Backhoe Vs. 12000 LB Mini EX

[4570Man]

The biggest appeal to a backhoe is you don’t have to buy a mini x and a skid steer. Since you already have a skid steer get the mini x no question.

 

[M59]

Thanks for the 2 cents. I’m in South Dakota and staying under 26000 would be Ideal. I don’t have a CDL and have no intentions of getting one or paying the insurance for a rig that size. This is going to be a side-line gig and I want to keep the overhead low. The E60 does clock in just over 12K and if that plus the trailer puts me over 14k then I can make a slight adjustment and go for a E50 long arm or similar to shed some weight.

Curious Kitten,

This is to add some additional info about CDL/ no CDL with respect to commercial work. My earlier comment about 26,000 Lbs as the limit before CDL is a Federal Transport reg and individual states and possibly counties can make that more but not less restrictive.

I am aware of some states where a commercial plated vehicle or one used for commercial work the CDL limit is 10,000 Lbs for the pulled load or the state has limit on length of the pulled load. Go over 10,000 Lbs or the specified length and CDL is required.

Best wishes in your endeavors.

 

[Curious kitten]

SD is a heavy state. 26,000 gvwr or less be it combination or single vehicle and you are good for a non-cdl license. I was considering getting a 26,000 flatbed tow truck because the way the math works out you can legally haul heavier loads that way then your typical 14,000 trailer would allow. About 8 or 9K actual truck weight leaves about 17,000 of hauling capacity.

Ultimately like just want to invest in one piece of equipment and keep it simple though.

I kind of scoped out these M59s and maybe that's the ticket. buy a 60' skid steer trencher for the front and I might be the first call from the rural water folks for repairs and shorter run installs

 

[4570Man]

SD is a heavy state. 26,000 gvwr or less be it combination or single vehicle and you are good for a non-cdl license. I was considering getting a 26,000 flatbed tow truck because the way the math works out you can legally haul heavier loads that way then your typical 14,000 trailer would allow. About 8 or 9K actual truck weight leaves about 17,000 of hauling capacity.

Ultimately like just want to invest in one piece of equipment and keep it simple though.

I kind of scoped out these M59s and maybe that's the ticket. buy a 60' skid steer trencher for the front and I might be the first call from the rural water folks for repairs and shorter run installs

I used to have a M59 and found it to be vastly inferior to the skid steer and mini x that I have now. And my mini x is a KX-040, not as big as the bobcat 60.

 

[M59]

SD is a heavy state. 26,000 gvwr or less be it combination or single vehicle and you are good for a non-cdl license. I was considering getting a 26,000 flatbed tow truck because the way the math works out you can legally haul heavier loads that way then your typical 14,000 trailer would allow. About 8 or 9K actual truck weight leaves about 17,000 of hauling capacity.

Ultimately like just want to invest in one piece of equipment and keep it simple though.

I kind of scoped out these M59s and maybe that's the ticket. buy a 60' skid steer trencher for the front and I might be the first call from the rural water folks for repairs and shorter run installs

Well glad to hear SD is a heavy state. Excellent news. A flat bed is also an excellent idea as I have seen flatbeds used for hauling M59 and the like. A friend needed my M59 so he had it hauled on flatbed BUT problem is the tractor now sits pretty high off road and the top of the boom is really high. Never did that again. Flatbeds are too long for the hills, valleys, and twist roads in Blue Ridge mountains of NC.

I too want to run a SSQA trencher off the front BUT the hydraulic flow on M59 is controlled thru a electrical solenoid on FEL stick which will burn out out from continuously holding in on position. One option is a PTO driven hydraulic pump/ reservoir with 2 hydraulic lines running forward to trencher. Cost for a 15/ 20 gpm system is $8K.

One of my projects is figuring out how to run the existing hydraulic output of 15/ 20 gpm to the front using mechanical valves since the M59 dedicated pump for implements has output of 16 gpm at 3K psi if memory serves.

While I have a great deal of respect for my fellow Tennessean ( I live in Knoxville), 4570man and I are going to disagree on M59 vs KX 040. For a all around working machine, the TLB have more tools to work with. My next machines are a KX 080 and a dozer to make those jobs easier/ more efficient where they excel.

 

[4570Man]

Well glad to hear SD is a heavy state. Excellent news. A flat bed is also an excellent idea as I have seen flatbeds used for hauling M59 and the like. A friend needed my M59 so he had it hauled on flatbed BUT problem is the tractor now sits pretty high off road and the top of the boom is really high. Never did that again. Flatbeds are too long for the hills, valleys, and twist roads in Blue Ridge mountains of NC.

I too want to run a SSQA trencher off the front BUT the hydraulic flow on M59 is controlled thru a electrical solenoid on FEL stick which will burn out out from continuously holding in on position. One option is a PTO driven hydraulic pump/ reservoir with 2 hydraulic lines running forward to trencher. Cost for a 15/ 20 gpm system is $8K.

One of my projects is figuring out how to run the existing hydraulic output of 15/ 20 gpm to the front using mechanical valves since the M59 dedicated pump for implements has output of 16 gpm at 3K psi if memory serves.

While I have a great deal of respect for my fellow Tennessean ( I live in Knoxville), 4570man and I are going to disagree on M59 vs KX 040. For a all around working machine, the TLB have more tools to work with. My next machines are a KX 080 and a dozer to make those jobs easier/ more efficient where they excel.

There’s no way I’d spend 8k for a pto power unit in addition to the cost of the trencher itself. You can buy a pretty nice ride on trencher for that money. If you were dedicated to trenching with the M59 why wouldn’t you just buy a pto trencher and run it from the rear? I think you’d have more power and the advantage of driving forward and about 1/3 the cost. While it’s obvious the mini excavator needs a skid steer to work alongside it the mini x and skid steer even with just one operator is WAY more productive. Add a second operator so both machines can run and it’s not even in the same league. The M59 makes a great homeowner machine but it’s really not of the same durability as the skid steer and mini and it’s not even close to as productive as the skid steer and mini.

 

[LouNY]

One advantage to a rubber tired hoe is it can be roaded, no trailer needed at times.

 

[M59]

There’s no way I’d spend 8k for a pto power unit in addition to the cost of the trencher itself. You can buy a pretty nice ride on trencher for that money. If you were dedicated to trenching with the M59 why wouldn’t you just buy a pto trencher and run it from the rear? I think you’d have more power and the advantage of driving forward and about 1/3 the cost. While it’s obvious the mini excavator needs a skid steer to work alongside it the mini x and skid steer even with just one operator is WAY more productive. Add a second operator so both machines can run and it’s not even in the same league. The M59 makes a great homeowner machine but it’s really not of the same durability as the skid steer and mini and it’s not even close to as productive as the skid steer and mini.

4570man,

Your spot on regarding the SSQA trencher run from PTO hydraulic system and is sole reason my longer term project is finding method to route existing very suitable pump flow capacity to the FEL via a mechanical valve. I foolishly did not buy the 3 point hitch PTO driven 48" six wide trencher in late 2020 when it was in stock and $7K. Now they are 9-11K for Bradco or Virnig and 6 months delivery. I don't buy stuff when price is ludicrous. We will respecfully agree to disagree on some of the other points.

 

[4570Man]

One advantage to a rubber tired hoe is it can be roaded, no trailer needed at times.

If you’re a hobby user that doesn’t have the equipment to haul a backhoe that’s kinda nice but when you have the truck and trailer hooked up and it takes 5 minutes or less to load it that’s not a big deal anymore.

 

[M59]

If you’re a hobby user that doesn’t have the equipment to haul a backhoe that’s kinda nice but when you have the truck and trailer hooked up and it takes 5 minutes or less to load it that’s not a big deal anymore.

4570man,

You need to show me how to load and strap down equipment because best I can do when loading the M59 onto 26 foot flat bed is about 30 minutes before I'm ready to move down the road.