couchsachraga
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2001
- Messages
- 309
- Location
- Adirondacks, NY, USA
- Tractor
- John Deere 4520 cab... formerly Yanmar 336D
I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but I"m sure it's been thought about!
I have a 33hp diesel 4wd shuttle shift tractor from the 80's right now, and an old 9 ton backhoe. I expect to sell both in the spring with any luck (backhoe there is serious interest in, tractor I may trade in).
I have use for a backhoe still, but need to be able to get in to some tighter spots, and over some softer areas where my 9 ton 2wd machine just isn't going to go, either size wise or without making a royal mess... and potentially needing a friend with a dozer to pull me out!
My initial thought was a tractor (leaning towards a JD4520 with cab) with a backhoe attachment (and hydraulic thumb). My uses are pretty minimal - stumps on occasion (not frequent) installing or replacing a culvert now and then, cleaning ditches out after storms (and culverts) mostly. Likely pulling the odd rock up too (we have lots of those...).
What gives me pause is I'm used to a backhoe with 8k pounds of breakout force... not 2k.... Stumps will undoubtably take longer, but it will be rare it's a big stump so I'm not that concerned.
I've started looking at excavators, but it seems most are really expensive, or really beat! For a big job I can always rent (or borrow my backhoe back if it is near the road ).
Has anyone gone through this thought process yourself, what did you decide, and why?
Property wise it's 1+ mile of road plus several miles of ski / snowmobile trails, 200+ acres (mostly woods, but 5+ acres of field with another 10 of beaver swamp (or my own personal mosquito breeding ground as I like to call it)) in the Adirondacks up upstate NY. Lots of rocks, some ledge, hills, etc....
$ wise I am fortunate enough that I'm working and have some discretionary funds each month that could go towards a payment on something. I don't think I'd get both the tractor and excavator at the same time (if I went that route), but once the tractor was paid off, or if I had a particularly good year, I could likely get a used mini-ex (10-12k lb machine is my thought, though I'm tempted by bigger).
Thank you all for your thoughts, and Happy Holidays!
I have a 33hp diesel 4wd shuttle shift tractor from the 80's right now, and an old 9 ton backhoe. I expect to sell both in the spring with any luck (backhoe there is serious interest in, tractor I may trade in).
I have use for a backhoe still, but need to be able to get in to some tighter spots, and over some softer areas where my 9 ton 2wd machine just isn't going to go, either size wise or without making a royal mess... and potentially needing a friend with a dozer to pull me out!
My initial thought was a tractor (leaning towards a JD4520 with cab) with a backhoe attachment (and hydraulic thumb). My uses are pretty minimal - stumps on occasion (not frequent) installing or replacing a culvert now and then, cleaning ditches out after storms (and culverts) mostly. Likely pulling the odd rock up too (we have lots of those...).
What gives me pause is I'm used to a backhoe with 8k pounds of breakout force... not 2k.... Stumps will undoubtably take longer, but it will be rare it's a big stump so I'm not that concerned.
I've started looking at excavators, but it seems most are really expensive, or really beat! For a big job I can always rent (or borrow my backhoe back if it is near the road ).
Has anyone gone through this thought process yourself, what did you decide, and why?
Property wise it's 1+ mile of road plus several miles of ski / snowmobile trails, 200+ acres (mostly woods, but 5+ acres of field with another 10 of beaver swamp (or my own personal mosquito breeding ground as I like to call it)) in the Adirondacks up upstate NY. Lots of rocks, some ledge, hills, etc....
$ wise I am fortunate enough that I'm working and have some discretionary funds each month that could go towards a payment on something. I don't think I'd get both the tractor and excavator at the same time (if I went that route), but once the tractor was paid off, or if I had a particularly good year, I could likely get a used mini-ex (10-12k lb machine is my thought, though I'm tempted by bigger).
Thank you all for your thoughts, and Happy Holidays!