8T Digger Recommendations

[Henery]

Have a Doosan Solar 7.5 , about 6 k hrs I think, blade is really useful , it’s on rubber, steel would be better I suppose. Had to change a track motor but apart from occasional pipe it’s been great. Used for ongoing/ endless Stewardship fencing. Will probably sell it I a year or so.?
Don’t think much wrong with any make other than poss JCB in this size. Was also warned that Cat is a great digger they have different and less available hyd fittings…. Local digger man favours Kubota.
Murley at Stourport ( now owned by someone else) are great for parts availability.

 

[clbarclay]

I have a 5t case and haven't tried an 8ton, but there isn't much that it can't do. For most ditches it is more than capable and can load over farm trailers, has enough height reach for shearing tree branches etc.

The only trouble is that it is close to the limits for a lot things. It has enough reach to dig nearly all the ditches on the farm from one side, but when digging a lot out it can't spread all the soil over as wider area as I'd like. I have to raise the bucket right up to its limits when loading trailers at the same height, so trailer position is critical. When digging out roots/stumps it can take a lot smaller bites, rather than rip it all out in one. You get the idea.

I've never been defeated by a job on the farm with it though and on occasions it has tucked nicely into some awkward places while working, which a larger machine would struggle with. In an ideal world I would have a 12t mono boom as well as the 5t knuckle rather than just a bigger knuckle, but just an 8t knuckle is probably a fair compromise.

 

[newhollandcruzr]

Have a look at Euro Auctions hell of a choice! went up in December to pickup something I've never seen so many 360s ! auctionhttps://euroauctions.com/en/auctions/leeds-26th-27th-28th-29th-jan-2022-800am , Local firm will bring it home they've always got something to pickup and bring back this way.

 

[Lakesdigger]

I have a 5t case and haven't tried an 8ton, but there isn't much that it can't do. For most ditches it is more than capable and can load over farm trailers, has enough height reach for shearing tree branches etc.

The only trouble is that it is close to the limits for a lot things. It has enough reach to dig nearly all the ditches on the farm from one side, but when digging a lot out it can't spread all the soil over as wider area as I'd like. I have to raise the bucket right up to its limits when loading trailers at the same height, so trailer position is critical. When digging out roots/stumps it can take a lot smaller bites, rather than rip it all out in one. You get the idea.

I've never been defeated by a job on the farm with it though and on occasions it has tucked nicely into some awkward places while working, which a larger machine would struggle with. In an ideal world I would have a 12t mono boom as well as the 5t knuckle rather than just a bigger knuckle, but just an 8t knuckle is probably a fair compromise.

The thing you don't realise about an 8 is they stand on a patch of ground only very slightly bigger than most 5 tonners but have a much bigger working range. There's a good reason they are so sought after.

 

[Dave6170]

Can you swap rubber tracks to steel?

 

[milton-95]

The thing you don't realise about an 8 is they stand on a patch of ground only very slightly bigger than most 5 tonners but have a much bigger working range. There's a good reason they are so sought after.

Agree with this, we've a 7.5 and an 8 tonner here ( both komatsu), and the size different and reach between the 2 is quite noticeable despite both being a similar weight , I'd imagine the jump from 5 to 8 would be even more noticeable

Both the 7.5 and the 8 are on offset booms (king pin) the 8 is on steel and 7.5 on rubber , hate the rubber tracks !! They cut in / make a mess in soft ground and if you happen to be on rocky ground you've got to be really careful not to rip one. Also they're easier to loose . We've also a 13 tonner with mono boom (again komatsu) , why anyone would want a mono on a 8 ton size digger is beyond me , they're far more manoverable than the 13 can work in tighter spots and get into some awkward places you'd really struggle with the 13 and fixed boom , by far the most used digger here is the 8 mostly because it's easiest to move but also because it's the handiest digger , will happily load 8 wheelers with it or do all the fiddley littler jobs without to much bother.

 

[Wombat]

Have a Doosan Solar 7.5 , about 6 k hrs I think, blade is really useful , it’s on rubber, steel would be better I suppose. Had to change a track motor but apart from occasional pipe it’s been great. Used for ongoing/ endless Stewardship fencing. Will probably sell it I a year or so.?
Don’t think much wrong with any make other than poss JCB in this size. Was also warned that Cat is a great digger they have different and less available hyd fittings…. Local digger man favours Kubota.
Murley at Stourport ( now owned by someone else) are great for parts availability.

My cat has ORFS fittings which i actually don;t mind as with the o ring its less suspectible to people overtightening them. Local hydraulic spot has them so they are no issue.

 

[Dr Sensible]

I would ask for all service history and previous LOLER certs if buying most second hand excavators.

 

[Lakesdigger]

My cat has ORFS fittings which i actually don;t mind as with the o ring its less suspectible to people overtightening them. Local hydraulic spot has them so they are no issue.

The only fault with o ring fittings is if you have to loosen a few to move them to get access to replace a pipe or other part you better hope you've got some o rings with you. Don't like being moved once they are a few years old. Jcb use it in their sales blurb as if they are worth their weight in gold but imho unnecessary hassle long term.

 

[Lakesdigger]

I would ask for all service history and previous LOLER certs if buying most second hand excavators.

A lot won't have had loler, could be a hire fleet givaway but tbh at 20k budget any digger gonna be well used

 

[Dr Sensible]

Agreed, some wont. If used on a variety of sites then probably will, if ex farm probably not. ex hire with good maintenanceMost hire companies will keep on top of their kit as they could be removed from site otherwise and get a bad reputation.

 

[SRRC]

We are looking for an 8T digger for around £20k.
What would you recommend higher hour mainstream makes - which are best? Or have seen a 2016 Liugong with 2000 hours for £20k - are they any good?

Have sent you a pm

 

[snipe]

Are these any good.

KOMATSU PC88MR 2010yr​

will they be made by them selves or something else badged up.

 

[milton-95]

Are these any good.

KOMATSU PC88MR 2010yr​

will they be made by them selves or something else badged up.

Made by komatsu them selves, in my opinion one of the best diggers you'll get, smooth, accurate and powerful with loads of reach for an 8 tonner.

Got a 2012 pc80mr3 here just over 5500 hours , only thing I'll fault it on is there's not much leg room in the cab, I changed the seat on our because the original was horrible to sit in all day.

 

[Hilly]

We are looking for an 8T digger for around £20k.
What would you recommend higher hour mainstream makes - which are best? Or have seen a 2016 Liugong with 2000 hours for £20k - are they any good?

Best advice I got was buy a 14 toner if you have the space as they same money as eights. You only have small digger if space is limited if not big is the way .

 

[Runs Like a Deere]

Best advice I got was buy a 14 toner if you have the space as they same money as eights. You only have small digger if space is limited if not big is the way .

And assuming you don't have to move it very often

 

[Hilly]

And assuming you don't have to move it very often

Why just the same ?

 

[Runs Like a Deere]

Why just the same ?

I think you would be struggling to move a 14T machine legally with a tractor? I am not saying people don't do it just saying legally I think you'd be struggling to keep under 18.3 T for trailer and digger?

 

[Hilly]

I think you would be struggling to move a 14T machine legally with a tractor? I am not saying people don't do it just saying legally I think you'd be struggling to keep under 18.3 T for trailer and digger?

I thought you were allowed to gross 33 ton or something . ?

 

[Runs Like a Deere]

I thought you were allowed to gross 33 ton or something . ?

Yeah you are allowed 31 tonnes gross but the max laden weight of the trailer didn't change from 18.29 Tonnes. So you can use a bigger and heavier tractor but your trailer and payload is still limited to 18.29 tonnes at the moment.