New to Plant talk. Probably taking the pi** with 3 questions straight away …

[Sharpy94]

Hi All!

I’m in my late 20’s and running a Groundwork and Hard Landscaping company. I am currently running a Bobcat E10 and have an Ifor Williams tipper. Have been going for three years and things seem to be going well. I am now looking to try and expand. I am constantly hiring and know I am in a position for things to pay for themselves. So would rather the money in my own pocket. Have been lurking for a while trying to find answers but am yet to find direct answers/comparisons for the following.

Bobcat E10 vs Kubota U17 - As mentioned, I currently have an E10. Which I am really happy with and handles all the gate/doorway jobs really well. But I could do with something bigger for the larger jobs. I want something in addition to the E10 but unsure what to go for. The U17 looks like a great machine but am I actually gaining enough to merit the extra money? Or should I be looking at the U27. Also open to other machine suggestions.

Tracked barrow - I have been looking at the Slanetrac as the 1ton capacity is very appealing. But from the photos the skip doesn’t actually look that much bigger and the machine itself looks a lot less manoeuvrable. I know they never actually carry the weight in soil they specify but will the Slanetrac actually handle double what one of the 500kg alternatives will?

Plant trailer - I would like something in the 3.5ton category. 3 x 1.8 meters ish. Currently looking at the Ifor GX106 or the Brian James general plant trailer. These two specifically because I want to opt for the mesh sides as I like the idea of the trailer being multi purpose. I have been quoted £4200 +vat for the ifor and £5570+vat for the Brian James. I was surprised that the Brian James was more expensive as I have always been led to believe Ifor are superior trailers. Can anyone give any advise on which way to go or share any experience with either?

Sorry to bombard with questions straight away. I will of course go to see all of the above to decide for myself. Just wondered if some of you had any help and advise to save me wasting any time. Thanks in advance for any help offered!

 

[hiluxman]

What are you hiring in the most? That may help answer your question.

 

[DaveDCB]

Welcome to the forum!

I’m sure you’ll get so many different answers that you’ll no longer know what the heck to think
I’ll only answer on what I’ve have had actual experience with.

U17 brilliant tool, but a big difference to a 2.7ton machine, they have a very short dipper to counter the zero tail swing.. all depends on your job size if your expanding and taking more work I’d go for the 2.7 size, you can load 6w wagons etc with them!

I’ve had both the gx106 and currently a gx126 with mesh sides - great trailer and very handy with the sides, altho they aren’t exactly quick fit / release, don’t think I’ve even taken them off once in 3 years! I had a custom net made to cover the top, keeps everything in the trailer not all over the road!
Sorry I can’t compare them to a brianjames.

 

[doobin]

Consider a loader rather than a 1.7t digger and the tracked barrow.

I was in your shoes at your age (not long ago, I’m 34) and now I run a lot of kit. Finance helped but probably a lot more expensive with current rates.

I would not be investing in the current climate in anything you can hire for peanuts (like a 1.7t digger)

 

[Furniss]

Regarding the u17 specifically...I own one with a few hundred hours and the slew ring is terrible ...hard to explain but if you want to slew/creep a few cms it goes with a bang and then wags about , very hard to be precise, let's what otherwise is a decent mini digger down, I've had others that are better and that includes JCB.
After that if you have a E10 and have the means to transport a 2.7t then Def go that next step up.

 

[Monkeybusiness]

If you are moving a 1.7 tonner you might as well move a 2.7 tonner, particularly if you also have a micro. It’ll get through a lot more work than the 1.7.
I’ve got a few Ifors and a Bateson (which are all excellent) as well as a Brian James plant trailer. The BJ is the only one that has snapped, several times. They are crap IME and I wouldn’t entertain another.
The Ifor GH plant trailers are the best out there but I’m not sure if there is a high side option available.

 

[Smiffy]

I don't think anyone else has mentioned that even if you particular like that class the u17 is at the smaller end of that class.
I really like them as they are so compact but reach on them feels very limited when next to something like an Hitachi zx19 which is only 200kg heavier.