Gas vs Diesel: The Chinese Mini Excavator Showdown

[@squid148]

I just bought a 1.8 ton Terror with a Kabota diesel. It isn’t as fancy as yours and doesn’t have the 2 speed range, but everything else seems similar. I purchased it from an outfit on eBay located in California. It cost under 11,000 with free delivery to Oregon.

[@davidbennett620]

And also your machine is $7000 less expensive than the Kymron. That's a lot of money saved for a very nominal difference. You did very well with the 1.8 ton. If you bought from Kubota it would have cost $29,000 with the tax and you still got the Kubota engine. Smart deal.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

That’s awesome. Sounds like a great price. I must admit, this two speed is a game changer in my opinion. I hate how slow my 1 ton is.

[@scottlowther7698]

I think the little machine would have picked up the big log because it's main cylinder is pushing the boom up, not pulling like the big machine. Love your informative videos. You do a great job explaining all the pros and cons.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Thank you. I appreciate it. I may try and mess with the big log again today. The catch is, it’s not my log and I believe it’s going to be brought to a mill to become some nice lumber so I don’t want to mess it up.

[@JimboSouthDakota]

Great comparison video, Sir! It is obvious that you have fun making them. Take Care, Jimbo.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, they are fun. lol

[@moonwalker8172]

Great comparison video! Looking forward to more comparison videos.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[@Outdoorsy368]

The little one is better than a hernia, the larger one is rougher on the wallet

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Oh my word, you hit the nail on the head!! Soooo much. Ether than back pain. Any excavator is better than no excavator. But the bigger ones are so much nicer. Mind you, driving through the woods, I prefer the little one because I don’t have to remove trees to get it though.

[@SCDeerAddict]

@Outdoorsy368 at 17,500, better off to buy a used Deere or Kubota or go for the new Kubota at 0% financing. The auction units with the Kubota D722 can be had for 8k or less depending on auction, I haven't seen a auction unit with a yanmar.

[@Steven7216-u9y]

En ce qui concerne la 2 tonnes elle est souvent motorisée avec deux principaux moteurs diesel, le Yanmar et le Kubota, lequel est le meilleur, le plus fiable ?

[@OurLifeInTrees]

They are both very reliable. Not sure which one is better.

[@405musclecars5]

I think you could have gotten that 2nd log with the XH20 if you would have been a little closer. I moved the root ball and about 6-8' of trunk attached with my 42, it would not pick it up when I reached out to get it, I had to grab the roots and pull it up by the machine, grab it and it picked it right up. I boomed all the way in and then I could stick out. I only went a few feet because it would tip my machine over, but I was still able to pick it up and move it where I wanted it to be and dropped it in the burn pile. I didn't know putting the blade down further would give that much stability, gonna have to remember that in the future. Normally I just drop mine till I feel the front end pick up. This should help me when using the brush cutter or the mulcher. Thanks Greg.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Awesome. I need to go back out and try the log again. I left moth excavators in the garage at my cabin and I’m here this weekend. Guess it’s time for test #2. Haha

[@anthonyhumbert8787]

5:13 that is called a c-channel frame not a box frame. The other one is plate steel

[@OurLifeInTrees]

It’s a c-channel with another piece welded in to box it in. What’s that called? Hollow on the inside and solid on the outside.

[@eltoronegro]

Great comparison

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback.

[@fastshapes3dsigns290]

When will the V1000 arrive? Still waiting on the video you mentioned doing about how to import from Derrete, fees, port etc.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Not sure. A couple months hopefully 🤞 I have been planning on making that one on Christmas Day because Im off work and will be at home. That video is really different for me. It will be my first scripted video, meaning i need a written list to remind me of all the steps, what it really cost me. Price. Shipping, tax, alibaba CC fee, CC 0% fee, driving to forklift place and paying them to unload it, what to do with crates. Etc. I always have an idea and run out and make a video and wing it. That one is financial and needs planning, I have haven’t made the time to sit down and write it and then film it. I will soon.

[@inmyimage1081]

How has the Amazon grip tape held up?

[@rafenatho5406]

Are you 100% sure the valving is upgraded to be smoother? Looks pretty Jerry to me.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

I haven’t tested it myself. I plan to buy or rent one soon to do a side by side comparison with. Then I will know.

[@SCDeerAddict]

Many auction units have those exact digital guages and same layout, AGT MX12R come to mind. Also, the RATO gas engine that most of these come with can be replaced with a Predator 420 from Harbor Freigt for $400. Also, seeing alot of the "Briggs" engines aren't really briggs, rather a knockoff

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Yes some do. Not a control panel like this with digital gauges. It’s certainly not the norm. The MX12R doesn’t have gauges on the control panel. Yes, the Predator is a great replacement engine. Thank goodness for HF. Also love my HF Predator Inverter generator. I hear a lot of the B&S engines are fake clones. This one seems to really be a B&S.

[@SCDeerAddict]

@OurLifeInTrees I was referring to to the AGT MX15R, my apologies, the MX12R has the same console but no guages, the MX15R has the same layout as the Kymron. Again, am not knocking the Kymron, just pointing out its literally the same machine you get at auction plus some upgrades Kymron has done, but to me those aren't 4k worth of upgrades, I would buy the auction unit and add all the upgrades myself, but some may not like tinkering around with machinery. You should buy a AGT MX15 and compare it to your gas Kymron, I doubt you see much difference from functionality standpoint and less than half the cost.

[@photojournalists]

Don’t these have retractable tracks?

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Not this model.

[@fullthrottle2656]

How wide are both of your buckets for your DRT450?

[@soulis1000]

Nice comparison, but i would say that the price is the biggest difference. I mean if the cheaper machine will do the job but maybee not with the same refinement it will be good enough for most home users since your not realy using it all day and not making any money with it.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Agreed. Yet this feels like a pickup truck comparison between a 1995 Isuzu Hombre and a 2024 Ram 2500 Cummins. Haha

[@soulis1000]

@@OurLifeInTrees Both of them will take you to your destination though ;) Some will brobably say that its an equaly big step up from your new machine to a bobcat, or a yanmar excavator. Its all about the money as usual...

[@Joshbuildsmodern]

I’m jealous now,I’ve got the hightop diesel with the same cab but my tracks are closer to the small machine I think you could’ve got the log with it closer up I’ve picked up some monster logs and huge rocks

[@OurLifeInTrees]

lol. Ok. You talked me into it. I need to go back and try to pick that log up. Haha

[@thegarbagegladiators4735]

@@OurLifeInTrees Just be careful tho.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

You were right. I did it. Was heavy but the machine still did it. Yeah, I stayed away from it because…. I didn’t want to die!

[@DonCatherman]

The little gas excavator has no Proportioning valves, = less control, jerky, on or off,,not smoth operation of controls.. The larger better machines have Proportion valves for smoth operation..something to consider...

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Ahhh good info. I am no expert with these. I do like being able to drop the blade and bucket with it off though. Thanks.

[@SCDeerAddict]

@DonCatherman MIVA VA15P has these type valves is is really smooth compared to others I have used.

[@Imperial.Concepts]

AWESOMENESS🎉

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Thank you.

[@moonwalker8172]

CK20 which is comparable to your 3500lb machine went for $8500 at auction last week.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Wow. That’s an awesome deal.

[@thegarbagegladiators4735]

bro , if you ever have any kind of giveaways , sign me up!. Love ya, mean it!As always, Like your uploads man. If I ever do get some money I need to get me some Tonkas lol.

[@Trex450S]

FYI, in case it wasn't mentioned in the video that larger one is 3x the price of the cheaper one. sometime we have to work within our budget.. You can compare that larger one to say a 5-ton machine and it would lose hands down... So all of these video comparisons are subjective to the size of your wallet...

[@davidbennett620]

1 ton $7900, 1.8 ton $15,900. Nice machines but I bought mine for $4500 ($4100 plus tax). Mine is a mechanical thumb, no real counterweight but did not kill the budget. As a homeowner with only a 3 acre property it is hard to justify the purchase of a machine of any kind and yes the 1 ton machine is quite dangerous. a 3.5 ton machine would be much more stable but again cost considerations.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

Sounds like you got a great deal. I’m just a little homeowner myself with 2 acres plus a 2 acre cabin property. I financed mine through my local credit union. $160/month didn’t sound bad to me. Man I really love this 3500lb machine though. I agree, it’s not for the average homeowner.

[@AmericanRusticWoodworks]

Very confused why your big one couldn't lift the big log my twenty two horsepower mahindra backhoe would lift that log.....

[@OurLifeInTrees]

I can’t answer that question for you. 🤷‍♂️

[@AmericanRusticWoodworks]

@OurLifeInTrees I appreciate your video very much. It made me realize there is no mini excavator better than a name brand backhoe! You saved me a bunch of money. Thanks again!

[@Jb305903]

If the gas engine blows up I can run to HF and get a new one same day. Diesel one and parts? forget it.

[@OurLifeInTrees]

The predator makes replacement simple. The Yanmar will take Yanmar parts.

[@SCDeerAddict]

Exactly why I went gas engine on my Mini, it's hard working on it with the confined space, working on a diesel in that area would be a nightmare I'd imagine.

[@03treefitty]

​@@SCDeerAddictall the panels come off it's pretty accessible if you need it to be.