Dirt Moving hillside prep work for house pad/ dozer, front-end loader, or excavator?

[Ed of all trades]

Are you thinking that you are going to dig footers after the sight is level? If so then an excavator will do but a backhoe might do better. It can dig the dirt and rock loose and move it with the FIL. Just a thought, hope it goes well, let us know.

 

[Pete Judd]

I have found over the years that even though I can run all of the stuff that you want to rent, it is cheaper to have someone come in with their eqipt. and do it faster. They run it everyday, and know how to get it done quick. I have friends that will lend me a shovel for a weekend if I pay the trucking cost (300 Bucks) and fuel, But it still takes me an hour to relearn all the controls to start making it work. And I can not make it work as well as someone the does it all day every day.

 

[splinterfinger]

Thanks for the input(s). Yes, I know that it would be best to let someone with all the equipment and experience do the work. I've already obtained a bid from a highly touted excavator---------but, he is essentially the ONLY excavator in the area (very remote), and it just seems plausible that I could come out ahead renting from the nearest place (at least 150 miles away), spend a few days getting the hang of it, keeping the equip. for a month---fuel and all, and come out way ahead. It's hard to get a good deal when there's no competition. To date, a heavy duty backhoe seems to be the best way to go----but still open to suggestions.

 

[jenkinsph]

Are you thinking that you are going to dig footers after the sight is level? If so then an excavator will do but a backhoe might do better. It can dig the dirt and rock loose and move it with the FIL. Just a thought, hope it goes well, let us know.

I have found that a backhoe does pretty well with the footers.

About the FIL, yours must be alot more agreeable and hardworking than most I have encountered.:laughing: