I need your help!

[Calman93611]

Ok, here is where I am.

B7100 w/factory FEL and factory backhoe
B7100 w/factory FEL, box scraper, 3pt sprayer, 8' blade, 3pt tool bar

I am a licensed contractor, semi-semi retired, just doing irrigation repairs. The largest is a 4" mainline but normally 2" or less. I have the opportunity to sell my B7100 w/backhoe. I really love this backhoe. I was planning on buying a K008 mini-excavator. The B7100 has more ground clearance, faster ground speed, digs to about 7' and I can use the backhoe using lateral movement to backfill a trench/hole. The K008 digs a lot deeper, ground clearance is less, ground speed is slow. The last 2 jobs on the backhoe, one was 1/4 mile to the job site(closest I could get my truck/trailer) and the other only had 5' clearance to back yard and I had to remove the stabilizer arms to get it through. 1/4 mile is a long ways for a K008, but it only needs 30" of clearance. California homes are being built on smaller and smaller lots and the side clearance is sometimes 5' and sometimes less.

I can get the K008 for about the same bucks as my B7100. My B7100 w/backhoe weigh about 2500# and 2200# for the K008.

So what are your opinions? Pros/Cons? Any info is good info, more opinions = more knowledge

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Sounds like it has come down to a size issue and it doesn't sound like your 7100 will do the job. Given the limitations of a tracked excavator, you have no real choice. That, or turn down jobs that are too tight and have more time for golf.

 

[D2Cat]

Seems like you either need to curtail your bidding or own two machines.

Maybe go from semi-semi retired to semi retired!

 

[OldMasterTech]

You will never miss that backhoe after trenching with an excavator! Since buying my KX-121 the hoe on my 555E has never been used.

 

[Calman93611]

Seems like you either need to curtail your bidding or own two machines.

Maybe go from semi-semi retired to semi retired!

I'm kinda in a nice point in my life, I usually do not bid anymore. I don't see a lot of my customers, they just call, text or email what they want done and I just send them the bill. I just get tired of loading my tractor for backhoe work and thought maybe the excavator would be easier. I don't know. Maybe I will just sell the backhoe and get a cnc plasma cutter. Already have 2 plasma cutters already. I have this wild hair idea of making a 1/4 scale backhoe. Old men with childish thoughts, lol

BTW do you have a D2 cat? Have always wanted one.

 

[85Hokie]

Ok, here is where I am.

B7100 w/factory FEL and factory backhoe
B7100 w/factory FEL, box scraper, 3pt sprayer, 8' blade, 3pt tool bar

I am a licensed contractor, semi-semi retired, just doing irrigation repairs. The largest is a 4" mainline but normally 2" or less. I have the opportunity to sell my B7100 w/backhoe. I really love this backhoe. I was planning on buying a K008 mini-excavator. The B7100 has more ground clearance, faster ground speed, digs to about 7' and I can use the backhoe using lateral movement to backfill a trench/hole. The K008 digs a lot deeper, ground clearance is less, ground speed is slow. The last 2 jobs on the backhoe, one was 1/4 mile to the job site(closest I could get my truck/trailer) and the other only had 5' clearance to back yard and I had to remove the stabilizer arms to get it through. 1/4 mile is a long ways for a K008, but it only needs 30" of clearance. California homes are being built on smaller and smaller lots and the side clearance is sometimes 5' and sometimes less.

I can get the K008 for about the same bucks as my B7100. My B7100 w/backhoe weigh about 2500# and 2200# for the K008.

So what are your opinions? Pros/Cons? Any info is good info, more opinions = more knowledge

Based on what you are doing, the K008 would be a better tool - IFn you are not going to be out much more $$$$$ - the minihoe is more mobile than the B7100 - yet slower, I would not let the slow moving be a huge deciding factor, if it takes 20 minutes to move it to a spot to work and the B7100 only took 5 , that fifteen minutes will be made up in the mobility of the K008. Swinging the entire mass is a hellva lot smoother/faster than using the bucket to scoot around with the B7100. One thing that the K008 can do is MOVE while the bucket is down, the B7100 cannot make the movements of the K008.

Anybody that digs like you do wants/uses the minihoe, very few do I see out there with a FEL/HOE combo on a small scale like the B7100.


You know what you can do with the B, I think you will find the K to be a lot better and more efficient than the B -Only one way to find out !

 

[virginiavenom]

agree, get the K. especially using professionally. the other is useful for certain things, but an actual trackhoe is amazingly way more efficient over a tractor mount hoe.

 

[OldeEnglish]

The trackhoe also gets my vote. Being a small machine like that would be very handy for what your doing with it. That machine will fit through a standard door/gate in a fence/building. The only downside to them is that they can be tipsy so move slowly and be cautious. I've used that size machine a bunch of times indoors and they work great!

Kubota trackhoes are tough to beat in any size. I've used a few different models over the years and loved them. The kx121-3 is my favorite, very powerful for its size.

 

[rentthis]

The main reason not to own a 008 is that they are weaker than circus lemonade. One other reason is that if you decide to get rid of it, you will probably nearly have to give it away. The market for them is narrow to nonexistent. If you have 5ft to work with, take a look at the KX41. With the tracks retracted it measures 39 inches. My customers love mine and I have people wanting to buy it regularly. It has much more power than the 008 and is much faster on it's feet.