New digger for light use wanted

[Diggerwanter]

Hey everyone,
Been reading here a while now so thought i’d finally make a profile.

Simple question

I do light work, one man job, home use type work. i had a lovely old Kubota RW25 front and back hoe. Wish i’d never got rid.
Anyway now i need a digger max 3t and that’s extreme for what i need.
Do i buy a decent used? as they like rocking horse crap, or look at these newer chinese machines? obviously it doesn’t earn me a wage really so don’t want to spend big, 10k maybe, but want something i don’t have to worry about other than grease and a service. What do you guys recommend? or who to buy from ?
I know this is a tiresome post but all help and experience would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[DaveDCB]

Don’t go Chinese….
Plenty of choice if you look around, don’t you have afew in @Regy53 ?

 

[Diggerwanter]

Don’t go Chinese….
Plenty of choice if you look around, don’t you have afew in @Regy53 ?

I have just been looking at some of the chinese ones…. 2700£ (before tax) off Ali.Express i wish i had the money to buy you just for fun but……
There most be break through brands that have been around a couple of years that have been tested…. Leking i saw but pictures on the interweb.
Thanks for answering

 

[Storrsy]

I have just been looking at some of the chinese ones…. 2700£ (before tax) off Ali.Express i wish i had the money to buy you just for fun but……
There most be break through brands that have been around a couple of years that have been tested…. Leking i saw but pictures on the interweb.
Thanks for answering

It's a false economy. They'll be worth scrap money 2nd hand, absolutely no backup or parts available, terrible to operate. There are some Chinese brands which have become fairly decent but probably not in the second hand market so much and new price wise they aren't a million miles behind Jap stuff like Hitachi anyway. Buy a decent used well known brand- should be able to get a nice older example for around £10k. It will always be worth good money if you want to get rid ever and will actually be quite a pleasant ownership too.

 

[Bri963]

I have just been looking at some of the chinese ones…. 2700£ (before tax) off Ali.Express i wish i had the money to buy you just for fun but……
There most be break through brands that have been around a couple of years that have been tested…. Leking i saw but pictures on the interweb.
Thanks for answering

I can’t wait to see the comments if you post on here that you’ve bought a Leking excavator.

 

[6feetdown]

Where's the guy who asked the question a month back had a lesser budget and due to some helpful comments blew his budget on a Hitachi

 

[Diggerwanter]

I would obviously like a kubota but… having used their commercial and home mowers for 20 odd years, i’ve seen a big drop off in quality and innovation, to the point they still pushing out the same things, but the likes of Etesia, Ferris and Iseki have flown past them in quality and literally cutting and collecting grass, so wondered what is challenging Kubota diggers, obviously the quality will be good, my own google research is next to useless so was interested in what people are using that’s different

 

[Storrsy]

I would obviously like a kubota but… having used their commercial and home mowers for 20 odd years, i’ve seen a big drop off in quality and innovation, to the point they still pushing out the same things, but the likes of Etesia, Ferris and Iseki have flown past them in quality and literally cutting and collecting grass, so wondered what is challenging Kubota diggers, obviously the quality will be good, my own google research is next to useless so was interested in what people are using that’s different

There isnt that much different really accross the majority brands. Some features may be favourable over another another brand but basically they're all much of a muchness. In fact in the last 10 years I don't think much has changed at all around mini diggers that would be classed as a game changer. All I'd say is be wary about a cheap Chinese digger as they just that- designed to entice the single use mentality of people not looking past the purchase price.

 

[V8Druid]

no one seems to have picked up on @Diggerwanter 's desire for up to a 3 tonner ... although thinner on the ground, they'm not so desirable, due to transport issues ... have seen some half decent 3t machines for not a lot more than say 2.3s /2.7s

 

[Furniss]

I would obviously like a kubota but… having used their commercial and home mowers for 20 odd years, i’ve seen a big drop off in quality and innovation, to the point they still pushing out the same things, but the likes of Etesia, Ferris and Iseki have flown past them in quality and literally cutting and collecting grass, so wondered what is challenging Kubota diggers, obviously the quality will be good, my own google research is next to useless so was interested in what people are using that’s different

I agree that Kubota seem to have been resting on their laurels ... bit random maybe but it seems to be the the same in the motorcycle industry/sport as in at one time Japan led the world in innovation and performance and now they are way behind ducati/aprilia/ktm from europe reflected in motogp and their road bikes, in the main they are a bit average with odd exceptions.

 

[Diggerwanter]

Can someone point me in the direction of a decent plant sales business? Talk to people honestly and they keep trying to have my pants down. Was looking at one guy no names mentioned, had 3 kubota, told him i’m a just after a home digger, on phone whilst looking at the website, put the prices of the diggers up (all 3) by 2k plus 400 quid delivery for 46 miles!

 

[pettsy]

I’ve bought a couple of bits of kit from forum owner Ross @ Sandhill Plant. Very straightforward, open and honest. Not sure he’ll have anything in your price range but always worth an ask! @Regy53

 

[Smiffy]

Can someone point me in the direction of a decent plant sales business? Talk to people honestly and they keep trying to have my pants down. Was looking at one guy no names mentioned, had 3 kubota, told him i’m a just after a home digger, on phone whilst looking at the website, put the prices of the diggers up (all 3) by 2k plus 400 quid delivery for 46 miles!

Putting up prices is well off but 46 miles realistically is half a days work. If they are running a lorry then realistically it is 400 quid.

 

[Diggerwanter]

Hi all, now have a better understanding of delivery costs, sorry if that offended, it was a guy bringing it down on a trailer who lived nearby, they told me that before hand hence why i was a little surprised.
But moving on i hope.
So i have had to significantly up my budget and would like your advice please,
It’s for home projects but having spoken to some of my mowing clients to see if they have any work ditching etc ( i do rough cutting, brambles etc and often clear up to ditches then repeat the next year as they can’t get anyone interested in clearing them)
So can justify the budget increase (in my head ) and even talked the long haired boss round.
So choice of
jcb 8026cts 2021 from JCB dealer, 650hrs 25k
kubota U27-4 2019 ex hire 2600hrs 23k
Cat 302.7D CR not found yet
Takeuchi TB230 2019 1200hrs auto hitch 24k
Obviously like to find one a bit cheaper…. these are just some i have found, i like the jcb its very tidy and main dealer so would like to think it’ll be reliable.
Any others i should look out for? hope you can help please its a full time obsession at the moment. Been out testing machines, set on a 2.5-2.9t
appreciate the help guys

 

[Smiffy]

Someone on here recently got a really good deal on a 1.7t Hitachi. It might be worth seeing if they have any zx26u for sale

 

[Diggerwanter]

no one seems to have picked up on @Diggerwanter 's desire for up to a 3 tonner ... although thinner on the ground, they'm not so desirable, due to transport issues ... have seen some half decent 3t machines for not a lot more than say 2.3s /2.7s

 

[Diggerwanter]

not sure why this reposted.

i have just fired off a couple of emails about ZX33U-6 hitachi. Might be a bit pricey but great reviews.

 

[Smiffy]

not sure why this reposted.

i have just fired off a couple of emails about ZX33U-6 hitachi. Might be a bit pricey but great reviews.

Problem is you need a lorry to move them.

 

[Diggerwanter]

Problem is you need a lorry to move them.

Have the licence to tow, so i have to get 2.5-2.7 sorry for noob ramblings

 

[Smiffy]

Have the licence to tow, so i have to get 2.5-2.7 sorry for noob ramblings

I think the biggest machine you can tow is the 3t Kubota. The zx33 is over 3.5t by itself before you add a trailer. The zx26u is suitable for trailer towing and is a good machine. Not the best in it's class but if the deals available for it are anything like it's smaller brothers then it will be a very good contender