vat and registration fee. I would also need a larger tow vehicle. The local roads are tiny and as the Freelander is my daily driver, I don't really want to go any bigger.
I know that hire is my best option, but the nearest hire place is around 30 miles away, delivery and hire isn't cheap, €100 delivery and collection and €150-250 a day depending on the size of machine. The local places are usually booked up well in advance. I need the digger in dribs and drabs as it's just the two of us with lots of other commitments. Hope this explains my reasoning for a smaller machine.

buy a bigger machine and develop a relationship with a local famer to shift it with traccy and trailer

 

[Lffsam]

I am have pretty close relationships with 3 local farmers and we do try and help each other out. It's a real community spirit here, although we are "roast beef" . The thought had crossed my mind, but I come back to the soggy bank and the weight of the machine.
What's your opinion? Even my ride on mower gets stuck! Once the drainage work is done it will be fine to use a bigger machine, and a bigger machine would be far more useful at home on the land.
I only anticipate keeping the digger for 2 or 3 years and feel that the resale of a larger digger may be more problematic, there seems to be huge interest in something that can be towed within the regs of ordinary licence holders.
Decisions decisions ........

 

[Lancs Lad]

@Furniss might have some input?

 

[Storrsy]

I am have pretty close relationships with 3 local farmers and we do try and help each other out. It's a real community spirit here, although we are "roast beef" . The thought had crossed my mind, but I come back to the soggy bank and the weight of the machine.
What's your opinion? Even my ride on mower gets stuck! Once the drainage work is done it will be fine to use a bigger machine, and a bigger machine would be far more useful at home on the land.
I only anticipate keeping the digger for 2 or 3 years and feel that the resale of a larger digger may be more problematic, there seems to be huge interest in something that can be towed within the regs of ordinary licence holders.
Decisions decisions ........

A larger machine doesn't necessarily sink quicker. Bigger tracks etc and they have better ground clearance once you get away from expanding tracks. But if you intend on moving it around with a Freelander than obviously rather limited

 

[Lffsam]

We always used to say "experience is the best master" in my job, sadly I don't have much in digger land lol, so all your input is greatly received ! I do have a tractor of my own, although it's an old I H 454, which I think is about 2.5t, it's not road registered though it's only a short hop from home to the lake. Maybe it's time for a rethink ....... I don't want to kill the Freelander as it's my daily driver, high mileage and manual.

 

[doobin]

We always used to say "experience is the best master" in my job, sadly I don't have much in digger land lol, so all your input is greatly received ! I do have a tractor of my own, although it's an old I H 454, which I think is about 2.5t, it's not road registered though it's only a short hop from home to the lake. Maybe it's time for a rethink ....... I don't want to kill the Freelander as it's my daily driver, high mileage and manual.

A larger machine doesn't necessarily sink quicker. Bigger tracks etc and they have better ground clearance once you get away from expanding tracks. But if you intend on moving it around with a Freelander than obviously rather limited

This. I’d find an old 3.5t machine and a suitable cheap agri trailer for your tractor.

Why do you need to move the digger all the time? I’d leave it at the lake

 

[Lffsam]

My house and 20 acres are about 5 miles from my lake. There is work for the digger at both locations, though once the lake is "done" it will only be upkeep of the ditches once a year.
Driveway, very large "pond" (not big enough to call a lake), drainage etc to do at home. I won't be moving the digger regularly.
Crime is not a problem here, but I would prefer to keep the digger at home for maintenance and shelter.
Thanks doobin, this is all food for thought

 

[Furniss]

@Furniss might have some input?

I would go 2.5t, so much more useful than 1.5t imo - for the times you move it it will be fine, wouldn't get something too banged up, even though it's not what it was you will still buy/import use it for a few years and make a few quid when its time to sell, thats if you buy right and look after it somewhat.

Don't really have the contacts for transport anymore, one owner op retired and other firm I used not interested in single units.

There is no import duty on used plant if you have correct paperwork/code etc.

French love a Kubota - kx61 would be a great shout, bombproof/movable and plenty of spares over here.

This outfit are good fore spares like tracks/sprockets/rollers etc by the time you've bought from UK (if shipping) it's better to buy here.

I would stick with 2.5t size - much easier to sell on at good money.

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[CPS]

I think you'll find a 1.5 ton to small for what you want to do. For lake maintenance you will be at full reach, and stability will be an issue, especially with a grading bucket full of heavy wet slop.
Definitely be thinking 3 or 4 ton machine.. in fact that machine with the extending dipper would be a great machine for that job.

Move it with a tractor or local farmer for a bottle of wine

 

[Lffsam]

Many thanks all for your council. I am going to look at a bigger option, speak with my transporter, do my homework, and talk to the locals about transport g it to and from the lake. Enjoy your Sunday. The sun is shining here, we are off to the lake for a bbq .