Size class
Minis range from under 2 tonnes to around 6 tonnes. Tell us the model so we know where yours sits. The model number is on the serial plate, usually near the cab or on the boom.
Home / Mini excavators
Under 6 tonnes
We Buy Mini Excavators, Running or Not
Bought a mini for one project and it's been parked since? We buy minis under 6 tonnes, running or not.
Running or notFree pickup on most machines
Free offer · No obligation
Get your excavator offer
About a minute. We call back with a number.
- 1 to 6 tonne machines
- Rubber or steel tracks
- Backyards, driveways and yards
Who sells us minis
The usual stories
Finished project
The basement or septic field is done. The mini is in the way.
Crew upgrade
A landscaper replaced the old unit with a new one.
It quit
Won't crank, won't track, or the swing lost power.
Estate or closure
Left behind on a property that needs clearing.
Common wear
What usually needs work (we still buy it)
- Rubber tracks cracked, missing lugs or jumping off
- Swing bearing play or a sloppy boom swing
- Pins and bushings worn at the bucket and stick
- Cylinders weeping, or a leaking blade ram
- Electrics acting up after a wet winter outside
Have an excavator to sell? Get a number in minutes.
Brands
Minis we see most
- Kubota KX and U series
- Bobcat E-series
- Takeuchi TB216 to TB260
- Cat 301 to 305
- Also: Deere, Yanmar ViO, Kobelco, Volvo, Wacker Neuson, JCB
Loading a mini
A running mini walks onto a deck truck in minutes. A dead one gets winched. Tell us about narrow gates, slopes or side yards.
Minis in depth
What sets a mini excavator's value
Minis are popular with contractors, landscapers and homeowners, so the details matter.
Rubber tracks
Rubber tracks wear and crack. New tracks cost a fair amount, so their condition shows up in the quote. Tell us whether the tracks are original, replaced or cracked through, and send a photo of each side.
Zero or reduced tail swing
Zero tail swing minis are popular for tight work and hold value well. Reduced tail swing machines are just as welcome, and the model tells us which yours is.
Thumb and coupler
A hydraulic thumb and a quick coupler add value. Tell us if the auxiliary hydraulics work. A thumb that's bent or a coupler with worn pins still adds something.
Cab or canopy
An enclosed cab with heat adds value in BC winters. A canopy machine is fine; it just suits different buyers.
Small engines and the bylaw
Many minis have engines under 25 hp, which puts them outside Metro Vancouver's Bylaw 1329. Larger minis may fall under it. If your mini is registered, update or cancel the registration when it's sold.
Trailers
Many minis live on their own trailer. A trailer can be sold with the machine, and if it's registered, the registration transfers and you keep the plate.
Backyard machines
Minis bought for a home project often end up parked in a backyard. Tell us the gate width and the path to the street, and we'll plan how to get it out.
Common mini problems
Cracked rubber tracks, leaking cylinders, failed travel motors and electrical faults are the usual reasons minis get parked. None of them stop a sale.
Questions
Common questions
What counts as a mini excavator?
Roughly anything under 6 tonnes. That covers the 1 to 2 tonne machines people rent for a weekend up to 5 to 6 tonne units that landscapers and drainage crews run every day.
Do you buy minis with rubber tracks that are shot?
Yes. Worn, cut or de-tracked rubber is common on minis and it just comes off the price a little. It doesn't stop the sale.
My mini sits on its own trailer. Can I sell both?
Tell us about the trailer when you send the details. If it goes with the machine, we'll look at both together and you'll get one number.
Is a mini worth selling if it doesn't run?
Usually, yes. Minis hold value well, and a non-running one still has an engine, a hydraulic system and a lot of steel that someone can use.
Can you get a mini out of a backyard?
If it went in, it can usually come out. If it still tracks we walk it to the street. If it doesn't, tell us how far it is from the road and what's in the way.
Do you buy minis with a cab?
Yes. Cab and canopy minis are both bought, running or not.