Mini Excavator?

[reggart]

I've got 20 acres of timbered property on a mountain in Northern Idaho. I also have 1,000 feet of steep road that I have to maintain. I've been using a Mahindra 2015 for the past several years to log and maintain the road among other things. I've always felt this tractor was about 15hp shy of what I needed for size, power and options for what I'm doing. My long term plan was to get a 30hp tractor with a cab for the winter months.. Lately I've been talking to friends who suggested I consider a mini excavator and keep my old tractor. Thoughts? How well can a 6-way blade on a mini move snow and maintain a road? How well can a mini do at pulling logs off a hill?

 

[4570Man]

A mini excavator is extremely handy but grading roads isn’t their strong point.

 

[reggart]

Yeah I've ran an 8 ton excavator with a 2 way blade and I agree uts not much different than using the loader in a tractor fir grading but the newer ones have 6-way blades which makes it much more interesting.

 

[Woody65]

Terrible at snow removal and road maintenance. A mini with rubber tracks will slide down any slippery road with compacted snow. Not too bad with pulling logs off a hill but by no means the best option.

 

[4570Man]

Yeah I've ran an 8 ton excavator with a 2 way blade and I agree uts not much different than using the loader in a tractor fir grading but the newer ones have 6-way blades which makes it much more interesting.

I’m sure you could build a road with one but the final drives are weak and slow. Excavators are made for digging and a dozer is made for dozing.

 

[reggart]

Sounds like you guys are recommending I stick with a tractor and upgrade

 

[4570Man]

Sounds like you guys are recommending I stick with a tractor and upgrade

That would be my suggestion. I don’t think you’re going to be happy scraping the driveway at 2 mph.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

If you have the money you could contemplate a telehandler, sort of a midway solution between the two.

Or if you can fine one in good condition, a grader can do your road and run as or with a log arch as well.

Suppose a trackless would also be a good option.

Other than digging stumps, why were you thinking about a mini excavator? Is there some project coming up that you would like one for? Maybe it is worthwhile.

 

[Jstpssng]

It’s a bit more money than what you’re talking about but this is the only excavator based chassis which is designed for what you want.

https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/for-sale/kobelco/bladerunner/excavators/1031

 

[Tomtint]

I have a 37 HP tractor and a Mini x. They do different things. The mini is great at grabbing logs and putting them in a pile so the tractor can pick them up and move them. The mini sucks for grading anything