Excavator vs 3pt attachment?

[SSdoxie]

Here is picture of only 1 I found online IHI IS-7GX3 Mini Excavator in New Jersey, United States (IronPlanet Item #427814)
Appears to be close to/was replaced by the 7J and now the 9VX (zero swing).
Somewhere is the 3/4 - 1 ton class with 5'-6' dig depth. (Based on 7J & 9VX specs.)
Wish I could find one that slod for what this one did @ $3500. Used TLB attachements if I find them are over $5k around here.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

My grandfather has an IHI 7gx that I have used before. I will say this, it is better then a shovel and has its uses but this machine is extremely limited and is very tippy feeling. I would look for something a little larger if you could. I have used it to dig out a few stumps (took a long time), dig a trench to run power to the barn, dig a grave to bury a dog and have used it to muck a horse stall that was extremely deep from a long winter of no way to clean it out of there.

As I said, it is better then a shovel but is a limited machine. It weighs 1 ton and would be good for your tasks as long as your not in any hurry and do not need any deep holes or trenches dug. We hauled my grandfathers home for him in the back of our F-250. I would imagine it would be comparable to a small 3pt hoe as far as dig depth.

 

[the old grind]

I'd say the OP has enough work in mind to justify the ease/efficiency I'd expect an ex to offer. If regretted later it could be resold. (remember what we did with our drag-lines?...) Wear & tear stops when the work is caught up anyway, and I'd spare the tractor from doing too much. Don't know whether a 3-point hoe would require a sub-frame on the JD 4300, but if so it'd add expense and weight if the going gets muddy. (No biggie with tracks.)

I'm in the Terramite fraternity, and its lack of swing angle is a big limitation when dumping to the side. The OP might not need the extra ability of a mini for just trenching, but I learned to pay close attention to that aspect when checking-out a potential purchase. btw: It's always good to have something else up & running when one machine is down for service and seat time is 'just what the doctor ordered' to brighten a bad day. ;-)

 

[Rustyiron]

Mini Ex! Comparing that to a tractor hoe is like comparing a chainsaw and an axe. Keep your tractor free for other chores, and it's allways nice to have something on hand to yank the other one out if you get stuck. You could even bail into your tractor bucket if needed, carry bedding (gravel) for a pipe job, etc.

 

[Woody65]

My grandfather has an IHI 7gx that I have used before. I will say this, it is better then a shovel and has its uses but this machine is extremely limited and is very tippy feeling. I would look for something a little larger if you could. I have used it to dig out a few stumps (took a long time), dig a trench to run power to the barn, dig a grave to bury a dog and have used it to muck a horse stall that was extremely deep from a long winter of no way to clean it out of there.

As I said, it is better then a shovel but is a limited machine. It weighs 1 ton and would be good for your tasks as long as your not in any hurry and do not need any deep holes or trenches dug. We hauled my grandfathers home for him in the back of our F-250. I would imagine it would be comparable to a small 3pt hoe as far as dig depth. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=295938"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=295939"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=295940"/>

Cool pics! I just spoke with the seller and he already has a check in hand from another buyer. He will let me know if the sale falls through. I will continue to look for an ex but after reading the responses, I might go a little bigger than the IHI 7gx.

 

[MHarryE]

If you fail to get this one keep looking for another ex. I almost made the mistake of buying a backhoe attachment for my tractor and was shocked at the price. I went used mini shopping and got a used 1.8 ton mini for about $3,000 more than the dealer quoted for the attachment. Now I do things like haul my mini to a site in my hydraulic dump trailer pulled by my tractor, do the job loading with the mini and hauling with the tractor. I have put in a lot of culverts for myself and neighbors this way. I have dug in water and electrical lines next to buildings that would have involved a lot of hand digging if I had a backhoe attachment. I also have gone places with the mini I wouldn't dare go with the tractor due to expected punctures. This is especially true in demolition. My wife and I have worked as a team salvaging some antique farm machinery from old farms we bought. Lift one side with the mini, the other side with the tractor, back the trailer under it (trailer now attached to the truck) and off we go. Somebody pointed out the weak point of minis- they aren't easy to work on. I snagged a couple track drive hoses working in the woods last summer. Fortunately I noticed the leak before it stopped propelling so I could load and get home but there are 8 hoses all attached to that swivel with almost no room to work. Most of the other stuff is not hard to work on. Pins and bushings wear on backhoe attachments too. They can be replaced as long as you don't let them go so far as to wear through the bushings and into parent iron.

 

[JoeBuyer]

In general an excavator is better when you have significant digging to do. I was going to go that way but after renting one, I realized how slow they are to move around and how much they tear up the sod. You seem to be mostly developing so an ex is the way to go. My personal opinion is that in a mature setting and basically maintenance digging like I have, a backhoe is the way to go. I can get anywhere on the property in a flash or to one of the nearby parcels in a short time. No need to trailer. So it all depends....

 

[mjncad]

My vote is for the mini-ex providing it doesn't have obvious expensive problems that will quickly turn joy into regret. I've never heard of IHI, so be sure you can get parts for it, and I'd fabricate a ROPS for open station units.

Take your time and keep looking until you find the right machine for you.

 

[geko]

Mini ex's are brilliant for getting a lot of work done very quickly.
I've used them from 750kg, which looks the same size as you've shown, which are called doorway diggers due to their narrow width & extending tracks for stability once you're working.
Biggest I've used was 8 ton JCB, 5 hours on the clock & the productivity was incredible!
Moved & sculpted 20 000kg of soil in about a day & half, creating large banks for a play area.

Never used a tractor mounted backhoe, just experience of JCB 3cx on sites, also very handy machine, for specific work such as grading etc.

 

[yelbike]

If you get tractor stuck with a mounted hoe, you weren't supposed to be in there. I'm not saying they can't get stuck, most of the time you SHOULD be able to get yourself out.

I too would go with mini if in your shoes. Once your done with it you can likely sell it for what you paid. Typically not that much depreciation on used equipment. If you buy a tractor specific hoe, it will be a much tougher sell. You'll have to find someone in need of a hoe, and the buyer has to have the same model of tractor and be will to buy used. Tough sell, but not impossible.