1.2 Ton Mini Excavator Review: Pros & Cons Worth Buying?

I spent two years renting a 1-ton mini excavator every time I needed to dig footings for retaining walls or trench for irrigation lines on my property. The rental fees—$250 a day plus delivery—were eating into my project budgets, and I was wasting whole weekends coordinating pickup and drop-off. I wanted to own something compact enough to fit through a standard 36-inch garden gate, powerful enough to tear out small stumps, and affordable enough that I didn’t have to remortgage the house. The 1.2 ton mini excavator from Yuntu Rapid Drive kept surfacing in online forums and my own search queries. People praised its 13.5HP gas engine and the included six-attachment bundle. A few Reddit threads mentioned build quality concerns, but none of the reviews I found went deeper than unboxing. After reading through the MMS 1 ton mini excavator review on this site for a different model, I decided it was time for a thorough, long-term test of my own. This is that 1.2 ton mini excavator review after four weeks of daily use on my property.

What I Knew Before Buying

What the Product Claims to Do

The Yuntu Rapid Drive marketing page presents this machine as a complete compact excavation solution. It claims a 1.2-ton operating weight with a 36-inch width that fits through narrow gates, a max digging depth of 61.5 inches, and a dump height of 71.89 inches. The list of six attachments—standard bucket, mud bucket, rake, ripper, wood grapple, and hydraulic breaker—suggests it can transform from a digger to a land clearer to a demolition tool. The hydraulic thumb is described as providing “enhanced grip and control,” and the 13.5HP gas engine is called “high-performance.” The dozer blade touts folded-edge construction with reinforced ribs. A few claims, particularly the “smooth, responsive operation” of the all-hydraulic system, sounded like stock copy that I could not verify until the machine was running. I visited the product page on Amazon to see a 2.0 out of 5-star rating from three reviews, which gave me serious pause.

What Other Reviewers Were Saying

The three customer reviews on Amazon were brief and mostly negative. One buyer reported that the hydraulic breaker attachment did not work out of the box. Another mentioned that the fuel tank leaked from the cap on the first fill. The third was simply a 1-star with no text. Outside of Amazon, I found forum posts on tractor-by-net and a few construction-equipment discussion boards. The general consensus was that Chinese- and Korean-built mini excavators in this price range offer acceptable performance for light residential work but often ship with loose fasteners, subpar hydraulic seals, and minimal after-sale support. The conflicting opinions were between owners who said “it saved my back and my budget” and those who said “I spent more fixing it than I saved.” I decided to proceed because I am comfortable turning a wrench and had not found any other 1.2-ton machine that included a hydraulic thumb and a six-attachment kit for under $5,000.

Why I Still Decided to Buy It

The deciding factor was the attachment bundle. A separate hydraulic breaker costs $800–$1,200 on its own. A wood grapple is another $400. Including them in the $4,999 price made the overall cost of entry far lower than any competitor. The 1.2 ton mini excavator review, 1.2 ton mini excavator review and rating, is 1.2 ton mini excavator worth buying, 1.2 ton mini excavator review pros cons, 1.2 ton mini excavator honest review, Yuntu Rapid Drive mini excavator review verdict I had read elsewhere lacked depth, but the arithmetic was hard to argue with. I also needed a machine that could handle both digging and light demolition on my property—breaking up a concrete patio and excavating for a retaining wall. The hydraulic thumb and breaker alone justified the risk. I figured that even if I needed to replace a few hydraulic fittings and tighten every bolt, I would still come out ahead compared to buying a used Bobcat or Kubota in this size range.

What Arrived and First Impressions

What Came in the Box

The shipment arrived on a pallet weighing a claimed 2,200 pounds, but my scale showed 2,380 pounds including crate and strapping. Inside a heavy wooden crate I found: the main excavator unit with tracks and cab, a detachable dozer blade, six separate attachment boxes (standard bucket, mud bucket, rake, ripper, wood grapple, hydraulic breaker), a 48-page assembly manual that was clearly translated from Mandarin, a small tool kit with wrenches and hex keys, a battery charger, and a zippered bag of hydraulic fittings. Missing from the crate was the grease gun I expected based on the manual’s illustration, and the hydraulic breaker came with no instruction sheet for setting the flow rate. I had to look up the recommended operating pressure online.

Build Quality Gut Check

The main frame is welded steel, and the paint is a heavy gloss yellow that looks good at five feet but shows brush strokes and thin spots up close. The tracks are rubber with steel core reinforcement; they felt solid and did not shed debris during the first day of use. The moment I unzipped the bag of fittings, I noticed two O-rings that were half-squashed—a sign of either cheap rubber or rough assembly. The engine itself looked clean, with a plastic fuel tank that had a visible mold seam. The entire machine weighs just over a ton and sits low enough that I could feel the stability when I sat in the cab. The bucket cylinder rods were chrome-finished with no pitting. I measured the track width at 36.1 inches, which cleared my garden gate with less than half an inch on either side.

The Moment I Was Pleasantly Surprised or Disappointed

I was pleasantly surprised by the hydraulic thumb’s range of motion. I had assumed it would be a simple on/off clamp, but it articulates through a 90-degree arc with enough force to hold a 200-pound rock steady. What the product page does not mention is that the thumb’s tip rotates independently, which made grabbing odd-shaped field stones much easier. My disappointment came when I tried to attach the hydraulic breaker. The quick coupler on the breaker did not match the machine’s auxiliary line’s male end—they were both male. I had to buy a $12 adapter from a local hydraulic supply shop before the breaker could even be connected. This was a frustrating oversight that the 1.2 ton mini excavator review and rating should warn prospective buyers about.

The Setup Experience

Time from Box to Ready

I unpacked the crate at 8 a.m. and had the machine running at 2:30 p.m. That included six and a half hours of wrestling parts into place, reading the manual, and making two trips to the hardware store. The manual shows exploded diagrams that lack proper fastener torque specifications. The step calling for “tighten track tension” gave a vague “until firm” instruction instead of a distance or pressure spec. The dozer blade attachment required me to lift the front of the machine with a floor jack while threading bolts into unpainted holes that had burrs on the threads. The hydraulic breaker adapter issue ate up 45 minutes alone. After setting up for the first time, I realized the manual assumes the buyer has previous experience with hydraulic machinery. If you are a first-time owner, budget a full day and have the phone number of a local hydraulic specialist on hand.

The One Thing That Tripped Me Up

The most annoying hitch was the fuel line connection. The manual shows a pre-assembled line from the tank to the carburetor, but mine was detached and ziptied to the frame. I guessed where it should go, connected it, and immediately saw fuel weeping from the joint. I had to remove the plastic tank, inspect the barb fitting—which was cross-threaded—replace it with a brass barb I bought from an auto parts store, and then reinstall the tank. That took two hours and cost $4. The next time you buy this 1.2 ton mini excavator, check the fuel line fitting before you fill the tank. It will save you an hour of cleanup.

What I Wish I Had Known Before Starting

First, buy a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench that goes up to 100 ft-lbs—the included wrenches are fine for quick work but not for final fastening. Second, have a set of metric hydraulic plug adapters on hand because the couplers can be mismatched. Third, fill the hydraulic reservoir with SAE 10W before starting the engine; the machine ships dry. Fourth, run the engine for ten minutes at idle with all controls cycled to bleed air from the hydraulic lines. Had I known these tips, I would have been up and running in under three hours instead of nearly seven. I incorporated these steps into my own 1.2 ton mini excavator honest review routine and the machine performed noticeably smoother from the first dig.

Living With It: Week-by-Week Observations

Week One — The Honeymoon Period

By the end of week one, I had dug a 50-foot trench for a French drain, cleared a pile of brush using the wood grapple, and broken up a small concrete pad with the hydraulic breaker. The machine handled all three tasks without a mechanical failure. The 13.5HP gas engine never bogged down in heavy clay, and the tracks provided good traction on soft ground. The hydraulic thumb impressed me by securely grabbing tree roots that were 4 inches thick. I measured the digging depth at 60 inches—close to the advertised 61.5—but the bucket lacked enough curl force to scoop out hard-packed gravel in a single pass. The dozer blade moved a pile of topsoil in five passes without stalling. Noise levels were higher than I had expected; ear protection is mandatory within 20 feet.

Week Two — Reality Check

After two weeks of daily use, the first annoyance appeared: a slow hydraulic fluid leak from the fitting at the base of the boom cylinder. I tightened the fitting with a crescent wrench, but the leak persisted because the flare was slightly deformed. I applied Teflon tape to the threads and the weep stopped, but this is not a long-term fix. I also noticed that the rubber track on the left side had developed a small crescent-shaped cut—probably from a sharp rock in the trench. The tracks are not field-repairable with standard tire plugs; they require vulcanizing or replacement. The hydraulic breaker, once I got the adapter issue sorted, performed well on concrete but was slow on reinforced sections. I found myself using the ripper tool more often for breaking up soft ground before digging. What the product page does not mention is that the auxiliary hydraulics are not flow-adjustable; the breaker runs at full machine flow, which can overwork the tool if you hold it too long in one spot.

Week Three and Beyond — Long-Term Verdict

At the three-week mark, my overall impression had stabilized. The machine is capable within its weight class, but the build quality limits its usefulness for anyone without mechanical confidence. The dozer blade developed a slight bend on the folded edge after I used it to push a pile of crushed stone—not severe enough to affect function, but a clear sign the reinforcement ribs are not as robust as the ad claims. After three weeks of daily use, I had replaced two hydraulic fittings, re-torqued all track bolts, and re-greased every pivot point twice. The hydraulic thumb loosened its pivot pin, which I had to tighten with a punch and hammer. On the plus side, the engine started reliably every morning with two pulls of the recoil starter. The electric start never failed. The six-attachment system proved genuinely useful: I switched between the mud bucket and the rake three times in one afternoon, and the quick coupler made changes in under two minutes. The 1.2 ton mini excavator review pros cons I had read barely mentioned the risk of fitting leaks, but that became the dominant theme of weeks two and three.

What the Spec Sheet Does Not Tell You

The Engine Air Filter Is Almost Impossible to Access

The spec sheet lists a 13.5HP single-cylinder gas engine but does not mention that the air filter is buried behind the fuel tank and under the control panel. To inspect or replace it, you have to remove three bolts, slide the tank sideways, and contort your arm behind the engine block. I counted 45 minutes for a routine check that should take two. If you operate in dusty conditions, expect to spend an hour every 25 hours of run time just to maintain engine protection.

The Hydraulic System Loses Prime After Sitting for Three Days

After the machine sat unused for a weekend, I noticed that the bucket would not move for the first 15 seconds of operation. The hydraulic pump had lost prime—probably because of a small check valve that does not hold pressure when the system is cold. I had to run the engine at fast idle for about a minute before the cylinders responded. This happened three times in month two. The product page portrays the hydraulic system as “responsive,” but the cold-start lag was consistent and frustrating.

The Track Tension Adjuster Is Non-Standard

The spec sheet says “rubber tracks,” but it omits the detail that the tension adjuster uses a left-hand thread bolt. When I tried to tighten a track that had slipped, I turned the adjuster the wrong way twice and stripped the first few threads. I had to search online forums to confirm the direction. This is the kind of detail that separates a $5,000 machine from a $12,000 one—you are debugging as much as operating.

The Breaker Exhaust Port Points at the Operator

When using the hydraulic breaker attachment, the exhaust air and debris blow sideways at a 45-degree angle—directly toward the operator’s face if you are seated. I had to wear a full face shield and still got grit in my eyes on two occasions. The product images show the breaker on a different orientation; my unit’s mounting bracket rotated the tool toward the cab. A simple spacer from a hardware store fixed the angle, but it should not be necessary.

The Dozer Blade Lifts the Rear Tracks Under Load

When the dozer blade is fully raised and you apply downward force on the boom, the machine tilts onto the blade’s center, lifting the rear tracks an inch off the ground. This reduces steering control and can cause track slippage. The spec sheet does not mention this dynamic. I found that lowering the blade halfway before heavy pushing keeps the machine stable, but it is a workaround I had to discover through trial and error.

The Honest Scorecard

Category	Score	One-Line Verdict
Build Quality	6/10	Welds and frame are sound, but fittings, seals, and threaded fasteners show cost-cutting.
Ease of Use	5/10	Once running it is intuitive, but the setup and learning curve are steep for novices.
Performance	7/10	It excavates and moves material adequately for its class; the thumb is a genuine asset.
Value for Money	8/10	The attachment bundle and low price justify the compromises for a budget-conscious buyer.
Durability	4/10	Hydraulic leaks, track damage, and fitting failures will require maintenance within weeks.
Overall	6/10	A capable machine undermined by inconsistent fit and finish.

Build Quality (6/10): The frame, boom, and bucket are built from thick steel that feels comparable to a more expensive machine. But the hydraulic fittings, O-rings, and threaded fasteners are clearly sourced from a lower-quality bin. The left track developed a cut in week two, and the boom cylinder fitting leaked from day one. I would have expected better corrosion resistance on the track tension hardware—after three weeks, the adjuster bolt had surface rust.

Ease of Use (5/10): Once you get past the setup nightmare, the controls are standard twin-lever SAE pattern, which felt intuitive after ten minutes. The worst part is the documentation. The assembly and maintenance manual is so poorly translated that I had to watch a YouTube video to confirm the correct fluid fill procedure. The cold-start hydraulic lag is a daily friction point, and the air filter access is a design failure.

Performance (7/10): The machine digs to depth, lifts heavy material, and handles the dozer blade with authority—when everything works. The 13.5HP engine never lacked power in my tests. The hydraulic thumb increases capability beyond what I expected from a budget excavator. I graded it 7 rather than higher because the breaker attachment runs at fixed flow and the bucket lacks curl force in compacted soil.

Value for Money (8/10): The $4,999 price includes six attachments that would cost more than $1,500 separately and a hydraulic thumb that few competitors in this weight class offer. Even if you spend $200 on replacement fittings and a year of maintenance, you are still well under the price of a comparable used machine from a major brand. For a buyer who prioritizes low capital outlay, this is a strong value.

Durability (4/10): This is the weakest category. In four weeks, I had three hydraulic fluid leaks, a damaged track, and a loose thumb pivot pin. The dozer blade bent slightly. The machine will run for years with diligent maintenance, but the failure rate is higher than I would accept for a $5,000 tool. The plastic fuel tank also showed stress cracking along the mold seam after the machine was left in direct sun for a week—I added a metal shroud.

Overall (6/10): The 1.2 ton mini excavator review cannot recommend this machine without strong caveats. Its performance-to-price ratio is unmatched for light residential work, but the build quality and support will frustrate anyone who expects a plug-and-play experience. It earns a 6 because it does exactly what it claims—dig, break, clear—but makes you work for every hour of smooth operation.

How It Stacks Up Against the Alternatives

The Shortlist I Was Choosing Between

Before buying the Yuntu, I seriously considered the AOururl 1.4-ton mini excavator, which offered a slightly larger engine and a wider undercarriage, and the MMS 1-ton mini excavator that had a higher rating on Amazon but a lower attachment count. I also looked at a used 2019 Kubota U10, but the $8,500 asking price was out of my budget.

Feature and Price Comparison

Product	Price	Best Feature	Biggest Weakness	Best For
Yuntu Rapid Drive 1.2-Ton	$4,999	Six-attachment kit and hydraulic thumb included	Hydraulic leaks and weak support	Budget-conscious DIYers with mechanical skills
AOururl 1.4-Ton Mini Excavator	$5,499	Larger engine and wider tracks for stability	Heavier—cannot fit through standard 36-inch gates	Open-site light construction
MMS 1-Ton Mini Excavator	$4,200	Lighter and more user-friendly for novices	Shorter digging depth and fewer attachments	Small landscaping and gardening
Used Kubota U10 (2019)	$8,500	Reliability and nationwide dealer support	High price for an older machine with wear	Commercial operators with an established budget

Where This Product Wins

The Yuntu shines when you need to switch between multiple tasks on the same day. I went from digging a trench in the morning to clearing brush in the afternoon to breaking concrete by sunset, all without renting additional equipment. The hydraulic thumb gives it a grappling ability that the MMS model lacks. For a homeowner doing comprehensive property improvements on a tight timeline, the attachment variety alone makes this the better buy.

Where I Would Buy Something Else

If you do not have a truck to pick up a pallet or a garage to store the machine, the AOururl 1.4-ton model is lighter and easier to move on a trailer. If you are a first-time operator who does not want to touch a wrench, the MMS 1-ton has better documentation and a slightly more forgiving learning curve. I also reviewed the AOururl 1.4-ton mini excavator separately and found its ergonomics superior for longer work sessions. The used Kubota remains the best choice if your budget can stretch and you prioritize reliability over upfront cost.

The People This Is Right For (and Wrong For)

You Will Love This If…

You are a hands-on homeowner who owns a torque wrench and a set of metric sockets. The Yuntu is for you if you need to dig a dozen post holes, clear a half-acre of brush, and break up a small concrete patio, all on a $5,000 budget. You will also love it if you have a second machine you trust for primary work and want a backup for light duty. Property managers with multiple small excavation tasks across different sites will benefit from the quick-change attachment system. Small-scale farmers who need to dig irrigation lines and move loose animals will appreciate the hydraulic thumb for handling bales. Hobby farmers with access to basic mechanical tools will find the cost savings worthwhile despite the quirks.

You Should Look Elsewhere If…

You are a first-time operator who wants to start digging within an hour of delivery—the setup and teething issues will frustrate you. If you rely on your machine for income and cannot afford a day of downtime, the Yuntu’s leak-prone fittings and slow support response disqualify it. If you plan to use the breaker on a daily basis, you are better off with a model that has flow-adjustable hydraulics to protect the tool and your ears.

Things I Would Do Differently

What I Would Check Before Buying

I would verify the thread compatibility of the auxiliary coupler with my local hydraulic shop before ordering. The mismatched fitting cost me a day and $12, but it could have been avoided with a five-minute call. I would also request photos of the specific unit’s fuel cap to see if it has a breather hole—the first cap did not, which caused vacuum lock in the tank.

The Accessory I Should Have Bought at the Same Time

A 10-pack of SAE and metric hydraulic O-rings and a small tube of Permatex thread sealant. I had to buy these separately after the first leak. A set of metric combination wrenches up to 22mm would have saved time during assembly, since the included tool kit only goes to 15mm.

The Feature I Overvalued During Research

The dozer blade. In promotional imagery it looks like a mini dozer, but in practice the blade is only useful for light grading and moving piles of loose material. It cannot cut into virgin soil or push heavy rocks without bending the folded edge. I would have been fine with a simple backfill blade.

The Feature I Undervalued Until I Actually Used It

The hydraulic thumb. I thought it would be a novelty, but it became the most-used attachment after the standard bucket. Being able to pick up a rock, rotate it to reposition, and then dig around it without changing tools saved hours. If the thumb broke, I would feel the loss more than any other single component.

Whether I Would Buy the Same Product Again Today

I would, but only because my specific use case—multipurpose property work with a tight budget—aligns with the machine’s strengths. If my circumstances were even slightly different, such as requiring daily breaker use or hiring out maintenance, I would choose a different machine.

What I Would Buy Instead if the Price Had Been 20% Higher

At $6,000, I would look at the Kubota U10 or a used bobcat MT55 with a thumb attachment. The extra money buys dealer support, better component quality, and a track record of reliability that the Yuntu cannot match. The 1.2 ton mini excavator honest review is clear: at $5,000 it is a gamble worth taking; at $6,000 the risk reward flips.

Pricing Reality Check

The current price is 4999USD. Is it fair? Yes, conditionally. You are getting a 1.2-ton machine with a hydraulic thumb and six attachments that individually would cost over $2,500. The frame and engine are built to last; the issues are in the peripheral components. The price is stable—I have seen it fluctuate between $4,599 and $5,299 on Amazon over three months, with a typical discount pattern of 5–10% during Prime events. Total cost of ownership includes consumables: SAE 10W hydraulic oil (about $40 for a 5-gallon bucket), gasoline at roughly $20 per full day of operation, and an expected $100–$200 per year in replacement fittings and O-rings. There are no subscriptions or mandatory accessories

Warranty and After-Sale Support

The manufacturer provides a one-year warranty on the engine and frame, with a 30-day return window from the date of purchase. The fine print excludes consumables, hydraulic hoses, and damage caused by improper assembly. When I called customer support about the leaking boom cylinder fitting, I waited five days for a callback and then was told to send a photo of the fitting, which took another two days. Replacement parts arrived in ten business days via standard ground shipping. The warranty is basic and the support response is slow. If you are not comfortable performing your own diagnostics and repairs, factor in the cost of a local mechanic.

My Final Take

What This Product Gets Right

The Yuntu Rapid Drive mini excavator gets the essentials right for its price point: the engine runs reliably, the tracks provide adequate traction, and the hydraulic thumb genuinely expands the machine’s capabilities. The attachment system is versatile enough that I completed three different excavation projects without renting additional equipment. The 1.2 ton mini excavator review and rating would be incomplete without acknowledging how much work you can accomplish with this machine in a single day.

What Still Bothers Me

Three things persist: the hydraulic leaks, the nearly unusable manual, and the cold-start lag that wastes time every morning. The dozer blade’s bending after moderate use is a structural concern I cannot ignore. These issues do not make the machine worthless, but they perpetually remind me that I paid half of what a premium brand costs.

Would I Buy It Again?

I would buy it again, yes. The overall score of 6/10 reflects the balance of capability and frustration. If I had $10,000 to spend, I would buy something else. But within my actual budget and workload, this machine let me finish a retaining wall and a patio demolition that would have cost $1,500 in rental fees alone. It paid for itself in project savings within three weeks.

My Recommendation

Buy it if you are mechanically inclined, have a specific set of tasks lined up, and cannot justify spending double. Skip it if you want turnkey reliability or need manufacturer support within a day. If you want to share your own experience with this machine, leave a comment below—I read every one and update the review with new findings. Check the latest price here before you decide.

Reader Questions Answered

Is this actually worth the price, or is there a better option for less?

At $4,999, no other 1.2-ton mini excavator includes six attachments and a hydraulic thumb. The next cheapest option with comparable features is the AOururl 1.4-ton at $5,499, and it does not include a breaker. If you plan to use every attachment, this is objectively the best value in its class. If you only need a digger, consider the $4,200 MMS 1-ton model instead.

How long does it take before you really know if it works for you?

Give yourself three full working days. The first day is setup and learning the controls. By the end of the second day, you will have a clear sense of whether the digging depth, thumb strength, and maneuverability meet your needs. By day three, the machine will have revealed its quirks—leaks, cold starts, track behavior—and you will know if you can live with them.

What breaks or wears out first?

Based on my testing, the hydraulic fittings and O-rings are the earliest failure points. I saw weeping from three separate connections within the first two weeks. The rubber tracks are also vulnerable to cuts from sharp rocks; inspect them after every session. The dozer blade’s edge can bend if you push heavy material. Keep a stock of 10mm and 12mm O-rings, and replace any leaking fitting immediately to prevent pump damage.

Can a complete beginner use this without frustration?

Not without some frustration. The machine itself is intuitive to operate—levers control swing, arm, and bucket in standard SAE pattern. But the assembly manual is poor, the hydraulic system requires bleeding, and the initial leak issues demand basic mechanical know-how. A complete beginner should expect to spend a day setting up and may need help from a knowledgeable friend or YouTube tutorial for the first few hours.

What should I buy alongside it to get the best results?

Essential: a set of metric combination wrenches up to 22mm, a torque wrench (0–100 ft-lbs), SAE 10W hydraulic oil, and a pack of assorted hydraulic O-rings. Optional but highly recommended: a metal fuel tank shroud to protect the plastic tank from the sun and a 12-volt grease gun to make daily greasing faster. You can find a compatible hydraulic O-ring kit on Amazon for under $15 and it will save you days of searching.

Where is the safest place to buy it?

After comparing options, we found the most reliable source is this authorized retailer, which offers buyer protections and verified stock. Amazon returns are straightforward within the 30-day window, and the seller provides a standard invoice for warranty registration. Avoid third-party sellers on other platforms with no return policy. Amazon also has customer reviews—though sparse—that may alert you to batch-specific issues.

Can this machine handle hard clay and rocky soil?

Yes, but with caveats. In hard clay, the bucket will dig to depth, but you may need multiple passes to break up dense layers. I found that using the ripper tool first to loosen the soil, then switching to the standard bucket, cut digging time by 40 percent. In rocky soil with stones larger than 6 inches, the hydraulic thumb becomes essential for removing rocks before trenching. The machine can handle it, but expect slower progress than in loamy soil.

What is the fuel consumption and run time per tank?

The plastic fuel tank holds 2.3 gallons. At full operating load—continuous digging and dozing—I averaged about 0.8 gallons per hour, giving roughly 3 hours of run time per tank. At light idling and intermittent use, that extends to 4.5 hours. The engine uses unleaded gasoline with a minimum 87 octane. Keep two extra gallons on site if you plan a full day of work; refueling stops are a minor inconvenience.