Mini excavator

[Davy Crockett]

Does anyone own, been around or run one of these knock off mini excavators ?


https://www.walmart.com/ip/13-5HP-M...8?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1110&from=/search

 

[KDM]

Yep! Tippy as hell. Put a 250 lb dude in the cab and have them run over an 18 inch pile of dirt or into a rut at an angle. You also have to be mindful of how much you have in the bucket. Notice there aren't any stabilizer arms wider than the machine on them. A full bucket of clay or wet dirt will put the azz end of that in the air real quick if it's not close to the tracks. The deeper the trench or the farther you have to reach the more tippy you get. Also, you can slingshot your way into trouble if you spin a loaded bucket to fast. Think hammer throw without letting go of the weight. That said, they are a useful little machine when you use some patience and keep it's use to within reasonable expectations.

 

[Davy Crockett]

The more I look at them the more I'm ready to pull the trigger on one with a full line of accessories. A guy could mod the front blade with wings to hold dirt from falling to the side when pushing or fold open for more stability. I rented one years ago from United rentals in Devils Lake I forget the brand but it drove into a 36'' door and dug what I wanted it to. Was going to rent one again but they are out of business. Way better than a hand shovel for sure.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DigMaste...d=null&athena=true&selectedSellerId=102910317

 

[KDM]

If you keep them straight, them little buggers can really move stuff. They pick up logs and brush like nobodies business. Our neighbor had the one I have experience with and he laid geo thermal heating systems with it. I like the idea of the wings on the blade. His would scrape an inch of dirt like crazy. He leveled the ground and then dug a water line for us in an afternoon. The only time he had trouble was when he had to drive over the lines of dirt. He would put the boom out onto the ground and kind of push himself over the dirt if he had to go at an angle to keep him from tipping. It was fun to watch. If you get one, ask what types of weights and how much weight you can put on the back of it to help keep the back end from coming up. The one my neighbor had didn't have anywhere to put weights. It was an older one.

 

[wslayer]

The more I look at them the more I'm ready to pull the trigger on one with a full line of accessories. A guy could mod the front blade with wings to hold dirt from falling to the side when pushing or fold open for more stability. I rented one years ago from United rentals in Devils Lake I forget the brand but it drove into a 36'' door and dug what I wanted it to. Was going to rent one again but they are out of business. Way better than a hand shovel for sure.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DigMaste...d=null&athena=true&selectedSellerId=102910317

That is cheap enough. I just think the build quality would be very skeptical at that $$$.
Not sure if that would have enough giddy-up to dig through the rock hard /dry ground we have now?

 

[Psychoa]

If you keep them straight, them little buggers can really move stuff. They pick up logs and brush like nobodies business. Our neighbor had the one I have experience with and he laid geo thermal heating systems with it. I like the idea of the wings on the blade. His would scrape an inch of dirt like crazy. He leveled the ground and then dug a water line for us in an afternoon. The only time he had trouble was when he had to drive over the lines of dirt. He would put the boom out onto the ground and kind of push himself over the dirt if he had to go at an angle to keep him from tipping. It was fun to watch. If you get one, ask what types of weights and how much weight you can put on the back of it to help keep the back end from coming up. The one my neighbor had didn't have anywhere to put weights. It was an older one.

What your neighbor was doing is a classic trick used by experienced operators, known as the “third point of support” or “stepping” with the boom. When a mini-excavator lacks enough weight or traction, the boom with the bucket turns into an extra metal leg that prevents it from tipping over on slopes and helps it crawl out of any mud. It’s really fun to watch—it looks just like the movements of a living creature!

 

[Mike Fretty]

“If” you have a skidsteer, they have several different types of backhoe attachments for them too

 

[KDM]

What your neighbor was doing is a classic trick used by experienced operators, known as the “third point of support” or “stepping” with the boom. When a mini-excavator lacks enough weight or traction, the boom with the bucket turns into an extra metal leg that prevents it from tipping over on slopes and helps it crawl out of any mud. It’s really fun to watch—it looks just like the movements of a living creature!

Interesting avatar name. Kind of reminded me of the movie Stripes. Welcome to the site.

 

[johnr]

Good luck with parts and service, as everything breaks down.
you will have regrets I feel.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Good luck with parts and service, as everything breaks down.
you will have regrets I feel.

Naa, I do my homework before buying rather than after. Most are made in the same factory and the parts enterchange. Buy one that is an oddball brand and you will regret it.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

A similar spec'ed machine from one of the bigger brands should cost about $30,000-40,000 depending on options. A lesser known knock off brand would probably be $20,000-25,000.
These are new prices so used would be less.
At $5,000 for a Walmart special I would go talk to Iron Hide in DL to see what weekly and monthly rental rates are.
If Walmart machines were built near the same reliability you would see more around and they would have them actually at a store.
Just my 2 cents

 

[NDSportsman]

Not going to move much dirt with one of those. Might work ok for trenching in some wire or conduit.