Bh77 vs mini excavator / excavator size

[4570Man]

I bought a 3.5 ton Chinese "Jiahe" brand. So far, takes whatever I have thrown at it.
Are there some Chinese junk? I'm sure. Are there name brand junk? I'm sure.

To OP, this machine I have cost $33,400 by the time it was landed in my yard with all the tariffs, shipping, EPA, etc. Kubota D1703 power plant in it. Hyd thumb, A/C, heat, hyd. quick attach, rake, 3 buckets, and with steel tracks weighs in at about 8,800lbs. I move it on a tandem dually gooseneck.

That’s only $1600 less than I paid for my used Kubota 40 with a cab, and hydraulic thumb. A guy that I’ve worked with bought a new sany 35 at the same time I bought the Kubota. He paid basically the same for the new open cab sany as I did the used cab Kubota. I’m glad everyone is happy with their purchase but I don’t regret my decision either. Putting the brand comparison aside I’ll take the used 40 machine with a cab over the new open station 35 at basically the same price every time.

 

[TimberFarm]

That’s only $1600 less than I paid for my used Kubota 40 with a cab, and hydraulic thumb. A guy that I’ve worked with bought a new sany 35 at the same time I bought the Kubota. He paid basically the same for the new open cab sany as I did the used cab Kubota. I’m glad everyone is happy with their purchase but I don’t regret my decision either. Putting the brand comparison aside I’ll take the used 40 machine with a cab over the new open station 35 at basically the same price every time.

Funny thing is mine is also a Kubota, engine wise.

 

[caleb90]

That’s a completely different comparison. There’s a couple Chinese excavators that are good but they also cost much more comparable to a name brand. The ones for like 5k that have become pretty popular are completely garbage. If they last 300 hours and the homeowner is satisfied with his purchase that’s fine but it doesn’t change the fact it’s junk.

I can tell you first hand that the weld quality on my agrotek 1ton is far better than the welds on the tym tractor i just traded in. Most problems i found was a few loose bolts. I am sockingly supprised how decent built it is

 

[caleb90]

Up put the bucket down and lift the machine. You will never be able to counter weigh that prolbem. I one ton is a great Machine for a hyd jackhammer in small areas and not much else

Far from usless.

 

[PA452]

Mini ex will definitely be better at the tasks you list, but a BH77 will certainly get the job done, just slower.

I have a BH77 on a B2650. I've done lots of tasks around the property, many similar to what you listed.

French drain around a pole building:

Digging the footer for the garage on our new house build a couple years ago:

Digging the undergrounds in the basement. Likely couldn't have fit a mini-ex in here.

Digging a line to the septic tank:

Trenching for gutter drain pipes:

Digging and trenching for an underground propane tank and gas line:

 

[rScotty]

Mini ex will definitely be better at the tasks you list, but a BH77 will certainly get the job done, just slower.

I have a BH77 on a B2650. I've done lots of tasks around the property, many similar to what you listed.

French drain around a pole building:

Digging the footer for the garage on our new house build a couple years ago:

Digging the undergrounds in the basement. Likely couldn't have fit a mini-ex in here.

Digging a line to the septic tank:

Trenching for gutter drain pipes:

Digging and trenching for an underground propane tank and gas line:

Wow! What a lot of beautiful work.
I'm impressed - and more than a little bit inspired as well.
Thanks,
rScotty.

 

[TimberFarm]

Mini ex will definitely be better at the tasks you list, but a BH77 will certainly get the job done, just slower.

I have a BH77 on a B2650. I've done lots of tasks around the property, many similar to what you listed.

French drain around a pole building:

Digging the footer for the garage on our new house build a couple years ago:

Digging the undergrounds in the basement. Likely couldn't have fit a mini-ex in here.

Digging a line to the septic tank:

Trenching for gutter drain pipes:

Digging and trenching for an underground propane tank and gas line:

When I was scrolling down through the photos and saw all that 3/8 stone in your footing trench, first thought was Superior foundation?

Then a couple more photos down, and sure enough. How do you like it?

 

[PA452]

Wow! What a lot of beautiful work.
I'm impressed - and more than a little bit inspired as well.
Thanks,
rScotty.

Appreciate that, thank you!

 

[PA452]

When I was scrolling down through the photos and saw all that 3/8 stone in your footing trench, first thought was Superior foundation?

Then a couple more photos down, and sure enough. How do you like it?

Yep, Superior Walls. No complaints so far, but we've only been in the house for about 8 months now and haven't done much with the basement.

 

[Tomtint]

I have a BH77 on my L3700SU. .. It beats the shovel.. I has a older 6K hour KX121 that ran and worked well, But sold it .. I missed having a MiniX and bought a new E35 Bobcat. It's nice but not as strong as the 121 was. A mini is much much faster at digging anything than a backhoe. You will find all kinds of things to do with it once you have one.