Backhoe Vs. 12000 LB Mini EX

[M59]

This is your real advantage. Those guys are not your competition, and in fact can probably help you.

We built our side business with guys like that. Telling them, "If people ask you to do a job that's too small for you, don't tell them no. Give them my number."

People in general want to be helpful. Rather than say "no", It's much better for them to say, "I can't do it, but George can and here is his number."

You can return the favor by sending business their way if it's too big for you to handle.

LastKidPicked,

Cudos to you for your thoughtful response. Similar to my earlier reply ( #4 ) to Curious Kitten in he can start small and not sink a bunch of money into equipment and then hope it pays off.

 

[wolfpack2]

I went through a similar decision last year. Buy a backhoe for the JD4520 or a mini ex. After renting a mini for a small project, there was no choice. I bought the mini to take on the much larger project over the past summer. Weight will be an issues. My little JD 35G plus the F350 and GN trailer tipped the scales at 25200. The F350 was only 120 lbs under the GVWR. The mini is 9600 lbs. The truck and trailer have a combined GCWR of 29.1K (11.5K + 17.6K). Fortunately, no CDL required for personal use in Michigan. If I decide to use it for side work, I will be looking at a whole lot of cost.

 

[wascomatw74]

Sorry computer problems

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I have seen this question navigated through a few times. I'm re-asking it with some context specific to myself. I am potentially selling a business that has nothing to do with Tractors or equipment. Looking to re-invest my proceeds and start up a Small Scale (kinda side hustle) earth moving Company. I already have a skid loader, dump trailer, & a 14,000 lb equipment trailer that I acquired for some personal projects. My area is very rual. 1 in 5 farmers here already has a skid loader and the other 4 have access to one they can barrow. So good luck getting paid work with one of those. I have been thinking about investing in a backhoe or a larger mini ex as those machines are a little more scarce in these parts.


I’m leaning towards a bobcat E60 mini ex (12000lbs 13ft arm) or similar as it can fit on my trailer and can be easily towed with a 3/4 pickup. I believe the work I would find is septic install and repair, digging up water lines and sewer lines for plumbers, digging graves, and the occasional egress window or basement.

Got a few questions for the smaller scale excavators out there.

Am I targeting an appropriate machine that’s going to be marketable or do I need to look for something else bigger/smaller or completely different?

If I’m not asking a top secret trade secret question, what would someone charge hourly for a E60 and what area are you in?

Am I correct in thinking that a 12,000 pound mini ex is gonna be comparable to a backhoe just more towable and without the front bucket?

A mini-ex will outperform a backhoe. Look to Youtube comparisons—also find the video of one new JCB backhoe operator that defies the trend.

 

[rScotty]

Well my advice is not to go that big. I do everything you mentioned here with my IHI 15 NX which is a 4000 lb machine. Plus I also dig swimming pools. Besides the 12 inch bucket that came with the machine a built a 36 inch bucket with no teeth, it is great for softer material for moving more dirt and also cutting swale ditches.. I get lots of work because my machine will fit into places that are smaller eg. Pools in yards that already have houses and fences. My hourly rate would not help you as I live in Panama but it is 25 a hour as a big full sized backhoe like a JD310 CAT 416 is 40 to 45 a hour. My machine burns about a dollar fifty a hour in fuel.. Mine too is a hobby since I moved here from Canada. Best of luck.. A good company name is Dirt Works

I enjoy following along on this thread, evern though I will just stay with my homeowner status. Our land gives me plenty of work right at home. But it's fun to speculate, and several of my friends have one-man excavation businesses locally so we talk and visit each other's jobs.

One guy who I thought would do better than the others had a tiny excavator that soundrd like a sewing machine. Little jobs were his specialty. He worked in suburban neighborhoods between expensive houses, and in backyards around pools, lawns, and gardens. Low overhead, neat clean work, and charged a decent dollar with a minimum.

He eventually moved on to larger machinery and larger jobs, so there is something about those jobs I'm not understanding.

 

[4570Man]

I enjoy following along on this thread, evern though I will just stay with my homeowner status. Our land gives me plenty of work right at home. But it's fun to speculate, and several of my friends have one-man excavation businesses locally so we talk and visit each other's jobs.

One guy who I thought would do better than the others had a tiny excavator that soundrd like a sewing machine. Little jobs were his specialty. He worked in suburban neighborhoods between expensive houses, and in backyards around pools, lawns, and gardens. Low overhead, neat clean work, and charged a decent dollar with a minimum.

He eventually moved on to larger machinery and larger jobs, so there is something about those jobs I'm not understanding.

Isn’t it male nature to want bigger equipment?

 

[sd455dan]

A mini-ex will outperform a backhoe. Look to Youtube comparisons—also find the video of one new JCB backhoe operator that defies the trend.

Yeah in the OPs case already having a trailer and a skid steer Mini ex all the way. Now if he had no equipment the backhoe would make sense jack of all master of none.

speaking of JCB funny vid of the comparison with a sequel

Part two the 3CX compact

 

[4570Man]

Yeah in the OPs case already having a trailer and a skid steer Mini ex all the way. Now if he had no equipment the backhoe would make sense jack of all master of none.

speaking of JCB funny vid of the comparison with a sequel

Part two the 3CX compact

That contest was rigged right from the start. At least get a KX-57 Kubota to compete in the weight class. But it’s obvious a mini excavator can’t compare in versatility. Especially when you rig the test even more by sending the backhoe with a whole trailer load of attachments and the mini x just has a bucket. A skid steer and mini x is the only reasonable comparison and the skid steer and mini wins that one by a landslide.

 

[sd455dan]

That contest was rigged right from the start. At least get a KX-57 Kubota to compete in the weight class. But it’s obvious a mini excavator can’t compare in versatility. Especially when you rig the test even more by sending the backhoe with a whole trailer load of attachments and the mini x just has a bucket. A skid steer and mini x is the only reasonable comparison and the skid steer and mini wins that one by a landslide.

Yep just an old JCB ad trying to sell JCB backhoes.
I noticed that JCB now sells mini ex's .
edit
They do make a clear case for: If you could only have" 1" machine and not able to have two ad makes a Good case for a backhoe.

In the OPs case Just makes sense to go with the largest mini he can haul, Since he has a trailer and a skid steer already.
At least that is the way it looks to me.

If JCB had their own line of ex's back then, Wonder if the ad would have been made?

 

[LouNY]

Heck I enjoyed both of the videos.