I’m in the market for lightly used excavator

I would really like to have a mini excavator just for around my property and let my close friends and family use.
I like the Kubota U035. Here’s the info https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/brochure-sheets/u35.pdf?sfvrsn=696b588a_4. There’s a Kubota dealer 10 miles from me so that helps.

I like this model because the cab model has a/c, the smaller Kubota’s don’t and I want a cab. The cab will allow me to work in the cold and in the heat. I’m old and I want my comfort. I want to get a brush cutter for it and this model is big enough to run one. I’m just looking for any advice you can give me.

Thank You!

J.S.

 

No knowledge of that machine in particular, but my personal opinion is that for the average property owner that wants a mini, the 3.5T machines are the most universal...small enough to "get in there", but still large enough to "git r dun"

 

My uncle who sold them for years told me
Save up list and rent one memorial and Labor Day

excavator is almost useless without 2nd piece of equipment ie dump truck to move material
Or attachments

used can be big $$ fast

 

I have a cab KX040 and use it all the time. Was using it yesterday to clean up slash and brush from having our property logged. It’s 1,000 lbs heavier, than the cab one you’re looking at, and 40 hp versus the 25 hp of the U035. I run out of counter weight just before lift capacity trying to move really big stumps and rocks. I bought the largest one I could haul behind my Ram 3500 6.7L and stay under the 26k CDL limit, I still look like a small contractor towing it.
I have a thumb, rake, digging bucket, cleanup bucket for it, and ordering an auger for fence posts.

A few observations:
Cab all the way, heat and ac are great, the cab gets hot in the summer with the engine behind you and hydraulics next to you. My wife has requested we upgrade our tractors to cab machines now.
A thumb is a must have. I use it every time the machine is on, brush, rocks, pipe, stumps, and holding firewood logs to cut to length.
The angle blade is well worth the extra cash.
Can you get a second set of aux hydraulic lines on the stick? If you use a thumb that takes one set, a cleanup bucket, auger, or forestry mulcher would take another set or you have to take the thumb off.
Having a tractor to move material around is great to compliment an excavator. I make brush piles, my wife hauls them off with the tractor and grapple.

Buying new versus used, a slightly used one will cost almost as much as a new one. If you get it new you know what’s been done to it and how it’s been used. New Kubota will do 0% versus used was 4-6% when I was looking. It’s the only reason I didn’t end up with a slightly used KX080.

I found a rock bigger than the KX040 last summer, it dragged it out of the hole after I drilled it and broke it in 3 pieces with expanding demolition grout.

 

How far you looking to haul one home?

 

I don’t have a truck and trailer big enough but I would be willing to pay for trucking.

 

Avoid rental machines. Mined over matter. "Ain't mined, so don't matter."

 

Might not be as bad as you think. If you find one of interest you can use “freight star” to get several quotes. I did that last fall on an 8000# skid steer and the average price was around $1400 to $1600 IIRC from Pocatello Idaho to here. That seemed pretty reasonable to me.
Fuel prices have gone down considerably since then so that’s good

 

Bump...

 

Jack they are as handy as a shirt pocket. If this won't cause you to have to work for 10 more years, go and get yourself one brother!
All of my fast cars, campers, gold jewelry, vacation homes and boats supply me endless joy and satisfaction except they all strangely look like construction or farming equipment.

 

You inspired me so much I took a drive this morning and wrote a check to my Kubota dealership! Like you all my toys are large Tonkas.
Here’s a picture of the U27 I bought.

 

This is my next purchase

 

Congrats my friend...Beautiful machine!!

 

Better than any frigging boat!
Congrats Jack

 

Thank you!

 

Way to go Jack Straw i will send a truck and trailer for you and it when I am ready

 

I think our world is going completely off the rails, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to invest in something that can make me money. I also would like to help my friends and family if they need to do some digging. I wish you lived closer, I’d help you in a heartbeat!

 

When you need a vacation from New Yuck I
Mean York we can get together our lands are similar but my neighbor the farmer owns 1,000 acres around me in land trust it’s like backing up to national park in the east.. your 2ish hours away
Ps my lands dog friendly
PPS I will give you WiFi so I can keep laughing especially in PMs

 

Congrats on the new machine Jack Straw

 

Congrats on the new machine! I’ll be interested to see how the mulcher head does.