TLB for sale in South Africa — 2026 buyer's guide

The TLB (tractor-loader-backhoe) is the most versatile machine a South African contractor can own — one operator, one machine, loading and digging on the same site. It's the entry point to plant ownership for thousands of civils contractors, and the workhorse of every municipality in the country.

TLB price list — new in SA 2026

Used TLB pricing (2026)

• Bell 315SL, <4,000 hours, full service history: R950k–R1.1m
• JCB 3CX, <4,000 hours: R850k–R980k
• Cat 428F, <4,000 hours: R950k–R1.1m
• Shantui SL30W, <3,000 hours: R650k–R750k
• Anything over 8,000 hours: price is scrap-plus, budget a full hydraulic rebuild.

Used TLB checklist

• Full service book — no book, no deal
• Hours under 6,000 for a working machine
• Pin play on loader arms and backhoe under 2mm
• Hydraulic pressure test — do it, not optional
• Tyres 70%+ tread (a full set is R25k+)
• Test all outriggers, boom swing, and quick-hitch
• Cab electronics working — key thing that fails on old JCBs

Buy vs hire the TLB

Break-even between buying and dry-hiring is around 1,200 hours per year in SA in 2026. Above that, ownership wins on total cost. Below it, hire and put the capital into another site. See the full TLB hire rates guide for the exact numbers, and the buy vs lease vs rent framework for the decision tree.

Finance and Section 12C

All four big banks finance TLBs — even on the Chinese brands. Typical: 10–15% deposit, 60-month term, prime + 1.5–3%. Section 12C accelerated depreciation lets you write off 40% in year 1 and 20% for years 2–4 — a serious tax win in a first-year profit position.

Ready to pull the trigger? Full brand ranking in the best TLB buyer's guide. Regional pricing on the Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban TLB pages.