Importing and modifying a new mini excavator from China

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

Note that Rhino is a factory that makes and sells its own machines, while HighTop is a reseller. It is hard to tell who makes and who just sells. SDH used to make some of the machines for HT. All of them seem to allow any buyer to specify the name or brand on the units. I have heard that even Sany makes some units for others, but I have not verified that.

Our monthly local auction (Sacramento) has 3 different re-branded new Chinese mini-excavators right now: Cougar, Stag, and Sunward, 1T, 2T, 2.6T, and 3.5T. Dunno who makes each.

I have sent folks who have bought Chinese minis to this thread to share tech details, including repairs and improvements. People who import a container and sell them often neglect the technical support side of this effort. Utube is perhaps where you are going to find most online analysis of these machines right now.

Interesting about Rhino making their own. I have just started to see some of those on the market. I‘ll do a little more research on those.

It seems the Sunward and Sany are priced high enough that I would just pay a few thousand more to buy one of the big names.

I know pretty much next to nothing about tractors and equipment. I’m a recently retired boat captain and just bought 30 acres. I’m in the studying phase right now.

This thread has been a great help!

 

[dfkrug]

Just as with tractors, being somewhat self-sufficient on maintenance and even some repairs is important. It is not easy to haul large machines to a service company, or to find good help who will do house calls.

 

[snoop007]

Hello!! I am currently in talks for a HT08 delivered to my door for just shy of $7000.
Including a trailer, grabber and auger.
Thoughts?

 

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

Hello!! I am currently in talks for a HT08 delivered to my door for just shy of $7000.
Including a trailer, grabber and auger.
Thoughts?

That sounds like a good price, especially with the extras.

 

[dfkrug]

Hello!! I am currently in talks for a HT08 delivered to my door for just shy of $7000.
Including a trailer, grabber and auger.
Thoughts?

Where?

Note that the usual accessories include: rake, mechanical thumb, hydraulic breaker, auger, ripper, mechanical grapple, and several bucket sizes. Less common is a quick-attach mech for the dipper. I have tried out all but the QA and trailer. Rake and grapple not good. Trailer is off-road only (no suspension).

 

[Fishin-4-a-Livin]

I emailed for a price on a 3 ton Rhino, open cab.

Not that I would buy one, but i was curious.

Price quote came back at $45k. Almost made me spit my coffee out.

And I don’t even drink coffee.

 

[dfkrug]

I emailed for a price on a 3 ton Rhino, open cab.

Not that I would buy one, but i was curious.

Price quote came back at $45k.

I just checked the Xiniu pages on Alibaba and their new XN28 mini-X is listed at $17,800 for one unit, FOB Qingdao. With US tariffs and shipping costs, I would guess you are looking at $25K or so to a US port. Yanmar powered. Full cab.

 

[snoop007]

Hello!! I am currently in talks for a HT08 delivered to my door for just shy of $7000.
Including a trailer, grabber and auger.
Thoughts?

Update,
Ht08
Auger
Quick hitch
200mm narrow bucket
500mm plain bucket
Hydraulic thumb
Boom swing
To my door $7000

 

[newbury]

Do these prices you people are quoting include insurance for unloading at sea, like the Ever Forward which they are unloading in Chesapeake Bay?
linky
That can't be cheap.

/edit
And after further reading at that link it looks like shipping out of Shanghai may become iffy due to C19.

 

[chsdiyer]

I just got quoted on a high top 1 ton unit at $3700 for the excavator and $635 for shipping to my city. How much more cost should I expect with tariffs or import broker, etc?

 

[dfkrug]

I just got quoted on a high top 1 ton unit at $3700 for the excavator and $635 for shipping to my city. How much more cost should I expect with tariffs or import broker, etc?

It depends on a lot of things.

If going thru Alibaba and using Trade Assurance, you can get closer to your "final" cost estimate. But there still may be surprises. If TSA decides to X-ray your container for contraband, then you could pay $500 or more for the privilege. You need to supply SS# or TIN# to logistics company, so your state can charge you sales tax (if any). The 25% tariff may be charged on the base price, and then maybe not.

If you pick up your own load at the CFS (container-freight station) in your city, then you will have to pay warehouse fee, forklift fee, etc. Common carrier shipping to your house will likely be outrageous.

Oh, and did you opt for the default illegal ChangChai/Koop diesel engine? You could be caught at customs. They may send it back to China.

If your net total cost is less than $7000, then you did amazingly well.

 

[chsdiyer]

Thanks for the response and all the info you've provided in this thread! I thought buying an LS tractor with no dealer support close by was risky, now i'm considering this :/ Now I kind of wish i had bought a second LS TLB back when they were around 15k.

I believe my correspondence has been directly with Hightop through their website. It sounds like there would be some benefit to making sure the purchase goes through Alibaba instead. We have a large port here about 20 miles from my house so I would likely just go pick it up and not try to get it delivered to the house. I still need to find a broker here in town, but I think i found one.

I'm waiting to hear back from them on what engine is quoted.

Is there any benefit to having it purchased by a business vs individual?

 

[dfkrug]

It seems that SDH is no longer the factory making units for Hightop, the reseller. You may want to consider dealing with a factory and not a reseller.

"Is there any benefit to having it purchased by a business vs individual?"

I don't know of any benefit either way.

 

[chsdiyer]

I think i may have read in one of the pages here where you may have answered this already, but how do you determine who the manufacturer is vs a reseller? I've seen videos on youtube where people recommended the high top name/company, but until i read through this thread I didn't realize they weren't the manufacturer.

 

[chsdiyer]

Looks like the machine is with B&S engine, hydraulic thumb and i can add oil cooler for $100. Or I can get a Kubota D722 engine for $3000 more

 

[dfkrug]

I think i may have read in one of the pages here where you may have answered this already, but how do you determine who the manufacturer is vs a reseller? I've seen videos on youtube where people recommended the high top name/company, but until i read through this thread I didn't realize they weren't the manufacturer.

I did not realize HighTop was a reseller either until last year. The local guy here who has imported from SDH was told by them that they used to manufacture for HT. He has also visited their factory and speaks Mandarin. I do not know the new maker for HT units under 2 tons.

Sellers of these minis are generally coy about if they actually make them or just resell them.

 

[N2DFire]

I did not realize HighTop was a reseller either until last year. The local guy here who has imported from SDH was told by them that they used to manufacture for HT. He has also visited their factory and speaks Mandarin. I do not know the new maker for HT units under 2 tons.

Sellers of these minis are generally coy about if they actually make them or just resell them.

I have been following this and wanting my own mini-ex ever since you first started this thread (hey a kid has to have dreams).

In a very odd twist of fate i was on You-Tube the other day and saw a "suggested video" of some folks who were detailing their experience buying a Mini-Ex using Alibaba, so this morning I decided to search and see what other videos I could find on the subject.

I ran across this one and was all the way to the end when the "Landscape Buddy" model popped up & the light came on. I've heard that before. Rewind to the start of the video "Hello everyone this is Jason ..." - the lightbulb gets brighter so I ran over here to review the last few pages and Lo & Behold this has to be "your guy"

Let’s explore different ways to get a Chinese mini excavator...

The video itself is a great resource but he also shares his factory contact in the video description section. So if anyone is out there and thinking about starting this process, give Jason's video and information a Look See


As long as I'm dreaming I decided to dream big and really want a 2-2.5T w/ EPA diesel (Champaign taste and Budweiser budget lol) At least dreams are free.

 

[chsdiyer]

I just put my deposit down for a hightop HT10. I talked with Jason a good bit, super nice guy and very generous with is time/knowledge, but the landscape buddy was going to end up being more than I could justify spending at this point for what I need. Hopefully the hightop ends up being a decent enough machine.

 

[dfkrug]

I just put my deposit down for a hightop HT10.

Congrats. Hope you get a good machine. Jason has sold all his inventory. He is supposed to bring a unit over here again for me to test and adjust RV pressure setting.

I have recently completed making of a new-and-improved bucket, which I will share with factories. I will start another thread about the fabrication.

 

[boostmg]

Hey this thread is great. Chinese excavators are on my radar.

Have you encountered any design flaws or quirks? I had imported an engine powered flail mower from china and i know there were some little things i had to take care of like loose bolts, design flaws, and reinforcing certain areas.