Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting

   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #221  
Hoping the forum can help me make a decision on possibly purchasing a mini excavator vs. renting a machine for my projects.

I will be installing a new septic system this summer at my house (yes its permitted, yes I am able to install my own, lets please not discuss this aspect) as well as doing some stumping work, drainage work, and digging footing for a pole barn. If I buy a machine I intend to use it for a few years max and resell it. The machine I am looking at it a 8k lb Case with multiple buckets and decent shape. Cost would be around $20k for it. It is an open station and I am okay with that.

Renting a machine would run me about $2k for the week and I would likely ONLY do the sceptic and put the other projects on hold.

Do I sink $20k into a machine and do all the projects and HOPEFULLY be able to resell for close to what I paid (I understand maintance and such). Or do I just rent for a week or two and be guaranteed to spend $2k but its a pretty safe bet?

I have the cash to buy it and it wont make me broke to do so....But its also not something I intend to leave the money invested in for too long as thats a significant portion of cash.

Septic quotes are $15-20K installed for and I have a hard time spending that money on something I can do myself.

Good Morning,
Assuming you have the financial liquidity to swing the purchase interest free I would definitely do the purchase. First thing I'd do is get it outfitted with a thumb so you can grab and lift things like your stumps! A valuable lifting tool is always welcome.Any help that you can get from it will go a long way towards the investment, and should you keep it in good shape you'll get more from it's resale when you're done with it !
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #222  
An excavator will drive places a backhoe would never attempt to go. Once they do get stuck they can稚 self recover as well as a backhoe. Usually thereç—´ nothing solid enough to pull the bucket against and theyæ±*e just pretty much stranded. I have to disagree again with tipping one. Sure you can tip one track off the ground pretty easy but to go all the way on its side would take some doing. The front bucket will flip a backhoe pretty easily if you aren稚 careful. The very slow travel of the excavator is a downside. I wish someone made a faster one. They make some big ones with wheels but I致e never seen a mini in this country with wheels. An excavator is a terrible one machine show. A well equipped backhoe will destroy them at everything. But an excavator and CTL destroys the backhoe.



"An excavator is a terrible one machine show. A well equipped backhoe will destroy them at everything".
Absolutely TRUE.
Excavators are certainly nice, but they are a "one trick pony".
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #223  
Hoping the forum can help me make a decision on possibly purchasing a mini excavator vs. renting a machine for my projects.

I will be installing a new septic system this summer at my house (yes its permitted, yes I am able to install my own, lets please not discuss this aspect) as well as doing some stumping work, drainage work, and digging footing for a pole barn. If I buy a machine I intend to use it for a few years max and resell it. The machine I am looking at it a 8k lb Case with multiple buckets and decent shape. Cost would be around $20k for it. It is an open station and I am okay with that.

Renting a machine would run me about $2k for the week and I would likely ONLY do the sceptic and put the other projects on hold.

Do I sink $20k into a machine and do all the projects and HOPEFULLY be able to resell for close to what I paid (I understand maintance and such). Or do I just rent for a week or two and be guaranteed to spend $2k but its a pretty safe bet?

I have the cash to buy it and it wont make me broke to do so....But its also not something I intend to leave the money invested in for too long as thats a significant portion of cash.

Septic quotes are $15-20K installed for and I have a hard time spending that money on something I can do myself.

Buying or renting that machine is not the only alternative you can consider:
How about a much cheaper regular backhoe on tires. For under $15,000 you can get a good used one w/4w drive. It will easily do your septic work, and most of the other jobs you mentioned, Plus the powerful high lift loader bucket. It may not be as fast as a mini for some jobs, but it is easy and quick to move. No trailer needed.
I recently used mine (paid $12,000 4 years ago) to dig to the foundation of a basement wall, a big tedious job. Too big for a mini, plus I used the bucket to refill my gravel, sand and soil layers. Any trackhoe doing that work would require a second machine to move and place the new material.
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #224  
I have been in situations in the past where I have made decisions like this on a very tight schedule and in that haste made the wrong choice. Not necessarily for high ticket items like this, but for smaller equipment.

I am in the process of planning for work on an1850 home in the northeast- repairing a foundation (6-9ft deep), building a garage, doing some excavation for water drainage in the property, and gardening, maintenance to an additional 2 properties I own.

I had NEVER used an excavator myself, nor a front loader or tractor larger than a 15 to 20hp lawnmower. I did install a septic tank (1000gal) myself 3 years ago in an area that still allows this. I paid $1200 to a friend that dug the hole with a 9 bucket and a case mini excavator. I paid $1500 for the tank.

So after some research I realized that from the get go, if I purchased I would have equipment at my availability 24/7 without a concern for scheduling.

Additionally, I was concerned about the amount of wear and tear I might put on something that I would be purchasing new, and whether the amount of work that I needed to do would be more than the equipment might be able to handle.

So... I decided to go new, non excavator, and Kubota. I wanted to get the biggest backhoe I could as that would pretty much determine the overall capability of the excavation capabilities of the system.

The determination, after considering any of the implements I may need right away, was to get a Kubota MX5800 open station tractor.

But after pricing and comparison of all aspects of my age, my expected workload, and some comfort upgrades I decided on an L3560 HSTC Cab based tractor with loader with 1600+ Lb load capacity, 9? backhoe, and a 72 grapple, along with a few other used attachments like a post hole and 80 back blade.

I understand reach, depth and maneuverability is less than a full fledged excavator, but for $50,000 at no interest, I will not be dealing with rental, will not be dealing generally with downtime due to failures (generally), and will have a piece of equipment that will be multi faceted with capability over its lifetime.

Granted ... many just can稚 float $50,000 for a piece of equipment, when a $700 bill to rent will fit the budget easily. I致e also been told that used the Kubota for all those tasks may stress it, but I figure if this is what these machines are meant to do then I probably shouldn稚 be afraid to use it, instead of still renting an excavator to do the work that may max out the Kubota and experiencing the additional costs of minimizing the use of the Kubota.

So far, I知 happy with my choice, and I知 in early with the Kubota, in that I have NO money spent on renting equipment other than the contractor that installed the septic. So applying at a minimum of $700 or $800 two or 3 times a year over a 10 year period is about $25,000 in excavator rental costs. That痴 Half the cost of the Kubota.
Add the other implements I can use compared to renting (grapple, mower, back blade, post hole, work platform, bucket loader, pallet forks), well that is all easily made up in the remaining $25,000 o we 10 years. In fact I would venture to say that the incidental use of all of these additional attachments would add much more value to cost of rental comparisons over that 10 years by at least double that by the backhoe alone (compared to renting an excavator).

So I would estimate the rental value of the additional capabilities of all implements per year at about $5000. Thatç—´ about 10 rentals at $500/rental per year. Or 20 rentals at $250/rental per year which more closely relates to the many more uses per year that I actually use the tractor.

In reality I use it every couple of days for many many more things than just those already mentioned including lots of snow stacking and moving during the winter. And with the heated and cooled cab, it is just perfect for this.

As a homeowner and NOT a business user of the equipment there is a big difference in how folks will interpret this question. Hope this helps.

I have no specific projects, but had a Ford 3400 TLB for the previous 33 years, and used it as desired for many personal projects, some as short as 30 or 40 minutes.
In late 2018 I decided that I wanted a newer DEDICATED TLB to replace my then 49 year old Ford 3400 TLB.
Searched around for 8 months, until I found a 251 hour, for sale by owner, Kubota L48 TLB, outfitted with every desired extra.
I bought a 48HP machine that is in nearly new condition, with 11' dig depth, a thumb, 3pt hitch, PTO, 3 remotes, 3rd function, Q/A hoe bucket, plus diverter for loader bucket lock/unlock.
Found it in coastal Maine, just a 350 mile drive.
For 32K, I could not be more pleased!
I believe that it is likely worth more today than what I paid for it 20 months ago.
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting
  • Thread Starter
#225  
Buying or renting that machine is not the only alternative you can consider:
How about a much cheaper regular backhoe on tires. For under $15,000 you can get a good used one w/4w drive. It will easily do your septic work, and most of the other jobs you mentioned, Plus the powerful high lift loader bucket. It may not be as fast as a mini for some jobs, but it is easy and quick to move. No trailer needed.
I recently used mine (paid $12,000 4 years ago) to dig to the foundation of a basement wall, a big tedious job. Too big for a mini, plus I used the bucket to refill my gravel, sand and soil layers. Any trackhoe doing that work would require a second machine to move and place the new material.
I'm not opposed to a backhoe but most are large enough I can not tow them. Something like a Kubota l47 would be amazing and would fit the bill but also way out of my price range. A 20k dollar machine is one thing but to start stretching the budget 25-30k dollars it quickly because something I would rather not do.

I do have a b7500 and love it. The smaller size is actually pretty nice for some of the places I have to use it.
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #226  
I was going to rent a mimi excavator to repair my pond that was ruined by the company I paid to enlarge my original pond until I was quoted $900.00 a day to rent. I have a CAT backhoe but it only swings so far and I need something that will swing 360. the $900 wouldn't be so bad if I could do the job in 8 hours which is what the rental service considers a day and charge overtime past the 8 hours. I would need considerably more tha 8 hours. If I had the available cash to buy an excavator, I certainly would. I have no doubt if you buy one for 20K, keep it in decent shape and do what you need, you will recoupe your investment. I do think you might not want to sell it though.
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #227  
if i was you i would buy in a second . i first rented . then bought . between me and my brothers we have 4 mini excavators and 2 case 580 backhoes . i have 1 580... 1 john deere 15... mini ex and a 322 bobcat . i love the john deere it has a cab . so when its ****** out i go play lol . and the price to put in a septic there nuts . $200 worth of pipe if that . wild . but i think you will love it if you buy it . hope it has a thumb . so handy ... one thing . look up model see how common it is and availability for parts . my jone deer took 1 1/2 years to find drives for it . come to find out it was made by Yanmmar . good luck have fun
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #228  
If I was in your boots right now w/ a septic issue, I would definitely the "rent" a mini-excavator.
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #229  
"An excavator is a terrible one machine show. A well equipped backhoe will destroy them at everything".
Absolutely TRUE.
Excavators are certainly nice, but they are a "one trick pony".

I really have to disagree with all this. A MiniX is miles faster than a BH at virtually everything other than ground speed. I have both and the BH has not been used much since getting the Mini. .
 
   / Insight on buying a mini excavator vs renting #230  
I really have to disagree with all this. A MiniX is miles faster than a BH at virtually everything other than ground speed. I have both and the BH has not been used much since getting the Mini. .

I own a backhoe and a mini. The mini is a far better digger but the backhoe is a way more versatile tool.
 

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