How To Find The Cheapest Mini Excavator With Reliable Performance In The Market?
If you are into the construction business, a mini excavator is an absolute need for you. From digging and trenching to demolition and clearing out the debris – these compact machines are capable of so much. For any contractor or construction company, having a mini excavator can significantly bring down the cost by taking over a lot of tasks that you would otherwise need lots of manpower.
But while it pays off well in the long run, most mini excavators cost a lot up front when you are making the purchase. Does that mean you should give up the idea of buying one? Of course not! What you need to do is find cheaper models that fit your budget while not compromising on performance.
So, how do you find the cheapest mini excavator that correctly does the job it is supposed to do? This can only be achieved with thorough research and an understanding of the market. For this, you must be aware of what determines the cost and reliability of a certain model. Let’s explore both of these factors together!
What Affects the Price of Mini Excavators?
Brand awareness
If you have done your research, simply knowing the mini excavator brand will enable you to take a pretty good guess at its cost. As is the case with all other things, brand awareness is one of the key elements that determine the cost of something. Just like you would expect a Gucci bag to cost much more than a bag that you picked up at target, mini excavators by a bigger brand will be much pricier than ones by a brand that you have never heard of.
Key components
The key components of a mini excavator include its engine and hydraulic system. These elements do not only directly affect the performance of a mini excavator, but the quality of these components also determines the cost. If all you need is an average mini excavator that does a little bit of digging, you might be able to get it for cheap. But if you are looking for some serious trenching, you will have to bring in the big guns with a more powerful engine and hydraulic system. And of course, this upgrade comes at a price.
Additional features
The cheapest mini excavators are capable of a lot, but you might have other requirements that they do not fulfill. If a standard-built mini excavator is unable to do the job you want to get done, you will need to look at one that comes with additional features. A side swing boom, zero tail swing, extended arms, various mini excavator attachments, or an extending undercarriage – each additional appendage makes the machine more expensive.
Maintenance and repair
Last but not the least, the frequency and need for maintenance and repair of a mini excavator also decide its final cost to a great extent. A machine that requires little to no servicing between uses is one that will be priced higher in the market but end up costing you much less in the long run. Conversely, mini excavators that need constant maintenance have less of an upfront cost.
What Determines the Reliability of Mini Diggers?
The source
While it’s true that simply having a big brand’s name on a piece of equipment can significantly raise its price, we must also accept that machinery sourcing from big brand components is of much higher quality than that from an unknown. This is because big brands need to maintain their reputation in the market, and cannot risk it by producing substandard equipment. Hence, if you are looking to make a hassle-free purchase, opting for a well-known brand is always the safer route.
Sourcing routes like Kubota and Yanmar are especially known for their powerful engines. Likewise, the hydraulic components of Shimadzu, Hyde, Doosan, and Eaton remain unmatched by any other.
Standardized production
A mini excavator from a brand that is big enough to ensure standardized production and quality checks of their equipment automatically becomes reliable. With the company doing all the necessary tests for you, you do not have to worry that the piece you buy might turn out to be faulty. And in the rare case that it does, there are always replacement and return options in place with equipment.
Reasonable industrial design
If your mini excavator has multiple additional features but lacks a well-designed core, you might as well trash it now. For a mini excavator to be reliable, it needs to be built on a reasonable industrial design. The construction of the equipment itself is a very important factor in determining how sturdy and dependable it will be.
Emission standard
The emission standard of your compact excavator does not only affect the environment, but also the performance and robustness of your machine. Confused? Let us explain.
Mini excavators that are Tier 4 certified (EPA 4) are designed to burn fuel cleaner and reduce air emissions. This minimizes the dense byproducts of combustion from settling in the bottom of the fuel tank during cold weather conditions and causing potential problems in the engine. Hence, your excavator needs less frequent cleaning and maintenance in between uses to function properly.
The most popular mini excavator brands in the market
Now that we know what factors determine the affordability and performance of a mini excavator, let’s talk about the most popular brands to be found in the market.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar is one of the leading brands when it comes to mini excavators. Established in 1925, it has since then produced many models of reliable heavy equipment and machinery.
Bobcat
Bobcat is another customer favorite manufacturer that produces both full-sized and mini excavators. With the wide variety of mini excavators available at this company alone, you are sure to find one that perfectly fits your needs.
Kubota
When you are looking for dependable mini excavators, you cannot miss the ones manufactured by Kubota. This popular brand combines some of the highest quality equipment with the lowest cost, giving you the best of both worlds.
Yanmar
Yanmar was the first company to ever produce a diesel mini excavator. Today, the company offers 8 different yet equally fantastic options in mini excavators that are suitable for any job in construction.
Komatsu
Komatsu is another popular option for mini excavators among contractors and construction companies alike. The six types of mini excavators available at Komatsu today are all among the
How Much Does a Mini Excavator Cost?
So, you have seen how different brands compare to each other when it comes to the quality and reliability of their mini excavators. But what is the situation like when we bring in the affordability factor? Let’s find out.
Caterpillar
One of the smallest mini excavators from Caterpillar – CAT 301.6 C – can cost between $33000 to $37000.
Bobcat
If you are looking to buy a new 2018 Bobcat 418, you can expect to pay between $20000 and $30000.
Kubota
Kubota has a truly wide range of excavators, all having different prices to them. You can get a second-hand Kubota mini excavator for as little as $18000, and the price can go up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a fully equipped large excavator.
Yanmar
Yanmar is another company that has greatly varying prices for its many mini excavator models. Not only does the price differ from model to model, Yanmar mini excavators are also especially known to cost less or more depending on the seller.
Komatsu
For a Komatsu mini excavator, the price can vary from $25000 to $90000 depending on the model and the additional features it sports.
What is the most cost-effective way to buy a compact excavator?
Where can you buy a mini excavator?
When it comes to making the actual purchase, there are multiple ways you can go about the whole thing.
Local brand dealer
The first and probably the most popular way to buy a mini excavator is to make the purchase through your local brand dealer. Once you know which mini excavator you want to buy, you can simply visit the showroom in your area and get the process started.
E-commercial marketplace
Another way to get your hands on the mini excavator of your choice would be to scour through the e-commerce marketplaces such as eBay. Here, you can find a lot of different deals on the item of your choice. If you are interested in buying a used model and are looking for a competitive price, this is a good place to do some research.
Directly from the manufacturer
Lastly, you can purchase a mini excavator right where it comes from – the manufacturer himself. There are multiple advantages to sourcing your heavy equipment from its country of origin. Let us explore this option a little more in the following paragraphs.
The real way to buy the cheapest micro excavator
Buying a mini excavator from its origin is the most cost-effective and reliable way to make the purchase. For this, you can either get in touch with the manufacturers themselves or import your machine through an international dealer of the brand.
Sjheavy offers micro diggers from 0.8-6 tons, at a price level of USD5000-USD25000. Contact us for a quick quote.
Advantages of purchasing from the origin(Sjheavy):
- Cut agents and resellers in between, enabling you to get your mini excavator for up to 50% less than what you would have paid the local dealer
- High emission standard EPA4 guaranteed
- Global after-service access
- Reliable key components can be easily sourced
- Bulk and standardized production ensure quality
- Technical support and customized requests are catered to
A step-by-step guide to buying the cheapest small excavator from the origin
Confused about how you can buy a mini excavator from China? Don’t worry – here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process to show you how simple it actually is!
Step One: Find a dealer/manufacturer
Step Two: Drop a message to get a quote
Here are some quick links for you.
Step Three: Make an international payment
Step Four: Find a custom agent.
Step Five: Deliver the cargo
Step Six: Get it in the destination port
Step Seven: Unloading at the door
And that is all there is to it!
Is it a good option to buy a used mini excavator?
With the vast differences in the cost of a new and used mini excavator, sometimes you might be tempted to go for a second-hand option. But is that really a good idea?
What are the pros and cons of buying a tiny digger that has had a previous owner? And what tips should you keep in mind when making such a purchase? Read on below to know if buying a used mini excavator is actually worth the hassle.
Advantages of buying a used mini excavator
- Cheaper prices
- Gets the job done just as well as a brand new machine
- By cutting down the carbon footprint that the manufacturing process of heavy equipment leaves, you are playing your part in helping the planet
Disadvantages of buying a used mini excavator
- Compromised reliability
- No warranty, customer support, or replacements
- May not be as efficient as a new excavator
Tips when buying a used micro excavator
If you are looking to buy a used micro excavator, you need to be much more vigilant about the purchase you are making.
When looking at used machines, the first thing to consider is how heavily they have been used and what is their average lifespan. If they are close to being out of order, they might not be worth investing in. You do not want to skimp out on the upfront cost only to spend thousands on repairs and maintenance every few weeks.
You must also take the physical condition of the excavator you want to buy into account. Even if the engines and hydraulics are great, a frame that is falling apart can render your machine useless until a good amount is spent on repairs and replacements.
Ready to Buy a Mini Excavator?
Made up your mind about which mini excavators you might be interested in buying? Contact us now and get a free consultation and quote today!
