Scott
New Member
Hi all
Scott for OZ ie Australia.
Glad to be a new member. Hope to talk to some of you now and again and contribute when I can.
I am a farmer grazier in country NSW. We cannot compete with the rest of the world anymore because quite frankly you are all subisides by your governments, are valued and have strong lobby groups. Here in Australia it is the complete opposite. Everyone hates farmers, the only subsidy we recieve is on diesel fuel, we have a useless farmers organisation and the government wants us all out of business.
Hence my father and I are starting our own Excavation business from scratch. Originally we were going to purchase a 24-25 tonne track machine. But have been having 2nd thoughts as the 21 size sells 2 to 1 here and are also easier to sell when its time to change over. We are going to be doing general contracting in the country which is very varied work from dam cleaning to pipe laying and house site leveling and every thing in between. We have orgainised an operator who has over 30 years experiance. We have been told that the 21 size will do most jobs just as well and quick as the 24 all except the larger heavy jobs ie dam cleaning. We are going to purchase a tilting mud bucket, standard rock bucket, ripper and 300mm trenching bucket and maybe a chipper for council roadside clearing work that we may be able to do. What are your opinions on the size difference?
We have to keep the size below 24 so with all the attachments it can be transported on a tri low loader. We believe most jobs will be only a few days at best so it will be moved a lot.
I think if we can get a low hour second hand machine with some warrenty left it will be our best bet to get started. We have been looking into this now for 5 months and are down to either Volvo, kobelco, case or hitachi. The volvo is extreemly comfortable in the cab compared to the case. We are looking at a hitachi this week. We haven't seen a kobelco yet but they are extreemly well priced second hand. I don't know but they don't seem to be very popular here.
As far a service and spares are concerned there are no dealers within 6 hours drive of here. Komatsu has a repairman 3 hours away but komatsu are too expensive I believe, and second hand as well. My father looked at hyundai and they are very "cheap" compared to the rest, but I don't think they have a computerised engine management system with work modes and data logger to record what type or work that has been peformed etc. Is this correct? The other thing is we will be suppling fuel as its safer that way ie cleaner. That means it has to be fuel efficient to be competitive. The hyundai dealer said they would use a local mechanic to do the serviceing if he checks out, which is a big advantage. I have been told and I believe it with our experience with farming plant that after most dealers have your money they don't want to know you till next time. Eg talking to someone the other day bought a new 20 tonne class CAT, it was delivered. Next day owner goes to use it and the battery is flat and it won't start. Calls CAT they come out put a new battery in it and give him a bill for $300 for travelling. ie travelling wasn't included in warrenty or so they said.. You can imagine what he told them, tear it up or take it away.
I think the volvo, kobelco or hitachi would be the best for us, but have heard bad reports about the volvos track gear not being up to scratch. I am leaning towards a second hand kobelco because of the price and being japanese. Whats your thoughts? From what I have read here there isn't much between any of them. Does anyone here know much about the kobelco's? any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Cheers Scott
Scott for OZ ie Australia.
Glad to be a new member. Hope to talk to some of you now and again and contribute when I can.
I am a farmer grazier in country NSW. We cannot compete with the rest of the world anymore because quite frankly you are all subisides by your governments, are valued and have strong lobby groups. Here in Australia it is the complete opposite. Everyone hates farmers, the only subsidy we recieve is on diesel fuel, we have a useless farmers organisation and the government wants us all out of business.
Hence my father and I are starting our own Excavation business from scratch. Originally we were going to purchase a 24-25 tonne track machine. But have been having 2nd thoughts as the 21 size sells 2 to 1 here and are also easier to sell when its time to change over. We are going to be doing general contracting in the country which is very varied work from dam cleaning to pipe laying and house site leveling and every thing in between. We have orgainised an operator who has over 30 years experiance. We have been told that the 21 size will do most jobs just as well and quick as the 24 all except the larger heavy jobs ie dam cleaning. We are going to purchase a tilting mud bucket, standard rock bucket, ripper and 300mm trenching bucket and maybe a chipper for council roadside clearing work that we may be able to do. What are your opinions on the size difference?
We have to keep the size below 24 so with all the attachments it can be transported on a tri low loader. We believe most jobs will be only a few days at best so it will be moved a lot.
I think if we can get a low hour second hand machine with some warrenty left it will be our best bet to get started. We have been looking into this now for 5 months and are down to either Volvo, kobelco, case or hitachi. The volvo is extreemly comfortable in the cab compared to the case. We are looking at a hitachi this week. We haven't seen a kobelco yet but they are extreemly well priced second hand. I don't know but they don't seem to be very popular here.
As far a service and spares are concerned there are no dealers within 6 hours drive of here. Komatsu has a repairman 3 hours away but komatsu are too expensive I believe, and second hand as well. My father looked at hyundai and they are very "cheap"
compared to the rest, but I don't think they have a computerised engine management system with work modes and data logger to record what type or work that has been peformed etc. Is this correct? The other thing is we will be suppling fuel as its safer that way ie cleaner. That means it has to be fuel efficient to be competitive. The hyundai dealer said they would use a local mechanic to do the serviceing if he checks out, which is a big advantage. I have been told and I believe it with our experience with farming plant that after most dealers have your money they don't want to know you till next time. Eg talking to someone the other day bought a new 20 tonne class CAT, it was delivered. Next day owner goes to use it and the battery is flat and it won't start. Calls CAT they come out put a new battery in it and give him a bill for $300 for travelling. ie travelling wasn't included in warrenty or so they said.. You can imagine what he told them, tear it up or take it away. I think the volvo, kobelco or hitachi would be the best for us, but have heard bad reports about the volvos track gear not being up to scratch. I am leaning towards a second hand kobelco because of the price and being japanese. Whats your thoughts? From what I have read here there isn't much between any of them. Does anyone here know much about the kobelco's? any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Cheers Scott
