dave1949
Super Star Member
Welcome and good luck on your home project.
I have wrestled with buy or hire over the past 10 years, so I understand your agony.
I've hired several projects out and spent enough to buy a good-sized nice 3-4 year old backhoe over that time. I could have done a lot with a backhoe but it alone would not have been enough to tackle most of the jobs I hired out. I don't have an uncle with a dozer but even that would not have been enough for some projects to achieve the same results.
I have gotten enough use out of my tractor with backhoe attachment to more than pay for itself for doing lighter/smaller jobs.
When I consider the total picture, I don't have a dump truck, excavator, dozer or trailer to haul those things somewhere if necessary, the tools or knowledge to repair and maintain that equipment or a building to put any of it in.
Aside from the one-time foundation and septic work, everything I do is an optional hobby type of thing: ponds, trails, field clearing, etc. To be honest with myself, my hobby is not maintaining heavy equipment nor am I interested in that. Something to consider, whether you would enjoy those kinds of projects or not.
I have wrestled with buy or hire over the past 10 years, so I understand your agony.
I've hired several projects out and spent enough to buy a good-sized nice 3-4 year old backhoe over that time. I could have done a lot with a backhoe but it alone would not have been enough to tackle most of the jobs I hired out. I don't have an uncle with a dozer but even that would not have been enough for some projects to achieve the same results.
I have gotten enough use out of my tractor with backhoe attachment to more than pay for itself for doing lighter/smaller jobs.
When I consider the total picture, I don't have a dump truck, excavator, dozer or trailer to haul those things somewhere if necessary, the tools or knowledge to repair and maintain that equipment or a building to put any of it in.
Aside from the one-time foundation and septic work, everything I do is an optional hobby type of thing: ponds, trails, field clearing, etc. To be honest with myself, my hobby is not maintaining heavy equipment nor am I interested in that. Something to consider, whether you would enjoy those kinds of projects or not.