Buying Advice Kubota mini excavator advice

Jamie21 · Aug 11, 2016

Having trouble deciding between a min excavator, the kubota kx040 verse the kx057. There is roughly a $15k price difference and not sure if the step up to the 057 is worth the extra money. I have a large property where I need to dig trees and stumps, trenching, small building demo, etc. any advice is appreciated. Also any differences in residual values? Thanks!

Snobdds · Aug 11, 2016

If you don't have to transport it very often...get the biggest one you can afford. If your going to be transporting it, get the smaller one. Excavators are heavy SOB.

The six way blade is nice and very handy. Either machine will do what you describe as your needs. It's just the transportation that is the factor. The 57 will need a truck and trailer that can handle that weight. The 40 can be transported on a 14K trailer, the 57 will need a 20K trailer and medium duty truck.

I love mine and would never be without an excavator. However, I bought a smaller backhoe because the excavator is kinda a pain to drag around.

mike69440 · Aug 11, 2016

Snobdds said:
If you don't have to transport it very often...get the biggest one you can afford. If your going to be transporting it, get the smaller one. Excavators are heavy SOB.

The six way blade is nice and very handy. Either machine will do what you describe as your needs. It's just the transportation that is the factor. The 57 will need a truck and trailer that can handle that weight. The 40 can be transported on a 14K trailer, the 57 will need a 20K trailer and medium duty truck.

I love mine and would never be without an excavator. However, I bought a smaller backhoe because the excavator is kinda a pain to drag around.

A 57 can be handled by a newer 1 ton and a 16K trailer. Nice size machine. Nice specs, looks sweet. Some guys haul a KX80 with a pick-up. Yes they are crazy and a Medium duty truck or 10 wheeler is safer.

4570Man · Aug 11, 2016

A friend of mine has a JD 50D mini excavator. It weighs about 11,000 pounds. He hauls it on a 11 ton capacity GN trailer behind his F-250 V10. Although it's probably over the limit, it handles it pretty good. I'd sure wouldn't haul a KX80 which is about 18,000 pounds behind a light duty truck.

mike69440 · Aug 12, 2016

4570Man said:
A friend of mine has a JD 50D mini excavator. It weighs about 11,000 pounds. He hauls it on a 11 ton capacity GN trailer behind his F-250 V10. Although it's probably over the limit, it handles it pretty good. I'd sure wouldn't haul a KX80 which is about 18,000 pounds behind a light duty truck.

One of the nice things about my Komatsu PC75UUS, steel track Hyd. Thumb and some weighty other stuff, is when someone asks to borrow it, all I say is maybe, but I run machine, you pay me, and you need to move it with at least a medium duty truck and tag trailer.

It has never ventured far from my property.

mikesee · Aug 12, 2016

I have a U55 and a KX 121. Besides the sticker price, everything is more expensive with the larger machine (i.e. Replacement Tracks). The larger machine is fantastic for pools and basements. Also keep in mind you may want more than one size bucket. Not sure what your soil conditions are like. Another difference is lift height. If you need to load anything other than a 1 ton or dumpster the larger machine is nice.

Code54 · Aug 12, 2016

Right there Miles - need to have a bucket budget setup. Got three for my machine and more than once already I wanted another size and really want a ripper!!!

Steppenwolfe · Aug 12, 2016

Why not look at the KX series, you probably don't need zero tail swing. View attachment 477402

Jamie21 · Aug 15, 2016

mikesee, the u55 vs 121..Do you see much difference with medium sized trees 8"-10" digging roots and pushing over? I've got a lot of basic trenching in medium soil and some tree clearing. Going to grab both 12" and 24" digging bucket. thanks!