Looking at Mini Excavators

[Ken45101]

As a guess a 7500 trackhoe would dig as well cutting roots and run circles around me when it came to moving to the next spot to dig.

A trackhoe will maneuver much faster in a small area. But for travelling long distances (e.g. if your next stump is a quarter mile away), a backhoe is faster.

Ken

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Good point Ken. I would not give up our backhoe for a track hoe for mobility reasons and the fact it is our only FEL too.

That does not mean I do not look at my neighbor's CAT trackhoe with lust some days.

 

[niemeyjt]

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by "a normal trailer"?

Ken

Normal trailer, in Europe, is one with overrun brakes - i.e. when the towing vehicle brakes are applied, the trailer applies its own brakes as it tries to go faster than the now slowing towing vehicle.

The limit is 3500Kg for such a trailer - provided the towing vehicle is up to it - and provided your driving license allows it (it does for an old one like me!). Beyond that, you need some form of vehicle activated brake, like an air brake.

J

 

[fisherridge]

I chose a Takeuchi TB016. It was a rental that a used equipment dealer did some cosmetic work on to make it presentable. It only weighs 3500 pounds so it can be transported on a car hauler trailer behind a pickup. It is better than my TLB for everything except when I need a loader.
It is especially good at cleaning out ditch lines.

 

[SimS]

I bought a Takeuchi TB015 (an earlier version of the TB016) and it was less money than a Kubota backhoe. So now I can have my son/helper digging while I'm on the tractor with the FEL loading the dirt. Mine is well used (2200+ hrs) and may not be too "presentable" but it is a hard working small excavator. The Yanmar engine is fantastic on fuel and runs like a sewing machine. The best part is that is that it is small enough to where I almost alway think about using it before I grab a shovel!!

SimS

 

[Ken45101]

The best part is that is that it is small enough to where I almost alway think about using it before I grab a shovel!!

Oh my gosh! The fall of western civilization! :laughing:

Ken

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I bought a Takeuchi TB015 (an earlier version of the TB016) and it was less money than a Kubota backhoe. So now I can have my son/helper digging while I'm on the tractor with the FEL loading the dirt. Mine is well used (2200+ hrs) and may not be too "presentable" but it is a hard working small excavator. The Yanmar engine is fantastic on fuel and runs like a sewing machine. The best part is that is that it is small enough to where I almost alway think about using it before I grab a shovel!!

SimS

Sounds like a handy machine at a good price point. We wound up with our 1983 JD 310B backhoe because it was not much more than a FEL for the 265 MF so it is still stock as when the FIL purchased it in 1976. This is my first BH experience but when changing digging positions I wish it was a trackhoe.

Why is a man always short one machine?:laughing:

 

[tonysilas]

I am user of Takeuchi TB015 it's very small and cheap as well as useful for farmers and construction side also. my side it's faster than another tractors.

 

[fisherridge]

Has the motor end of your track drive motor hoses rusted away yet? Takeuchi is famous for rust.

 

[SimS]

fr;

I could see where the motor end of the hoses could rust with all the stuff that packs in there. I keep the motor housing area cleaned out. I just remove the drive motor covers and pressure wash out the mud and crud during my routine maintenance/cleaning. I'm in Georgia so we are not exposed to any winter time salt, etc.

SimS