Every time I hire a mini digger for a weekend it ends up costing around £250 once the delivery, vat etc is added in. If I have one for the week it’s circa £550.
This year I’ve got a number of projects planned which involve digging:
- Remove 400mm soil for 6 x 4 m deck
- Remove 300mm soil for 3x3m patio
- Install 1m3 soakaway and 6m of piping
- Install utilities in 9m trench to new garage
- Dig footing for new 6x6m detached garage
- Remove 300mm soil in 6x5m areas for new driveway
- Dig out old conifer tree stumps x 3
- Remove old garden wall footing 30m and trench for new wall foundation
While some of the above could be done at the same time, I reckon there’s a good 3 weeks of hire or 6-7weekends of work.
My man maths is telling me that if a half decent used 1.5t digger is around £5k, that it might be worth investing in one. I could have it for the year and do my projects at my own pace, and then potentially sell the digger on if I don’t find use for it afterward.
Obviously with a used machine you’re taking the risk with breakdowns, etc.
Am I being crazy in thinking about buying one??
This year I’ve got a number of projects planned which involve digging:
- Remove 400mm soil for 6 x 4 m deck
- Remove 300mm soil for 3x3m patio
- Install 1m3 soakaway and 6m of piping
- Install utilities in 9m trench to new garage
- Dig footing for new 6x6m detached garage
- Remove 300mm soil in 6x5m areas for new driveway
- Dig out old conifer tree stumps x 3
- Remove old garden wall footing 30m and trench for new wall foundation
While some of the above could be done at the same time, I reckon there’s a good 3 weeks of hire or 6-7weekends of work.
My man maths is telling me that if a half decent used 1.5t digger is around £5k, that it might be worth investing in one. I could have it for the year and do my projects at my own pace, and then potentially sell the digger on if I don’t find use for it afterward.
Obviously with a used machine you’re taking the risk with breakdowns, etc.
Am I being crazy in thinking about buying one??