BareBones Excavators
 

I was looking for an excavator and came across this.

http://barebonesexcavators.com/products.html

This is 20lbs heavier at 63lbs than the 4200xl and bigger.
It will lift 80lbs
I am going to save up for this one.

Has anyone bought this?
I'd love to see one in action.

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

Looks very promosing provided I can add all the components right.... My only concern would be for me to get the tracks fully functioning and a good hydro installed....

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

I think they said you can put the 4200xl hydraulic kit in it so that would make it easier to get the parts all in one place.
rc4wd also has the modified radio for it.

I just love the size and weight, it should be able to out dig most any production model.

As for the track motors and turntable, that shouldn't be an issue , it's ready to just install your choice of motors

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

Looks very nice but also looks like a lot of work to get it going. There are no hydraulic lines on the boom. Wish the video and pictures would should a little more of how it's built. Surprised they don't sell a "finishing" kit.

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

It seems strange they don't have a working model. Definitely a good start though. I emailed them for availability. The price isn't bad at all for what you get.

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

When you look at some the build threads here on the Vario hoes (and other brands as well) I wonder if by the time you buy all the components the price of the BareBones is any cheaper. Maybe it can be built cheaper but the quality of parts will surly suffer.

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

Same thought here Clause..... by the time I add up all the add ons is it really going to be more cost effective.....just not sure!

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

Found this on you tube....

http://youtu.be/eSR272C7ITU

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

That video is on their website too, still doesn't show any provisions for any components. I wonder if for the track drives they just expect you to bolt gear head motors on? I hate the look of gear head motors hanging on the insides of the track sprockets.

Borrowing these photos form Azonic's Vario build, I love the way vario hid the drive motors in the track frames. Hopefully Barebones has something like this but I don't know. I'm reminded of the old saying "you get what you pay for".

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...8-17225705.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...8-17225721.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...9-09234453.jpg

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

Interested.

Re: Found awesome excavator
 

Crash-that is a strange video :confused: I personally would be very afraid of a machine that is shown NOT working. Probably made from junk!! Just my opinion.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

It looks to be CNC cut parts, whether laser or waterjet, doesn't matter. But it's not designed around any particular components installation, and that will determine how much cutting & whacking you'll have to do to get it working.

The excavator itself is not going to lift 80lbs, but rather that may be the force the cyls are capable of at their maxium pressure... although they look like in the pics to be generic air cyls... so one might as well build their own so they look & function more prototypical and the fittings be in the correct locations.

$1500 is not a bad starting point, the hard part of CAD & laser cut parts is done.

I see on their site that they are considering to design a front shovel & I would certainly be interested in buying a shell of that model. ;)

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I have tried both sending them a message and phone calls but no answer yet so I guess we will have to see if it is legit first. If it is it does seem like a great start to an excavator. The price does have me a little sceptical as well as no video of one working under its own power.

Travis

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I too will be following them for a shovel. Looks promising.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I tried calling too no answer . If legit , it would seem a side deal that father and son went together and got a bunch run at 1 time . I'm concerned with the way the carbody and track frame mates . Bearing assm. or a bolt like Don cambles models :confused:

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I'm interested in what you guys find out, keep us posted. For me this is what I'm looking for. As I don't have the ability to cut odd shaped parts. No cnc but can do all the other stuff. And yes I would rather not even have the cylinders.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

$1500US is a lot of money for a skeleton if it isn't set up to fit certain drive and swing motors or like Steve said, doesn't have a swing bearing. Looks like the tracks are bolted onto some sort of roller chain which isn't a bad thing but definitely isn't as nice as cast pads(look carefully and you will see some are mounted crooked). I wonder if it has a tensioner on the tracks or if they are fixed? I can see this costing as much as an RTR RC4WD hoe by the time its working. Maybe it's a good score? I guess if someone gets a call back from them then we will get some answers!

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I watched the video.:eek: safe to say I've watched a few hundred hours of Rc equipment on YouTube but this is the first time I've ever seen a guy manually dig like that! :lol: what exactly did he think that was demonstrating?:confused:

I understand they may not be in the hydraulic and electronics business and just the metal but ya gotta show people the machine in Rc action right?

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

Mario I would have been much more confident in the machine if He would have made some engine noises with His mouth while doing the play digging.:D Maybe a vrooom, vrooom!! or a Grrrhhh, Grrrhhh!

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

Agreed!! Sounds like 80lbs for sure! :lol:

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

Looks very scookum and could be a good start ...the detail on the cab looks good as well as bucket and most everything else ..not so much with the tracks and cycinders..They also have a link on there site to this forum so chances are thay could be members ..Definatley good to see something come to market on this side of the pond

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

The funny thing is he has a link to this forum on his page. You'd think with his interest in the hobby and knowing of this site he'd be a member here or something. Looks promising but like the other guys pointing out the small details that do actually make a big difference in how well it would perform as is or how easy and cheap it would be to modify definitely brings some concerns. With the RC4WD version costing under $3000 RTR ( minus shipping cost ) is a hard deal to beat. But you can always get the cheap China made KAT and upgrade too but to get it up to par with reliability and performance your back up in price to the RC4WD.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

This model is nearly twice the size of the Chinese RC4WD hoe... is any China model the new level in this hobby to aspire to? :confused: Their electronics & hydraulics are the bottom of the barrel quality!

Perhaps DadsGarage pops up to comment b/c he does this CAD & waterjet cutting for an occupation... for the time & tools involved, I don't see $1500 being that expensive for a skeleton model, swing bearing or not.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

The BareBones does look much better than the RC4WD, we defiantly need more info on how it is built and what provisions it has but from what we can see it does look worth the money. I just hope it can be finished by a moderate hobbyist and not a machinist.

The bucket looks awesome.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

The track links look they are stamped out & formed to shape; which is exactly how the Stahl tracks were done. They were very durable & simple assembly.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

It looked like the boom was a little wiggly when he was installing the boom Pin? Not sure I like the upper boom cylinder connection either. Wonder if the rollers are all bearings and if the drive train for the tracks are durable? lot's of questions on this machine, I think they should show more detailed pictures.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

The German models I think are far above anything else out there in quality, durability and detail but not price. Guess the good thing is you can buy this excavator and modify if you wish, also you can put what ever components you want on it.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I guess it all depends on how hard it is to make it drive and swing. If you can buy 3 $20-$30 gear motors for the tracks and swing, rig up your own slew ring and afford to buy German hydraulics then it is a good buy I guess. If you don't buy German hydraulics then you might as well buy the RC4WD machine. I don't see much profit in it for them at $1500 no matter what the quality is like. I think most of us compare everything to the HK hoe because it is all we could ever afford. The German stuff is just out of the realm of reality for me. I've always wanted a Lamborghini too but that isn't happening either!lol

No matter what, it's another option and it's in North America. If they are lucky enough to stick with it their product will get better and I'm sure they will offer more things. We all have to start somewhere, whether your a seller or a buyer and I honestly hope they can make it work. I think the best part of all is that it is a father and son deal!

Reg

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I just approved BareBonesExcavators as a member, so now they're here on the forum... perhaps some answers are soon to follow. ;)

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

Reg you made a lot of good points.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I think most are jumping the gun thinking of mostly negative opinions on this machine. If I had the time I would get it. Looks like a good size machine.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I sent them an email yesterday and no reply yet.
As long as i don't have to do heavy mods, im interested.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

Knowing what I know about setup time , the more units you run the more the cost of the setup can be spread out . To me , the price as it stands is worth it for just the sheet metal .

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

Nice! I'm sure their business will pick up because of it!

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

Considering what a mass produced tamiya semi takes to fully build,mod,and electronics to get Tito operate...the base price is not that bad when considering the low volume of sales this machine will have...it looks very promising and the cost is not out of line at all....

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

This is the exact same message I recieved and I can guarantee my questions were completely different. so I am still a little skeptical here but that is just me.

Travis

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I got an honest and personalized email reply to all of my questions, so no worries. Be patient. I'm sure they are working on answering all the emails they got. No doubt the interest in their models exploded after it was mentioned here on the forum.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

i got the same automated response then a day or so later a personalized email replying to what i asked the guy seemed keen to help me out since i wasnt after the whole kit.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I'm still very new at this and i'm glad i posted this thread.
Eveyone was bringing up things i wouldn't think of.
This sparked an intrest and hopefully we will get all our answers.
I'm very interested in this for my first excavator but you guys made me step back and find out more.
I think ill invite the owner of barebones to come here and get involved.

Love this group.

Re: BareBones Excavators
 

I guess barebones made an account here. Now to find him: )