89,000lb wheel loader or 18,000lb backhoe???

[1990BB]

I bought a New Holland 555E that is 2 wheel drive and open station. It has proven to be the Swiss Army Knife of equipment. It will do pretty much everything. At 80 hp, it has enough hydraulic power to dig out the biggest pine tree, and I've taken them out with 3 foot thick trunks!! For years, I dragged the trees to the burn pile, then pushed them up with the loader bucket. Eventually, I converted it to a Quick Attach System that I can use a grapple, pallet forks, and hay forks on it too. This was a huge game changer. I'm able to clear and clean up my place a lot faster and easier!!!

Excavator is the best at clearing trees, but it's horrible at moving them any distance. Backhoe does both.

Wheel Loader is great at loading material, and carrying it over a distance, but horrible at taking out trees. Backhoe does both.

Dozer is great at grading land, but horrible at taking out trees and moving them to the burn pile. Backhoe does both.

Find a backhoe with a quick change front bucket and it will be the one machine that does it all.

Yeah I am leaning more towards the backhoe as time has gone on. The big loaders would be fun to push stuff over with and tote them around, but needing to install 3 septic systems, dig footers, and other projects dealing with digging it seems to be the better choice.

 

[1990BB]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it.

there is a local equipment auction coming up next week so ill be checking it out. Hopefully I can find something

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have looked into it, between there versatility and the attachments you can get for them I would consider it. just haven't really found any in my area in my price range and shape I would be willing to buy.

Even a smaller tracked machine will do very impressive work, something like a Bobcat T 180 or 190. I know I've mentioned Bobcat alot but that is all I've ever ran, a friend of mine has a concrete business and will loan me machines from time to time and they've always ran Bobcats.

 

[fried1765]

I知 not sure what youæ±*e going to do with a 45 ton loader. It might have the brute force to clear trees but itç—´ too big to do anything with. Itç—´ too big to work with, itç—´ too big to work on ( which you値l be doing plenty of ) itç—´ too big to move, too big to get unstuck. A homeowner buying a loader that big for property management is a terrible idea.

AGREED !!!

 

[fried1765]

I bought a New Holland 555E that is 2 wheel drive and open station. It has proven to be the Swiss Army Knife of equipment. It will do pretty much everything. At 80 hp, it has enough hydraulic power to dig out the biggest pine tree, and I've taken them out with 3 foot thick trunks!! For years, I dragged the trees to the burn pile, then pushed them up with the loader bucket. Eventually, I converted it to a Quick Attach System that I can use a grapple, pallet forks, and hay forks on it too. This was a huge game changer. I'm able to clear and clean up my place a lot faster and easier!!!

Excavator is the best at clearing trees, but it's horrible at moving them any distance. Backhoe does both.

Wheel Loader is great at loading material, and carrying it over a distance, but horrible at taking out trees. Backhoe does both.

Dozer is great at grading land, but horrible at taking out trees and moving them to the burn pile. Backhoe does both.

Find a backhoe with a quick change front bucket and it will be the one machine that does it all.

ABSOLUTELY!!!
Get a FULL SIZE.... TLB !!!!

 

[johara1]

Get the largest excavator you can get with a thumb that has steel tracks and a blade you can clear and grade it off and almost do anything. Nothing will touch a big dozer for clearing, period. A loader is a worthless POS. for clearing. In 40 years of operating equipment I never saw one loader ever used for clearing, except for taking off topsoil to load it on Rock trucks..... What ever you get, and while your learning I would first take all the windows out and save yourself the expense later.....jim

 

[ovrszd]

What ever you get, and while your learning I would first take all the windows out and save yourself the expense later.....jim

That right there is funny!!!! And so true!!!!

 

[Rustyiron]

I don't know about in FL, but your budget is not sufficient (to be polite) for more than something with dozens of loose pins, dripping both types of oil, hose replacing, hope it starts pile of iron that's 1 or 2 steps away from the scrap man.
But then, do you feel lucky? Sorry for the downer and being seemingly "harsh" but for 15-18k, you better bring along a good H.E. mechanic with you to look it over.

 

[Industrial Toys]

People generate long-winded posts, apologize, but do it anyway!

Such BIG machinery is usually very operation specific. And size reflects productivity. Get a flat and it coud cost you thousands! That would be about the least expensive thing that could happen.

 

[Sonny580]

BIG trackhoe would work best but you are lookin at 50 to 100 thousand for a decent one. ---hire a contractor to do your work! ---cheaper in the long run.

 

[johara1]

The reason you find deals in Florida on big machines is they are worthless on that soil, very few applications down there to use them. My friend worked for Ring Power down there and you could count on one hand the big machines there. he was sent down to assemble a 992 loader because they didn't know how or even saw one. a 275 and a 980 are helpless there and you mentioned a pond ..... they are stuck when you get it in sight.. best get someone that knows how to do it at least to start. See how they do it and what they use, then if you feel you can do it go get the right machine. rubber track excavators will not push much compared to steel track machines....... jim

 

[1990BB]

Sorry ive been away from the post for awhile. I got caught up with work and all the adventures of owning a new property.

I did however,, make a purchase on a piece of equipment and im pretty happy with it so far.

1981 JD 510. 20,000lb machine, 4-1 bucket, 17ft dig depth. runs great, brakes work, clutch is good, a lot of new hoses and doesn't leak any fluid... literally parked on concrete for days and not a drop.

It does have a few small things to address, but with it being that old, its bound to have something. The front tire leaks down after a couple days and the switch for the lights doesnt work. All-in-all,,, im pretty happy with it.

 

[Peter 315]

Nice backhoe..I see it has a old school backup alarm....

 

[1990BB]

Nice backhoe..I see it has a old school backup alarm....

Thanks, yes and it works! I thought that was the coolest feature. Its subtle enough to not be annoying, but loud enough to still hear it. I think its a neat chime too :laughing:

Im pretty pleased with it. And i appreciate everyone's opinions and suggestions. Its an older backhoe for sure but seems to have been taken care of, and it seems super heavy duty. I looked at some 310's, 410's, case 580's and some fords and this one is a tank compared to them. I know its a heavier duty class but it just looks almost overbuilt with bracing and plates. Which for me is a good thing,,, im green with heavy equipment and would rather an underpowered tank that my lack of experience wont put into a bind a lighter duty machine wouldn't be able to handle. Yes, everything can break, but this hopefully reduces that chance

 

[ovrszd]

My Brother used to have a 510 just like that. They are a digging beast!!!! Very heavy machine. Doesn't like soft muddy ground.

 

[1990BB]

I don't know about in FL, but your budget is not sufficient (to be polite) for more than something with dozens of loose pins, dripping both types of oil, hose replacing, hope it starts pile of iron that's 1 or 2 steps away from the scrap man.
But then, do you feel lucky? Sorry for the downer and being seemingly "harsh" but for 15-18k, you better bring along a good H.E. mechanic with you to look it over.

I appreciate it, and yes i did look at some heaps of crap or some that needed more work than the seller would initially put on. But ive been around smaller equipment and my mechanical knowledge in other area's is efficient. I was lucky enough to find an older piece of equipment thats in pretty good condition and well within the budget, so it all worked out. Now the real fun begins!!!

 

[1990BB]

My Brother used to have a 510 just like that. They are a digging beast!!!! Very heavy machine. Doesn't like soft muddy ground.

It sure seems like it will be, haven't had a chance to do much with it yet. Just changed all my filters and oils for a piece of mind, but too busy with work and the holidays to really work with it yet. And luckily its hard ground all the way to the water line. Other than soft sand i dont think im going to have much to worry about.

 

[EddieWalker]

Sorry ive been away from the post for awhile. I got caught up with work and all the adventures of owning a new property.

I did however,, make a purchase on a piece of equipment and im pretty happy with it so far.

1981 JD 510. 20,000lb machine, 4-1 bucket, 17ft dig depth. runs great, brakes work, clutch is good, a lot of new hoses and doesn't leak any fluid... literally parked on concrete for days and not a drop.

It does have a few small things to address, but with it being that old, its bound to have something. The front tire leaks down after a couple days and the switch for the lights doesnt work. All-in-all,,, im pretty happy with it.
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Very similar to what I have, except I have a Ford/New Holland. The biggest, bestest, greatest thing that I ever did with mine is to convert it to a Quick Attach. I bought the plates and made a template out of cardboard that would fit my pins and weld to the plate on the loader, then I cut my bucket brackets off and welded on the other plate to the bucket. I can switch from hay spears, to pallet forks, to a grapple, and back to the bucket whenever I need to. This morning I put a round bale out, and then put the grapple on. I have a big oak laying on the ground and I want to cut it up into 15 foot lengths that I will carry to my house and then cut into firewood. I'm also going to clean up all the branches with the grapple and haul them to the burn pile. Nothing works better at cleaning up an area like a grapple!!!!

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...ing-my-bucket-ss-quick.html?highlight=grapple

 

[ovrszd]

Not having checked the specs I'm guessing he outweighs you considerably Eddie.

 

[EddieWalker]

Not having checked the specs I'm guessing he outweighs you considerably Eddie.

I'm confused? Would that mean he would be better off adding a grapple or are you saying he shouldn't add a grapple?