Since we are talking about excavators: Chinese Mini X vs. Subframe backhoe on tractor.

[etpm]

Recently I had a pond dug out with an excavator. All the dirt excavated was piled around the perimeter of the pond. Now I need to move that dirt somewhere else. I do have an actual backhoe, a Case 580CK, but it is being worked on, so it didn't get used for the job. When the pond was being excavated I asked the guy to put the dirt where it is but he couldn't have put it hardly anywhere else. If you will need to move the excavated dirt then you will need to use the FEL on your tractor to move it. That's one of the things I like about my backhoe, the ability to move dirt that I just dug up. There is no doubt that an excavator will dig better than a backhoe most of the time but they do not move dirt very well. They really can't pick up a large amount of dirt and move it somewhere else. They can really only push dirt to move it by more than a bucket full.
Eric

 

[Fixastuff]

I made a skid steer type bucket for my mini. It has tabs that the blade catch on when you raise blade. Can carry dirt, rocks(when I used to do French drains you could fill it with rock drive over trench and scoop rock from it to fill as you go).

It also does a great job of carrying around the 3 extra buckets. Obviously not as fast at it as a backhoe or having a skid steer on site but it does bridge the gap a little.

 

[Carl_NH]

Fixastuff - how about some pictures of your Mini Ex / Skid Steer bucket setup? I put a receiver hitch on the back of mine and have a HF hitch carry all i was going to use to hold the buckets but the SS bucket sounds very interesting.

 

[2manyrocks]

I've been looking at minis on FB marketplace, the local ads, and at auction websites in Middle TN. My advice is to look for what is up for auction in your area because the actual auction sale prices I've seen this week are about half of the price sellers are asking on FB for the same machines.

 

[Carl_NH]

Auction in Dighton Ma - North Country Auctions this week - an AGT18 (1.8Ton) - Kubota 902 Diesel, Pilot Control, Mech Thumb went for $7800 then a 12% buyer premium, so $9K. The Ebay 1.8T similar machines are selling for $9500 delivered with a hyd Thumb.

FB adds here are selling the similar machine for $14-15K so yes the prices vary and FB and CL are higher than ebay and auctions.

 

[mike0000]

I have 42hrs on my Kymron 1 ton mini, it’s been great to have around, it has expandable tracks, side swing and hydraulic thumb, hydro cooler/fan. It’s held together very well so far, I did add a second fan to help cool it while using for extended times. Ground speed is painfully slow, I trailer it around my property for different jobs. I have dug some large stumps but some have taken me a couple days. 6” trees, not a big deal for it. I tow it with my RTV or my tractor. The mini and the tractor work well together, they make up for each other’s shortcomings.

 

[Fixastuff]

Fixastuff - how about some pictures of your Mini Ex / Skid Steer bucket setup? I put a receiver hitch on the back of mine and have a HF hitch carry all i was going to use to hold the buckets but the SS bucket sounds very interesting.

No problem. For a while I had a hitch on it and made a small dump trailer that it pulled around. I like the bucket more.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I have 42hrs on my Kymron 1 ton mini, it’s been great to have around, it has expandable tracks, side swing and hydraulic thumb, hydro cooler/fan. It’s held together very well so far, I did add a second fan to help cool it while using for extended times. Ground speed is painfully slow, I trailer it around my property for different jobs. I have dug some large stumps but some have taken me a couple days. 6” trees, not a big deal for it. I tow it with my RTV or my tractor. The mini and the tractor work well together, they make up for each other’s shortcomings.View attachment 2890720

That looks like a really good setup!! Yeah I think the combo of the mini to dig and the tractor to move dirt/grade can really get some stuff done.

 

[panamaguy]

I didn't mean to compare the two, just stating what I bought. Tractor backhoes are very limited in what they can do. However, as stated, they have no ground speed and you can't put a plate on them to go help a neighbor.

Load them on a trailer and go help the neighbors

 

[tbarrick]

parsley equuipment.com These are very nice machines above the base model and adequate if you just do the base model. Kymron is the brand. They have upgraded components compared to other chinese minis.