Cheap digger

[Bonner]

Don’t need one, just enjoyed watching this. Useful for small jobs, but too cheap to be reliable?

 

 

[Thorfun]

i don't care! $2000 with all those attachments? if it lasted 4 weeks that'd be cheaper than hiring one for that period. i'm tempted to take a look. for the small jobs i need to do around here that could be perfect. it's hard to justify the costs of even second hand machines when you're using it 6 or 7 times a year.

[Thorfun]

1 minute ago, Thorfun said:

i don't care! $2000 with all those attachments? if it lasted 4 weeks that'd be cheaper than hiring one for that period. i'm tempted to take a look. for the small jobs i need to do around here that could be perfect. it's hard to justify the costs of even second hand machines when you're using it 6 or 7 times a year.

oh wait. $12000 according to the description of the video. sounded like he said $2000 in the video.

[-rick-]

1 minute ago, Thorfun said:

oh wait. $12000 according to the description of the video. sounded like he said $2000 in the video.

Yep, got me at first too.

 

For $12000 or maybe a bit more you can get a lowish hours name brand model equivalent likely with enough attachments to keep you busy. Resale value of that will be much higher than an no-name. More likely to go wrong, but more likely to get the parts easily and the resale value point makes it the winning option IMO.

[Bonner]

Don’t believe these prices, wouldn’t be paying with my money unless credit card covers it.

 

[Roger440]

As i understand its a money raising wheeze.

 

You pay for it. Then after the max number of days they can, they then refund your payment in full saying they cannot supply.

 

Do that many thousands of times, week in, week out, it a handy way of raising finance at no cost.

 

There was a guy over on mig-welding forum  (i think) that actually tried to buy one, and this is what happened. 

[flanagaj]

On that very topic I am thinking of getting a Luigong 9018 1.8 Ton Mini Digger.  7k and half the price of a Kubota.   From the searches I have performed they seem to get positive reviews too.

[Roger440]

1 hour ago, flanagaj said:

On that very topic I am thinking of getting a Luigong 9018 1.8 Ton Mini Digger.  7k and half the price of a Kubota.   From the searches I have performed they seem to get positive reviews too.

 

For that money id go for an older model over a new chinese one. Older stuff is very simple, and much easier to fix, though if theres hydraulics involved, it still wont be cheap.

 

I bought one (kubota KX61) for £6k, used it for 4 years, repaired the slew motor for about £250 (plus my time) sold it with a leaking fuel pump for £5500.

 

Ive now bought another one (the same) for £5k. Missing its canopy, but otherwise good apart from a couple of minor ram leaks (job for the winter).

 

Obviously though, old diggers are a bit like gambling, so it can go wrong big if you buy unwisely!

 

[Roger440]

Or you could do this. (page 4) https://www.hjpugh.com/catalogue/b5542fb7845e727d38b4418c4e278500/88172ebd72487fa052dfcdb3e174f077/monthly-collective-sale-of-tractors-plant-implements-live/?currentPageNo=4

[MPx]

It may be worth considering the longer game.  I went with Roger's plan bought Kubota KX36 2A in 2009 for £6k and sold it on with my last property this year for about £5k.  In the meantime its had had a couple of £k worth of fixes incl new tracks about 4 years ago - but was a fantastic workhorse despite living outside.  My prejudice would say your new Chinese digger will work well and look the part...but come time to sell it on and the value will have plummeted (you'd need to research that...I haven't!).  But probably less risk of it needing work in the first 2 or 3 years.

[flanagaj]

7 hours ago, MPx said:

It may be worth considering the longer game.  I went with Roger's plan bought Kubota KX36 2A in 2009 for £6k and sold it on with my last property this year for about £5k.  In the meantime its had had a couple of £k worth of fixes incl new tracks about 4 years ago - but was a fantastic workhorse despite living outside.  My prejudice would say your new Chinese digger will work well and look the part...but come time to sell it on and the value will have plummeted (you'd need to research that...I haven't!).  But probably less risk of it needing work in the first 2 or 3 years.

I am just struggling to find one for 8-10k inc vat.  Those supplied by dealers all seem to be price fixed at 12-14k.

Ideally, one that has been used by a self builder would be ideal.

 

[Jenki]

Bigger machines tend to be cheaper, i.e a 5 ton or over, 3ton and less tend to have a premium as you can tow these with a car / truck. you'll only have to transport it once to site.

Don't forget Big machines are way more fun😄

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/862980039433580/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Ac613b793-7289-40dd-b38f-23a385b4addc&__tn__=!%3AD

 

 

7.5K 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1322188182925413/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Ac613b793-7289-40dd-b38f-23a385b4addc&__tn__=!%3AD

 

Edited yesterday at 08:33 by Jenki
added links

[Roger440]

2 hours ago, flanagaj said:

I am just struggling to find one for 8-10k inc vat.  Those supplied by dealers all seem to be price fixed at 12-14k.

Ideally, one that has been used by a self builder would be ideal.

 

 

You wont find dealers selling diggers at £6k. Too old and will inevitably have wear etc. Most dealers are simply not going to get involved. Auctions, private sales etc are where you will find them. But there are not many, as most get exported.

[flanagaj]

2 hours ago, Jenki said:

Bigger machines tend to be cheaper, i.e a 5 ton or over, 3ton and less tend to have a premium as you can tow these with a car / truck. you'll only have to transport it once to site.

Don't forget Big machines are way more fun😄

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/862980039433580/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Ac613b793-7289-40dd-b38f-23a385b4addc&__tn__=!%3AD

 

 

7.5K 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1322188182925413/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Ac613b793-7289-40dd-b38f-23a385b4addc&__tn__=!%3AD

 

Unfortunately, our site is quite tight on space and a large machine is not practical.  Limited to 1.7 ton

[Onoff]

Any good? Supplier local 'ish to me in Maidstone. I was looking to get the 1.2T version but circumstances have changed:

 

https://buffalomachines.co.uk/products/buffalo-b1800-mini-digger

[-rick-]

Their FAQs are very informative:

 

https://buffalomachines.co.uk/pages/faqs

 

Website says they have 30 years combined industry experience but company only incorporated in 2023:

 

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15271611

 

Looks like they are just a UK importer of Chinese machines. So whether you actually benefit from going to them IDK. Maybe warranty issues, but adding the middle man might not help much in reality

Edited yesterday at 17:30 by -rick-

[Thorfun]

22 minutes ago, Onoff said:

Any good? Supplier local 'ish to me in Maidstone. I was looking to get the 1.2T version but circumstances have changed:

 

https://buffalomachines.co.uk/products/buffalo-b1800-mini-digger

i saw these and was slightly tempted to drive down and take a look. if you're bored one day and fancy to do that test drive for us it'd be very much appreciated. 😉 

[Onoff]

57 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

i saw these and was slightly tempted to drive down and take a look. if you're bored one day and fancy to do that test drive for us it'd be very much appreciated. 😉 

 

I have spoken a couple of times to Darren down there. Kept trying to tie up to get down there but it never happened. They've had displays on at for instance The Kent Show, Edenbridge & Oxted too I think. Seem open and honest.

 

I was at the same time looking at buying a Rippa direct from China, door to door with all duties etc came out circa £1000-1500 less than Buffalo. However as I was about to press the button Rippa's rep turned into a high pressure, bunny boiler esque deal trying to guilt me into buying. I ceased all contact. A bit light on the old readies front at the moment so it's on the back burner. 

 

Managed to get my BiL to do my recent digging.

 

Tbh I don't really fancy going down there for someone else. I'll just rub in that I can't buy one! 😢

[Thorfun]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

Tbh I don't really fancy going down there for someone else. I'll just rub in that I can't buy one! 😢

That’s fair. Tbh I can’t afford one either. I’m just curious as to what they’re like!

 

I’ve hired a Liugong 1.8T a couple of times and they seem decent enough but I think they’re on the expensive side of the Chinese diggers. 

[flanagaj]

50 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

That’s fair. Tbh I can’t afford one either. I’m just curious as to what they’re like!

 

I’ve hired a Liugong 1.8T a couple of times and they seem decent enough but I think they’re on the expensive side of the Chinese diggers. 

Yes.  The Liugong machines are cheaper, but not significantly.

[Onoff]

Make sure you get boom swing if you get one.