Dingo Mini Digger

[davo453]

Ah yes in the Swan valley eh, he probably would be competition for me I guess.

I will contact DOPI , My Ute will tow 1800 kg braked so it should be ok but there's obviously a legal limit per axle. For example large trucks are allowed 6 ton per single wheeled axle and 9 ton per double wheeled axle depending on tyres etc.

Must be a similar rule for car type trailers. The dingo dealer is talking a single axle trailer and with the machine weighing 920kg and the attachments being at least around 600kg I could be in trouble. The picture shows a double axle trailer and he has the lighter machine (K9-3) on it.

Cheers Dave

[DavidG]

You are in trouble.
920 + 600 Kg is 1520 Kg

You can only tow 1800 so your trailer must weigh in at 280 Kg or less

Even a little 6/4 weighs that much.

You will need a dual axle unit with brakes and that will weigh at least 500Kg (mine weighs 780Kg for a 14' by 6'6")
Remember there is a lot of money riding on the trailer. Dual axles are much more stable than a single axle. Make sure you get load sharing axle setup NOT the slip spring setup.

This puts you very close to two tonne (1520 + ~500Kg). Over two tonne you need electric breakaway brakes and they are not cheap.
(so I was told)

[davo453]

I said I’d report back on Tuesday after my dingo demo, so here goes. It is impressive it handled our (for want of a better word) soil very well. They used a 12” chain (without rock teeth) on the trench digger and it relatively easily dug a 12 meter long trench down to 1 meter in about 8 mins, chucking football size rocks out as it went.


They bought a post hole auger with rock teeth and that wore it’s way down through a large rock to 500mm in about 10 minutes. If it can handle the soil here it can cope pretty much anywhere, Granite could take a long time mind you.

The dingo had heaps of torque and only stalled a few times.

Wish I’d though about this before we built the new house as I’m sure we would have saved heaps on earth works.

All up I’m impressed and will probably get one, naturally when ever you start looking into this you blow your original budget and yes it’s happened to me already. Not least because I’m faced with upgrading the Ute to be able to tow it.

Just gotta convince the enemy now………….

Cheers Dave

[DavidG]

Dave
Think about only carrying the Dingo on the trailer and the attachments, as required, in the ute. ie Only carry the attachments you need for the specific job.
You should then be able to get a trailer and fit in under the max tow capability of the ute.

Another idea is to get a little low truck (1.5 tonne) and make a set of loader ramps. No need for a trailer then. Think Kia make one.

Dave..
ps Pix attached of my little girl that I carry on the 14' trailer

[journeyman Mick]

Dave,
if you're shopping for another ute look at their GCM (Gross Combination Mass)as well as their towing capacity. I've been looking at 4WD utes as I want to buy another when $$ permit. Originally I was looking at the Rodeo as it had the longest legal carrying capacity (longest wheelbase). It had (if my memory serves me correctly) a 2ton towing capacity and a pretty good Gross Vehicle Mass however it had a pretty low GCM, which meant that if you were towing a 2ton trailer you couldn't put much more than your lunch box in the tray. I found the Nissan Navara had the best GCM and towing capacity (2.8 ton braked trailer and a full load 1 ton+). These figures may be different if you're looking at 2WDs. Hope this is of some help.

Mick

[RETIRED]

Pix attached of my little girl that I carry on the 14' trailer

NIce toy David. I could have as much fun on that as my forklift

[vsquizz]

Dave

Dave..
ps Pix attached of my little girl that I carry on the 14' trailer

Now thats a Tonka toy, where do I get one (is that Triton orange??)

[davo453]

Thanks for the ideas.

Dave that?s a cool looking machine and 4wd too !. I had thought of putting the Dingo on a low truck but would like to keep the tray clear so I can carry other stuff.

Mick I also took a look at the Rodeo but as you say the GCM is not really up to the job, the Navara I hadn?t looked at, I will take a look but I once had an 88 Navara that kept stuffing gearboxes, so once bitten twice shy there?.

The current thinking is for a cheap Japanese import 2 or 3 ton tipper. They can be found for around 11k meaning I can sell my Ute and buy one with a bit of change (with luck). It would be sad to change over though as the Hilux has been very good.

A tipper would mean I can cart small loads of sand etc to the jobs and make a few more $$$

Cheers Dave

[wanderer]

Davo, I am interested to see if you actually bought the Dingo Mini Digger, as I am going through the process myself at the moment, and would be interested to see what you thought of the units.

I am different to you in the way I have not been in the earth moving or excavating industry, but have an engineering background and I am looking at getting into another field.

Any Information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Wanderer

Hi Guy’s

I’m about to make a significant investment, I am seriously considering buying a Dingo Mini Digger and attachments, with a view to starting a small probably part time contracting business.

I’ve driven many earth movers in my time everything from a Bobcat to a D9 but only on an amateur basis. I do however feel I have a good enough grounding to get into one of these machines and with practice produce a good job.

Question is does anyone know anybody that has done this?, did they make a success of it? Do they regret going for such a small (all be it powerful) machine?. Which of the many attachments should I get?.

And many other questions

Cheers

Dave

[davo453]

Hi Wanderer

No I haven't bought one yet but am very close, I have the final costings and am about to take the plunge.

The demo was very impressive and my market research (for what it's worth) was positive.

I've sent you a private message.

Dave

[ozwinner]

Hi Wanderer

No I haven't bought one yet but am very close, I have the final costings and am about to take the plunge.

The demo was very impressive and my market research (for what it's worth) was positive.

I've sent you a private message.

Dave

Hi Davo

Im am interseted in this thread also, Im a brickie at the moment, but I will hit my use by date very shortly.
How did you do your "market research "?

Cheers, Al

[wanderer]

HI Again Davo,

Yep got the message thanks, I am completely new to this place, so it was a nice surprise to find your post.

I am also setting myself up for a demo this time home, and am looking at the K9-4, the dealer said a realistic price would be looking at $42 - 45,000, where the ad says from 36. I was also thinking of an ex government Landcruiser tray back, but will see, as I intend to start part time for now, and then give up the day job when it is going well. I work 28 days on and 28 off on oil rigs, so I should be able to get a bit of a run at it, also I am about to build a house, so have 1/3 acre to play on.

Did you have a look at the Backhoe attachment, I am guessing that would be an expensive investment, and may try and hire that for now, and look at purchasing later.

Wanderer

[vsquizz]

Ok you guys, I've had a enough of the Banjo. When you get around to purchasing the machine, you need to test the trailer set-up (tow to my place), test the machine out (shift 3 tonnes of sand at my place) and improve your skills (shifting 3 tonnes of sand at my place). I will stand around and offer advice....

Im am interseted in this thread also, Im a brickie at the moment, but I will hit my use by date very shortly.
How did you do your "market research "?

About 8 months ago I started my own business. I thought I knew a lot, but lets say knowing a lot about engineering (or whatever it is you do) is not the sole makings of running your own "successful" small business. Theres lots of help available out there for small businesses now and especially for doing market research. I begrudgingly went a did a Small Business Management course and found it quite an eye opener and very very helpful. I'd be happy to pass on some of my limited experience if anyone is interested. (for a 3 tonne sand relocation negotiable fee )

Good Luck

[Ric]

G'day Davo
I pick up my machine tomorrow, a K9-4 with 4 in 1 and PHD, inital reason for getting one was that we lost a heap of fencing on our farm in Feb and decided that getting a Dingo with the PHD and doing the re fencing ourselves beat a contract fencer by a mile and we will be left with a machine to sub contract with. We also have a 2 1/2 acre house block in Walliston that we just moved into and a garden that looks like a gravell pit, besides I love a new toy every now and again.
I hope we are not to close as neighbours but regardless working together in coopetition is a good thing, happy to talk with you about Dingo if you wish.

Like you I was very impressed with the capacity of the Dingo for digging holes, I have had Post hole diggers and FEL's on every thing from Massey 65s to JD 4080 and I recon the Dingo digger beats the pants off them.

Ric

[davo453]

Hi Ric

I get my machine tomorrow also (Friday). K9-4 with post hole digger trencher, trailer and a load of other stuff.

I'm in Bullsbrook but will be prepared to travel (if you live in Bullsbrook your used to that) so we may be competing a bit but as you say that?s not a bad thing. I'll be looking for something to specialise in anyway eventually.

Every man and his dog will have one of these things soon

I've sent you a private message.

Cheers Dave