Excavator v. Skid Steer for Hobby Farmer?

[DieselBound]

My Kioti does a lot. It's my main tool. My Kubota is also useful, but in doing quick and tight jobs. BUT, when it comes to big projects, ones that are not common events, I RENT the right tool. I've rented skid steers and excavators. Excavators are the only thing I'd consider for use in doing digging work- they flat out excel at it (I bury a lot of stumps- one has to dig fair sized holes in order to sink big stumps!). Big enough excavator and you can lift quite a bit (and do so at a bit of distance, keeping mindful of leveraged forces of course). A 20 ton excavator is capable of doing a LOT; I couldn't see owning anything bigger unless I was making money off of it- repairs/parts are very costly when you're up in this range.

As has been stated by others who understand things quite well, do NOT knock over larger trees. I've done it with smaller stuff and have had tops break off: I no longer will do this! But, yes, an excavator _can_ be extended to push up a bit higher and thus, in theory, helping get the tree/trunk going in the right direction; things CAN, however, still go wrong. CUT the trees by hand, leaving ample stumps stubs, THEN push over (if you can- or dig).

And when the trees and rocks are gone? Equipment doesn't need to be viewed as "permanent." You can get what you need now with the intent of getting the job done NOW and then selling that equipment and getting equipment which is suitable for long-term maintenance.

I would seriously consider the M59. I'm not a big fan of tractor-mounted backhoes but the M59 is an exception. This is right at the lower end of what I'd consider as getting into the significant work category: 60hp+ (I manage to get my 55hp Kioti to just reach into this category- as noted, if I really need power I rent it).

This is the excavator that I prefer to use/rent (and would want to get if I were to buy one):
https://www.takeuchi-us.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Takeuchi_TB285_SpecSheet_Jan_2013_v4.pdf

A big attraction of having an excavator, to/for me, would be to be able to attach a flail mower in order to mow around ditches and across fencing as well as for general clearing.

After running a skid steer or excavator for several hours it's always so nice to jump back in/on my tractor.

 

[M59]

Agreed. Maybe that backhoe attachment would be ok for digging out a rock or a drainage ditch but almost worthless for most digging. I’d just assume have a stump bucket at a fraction of the cost. I used to have a M59 and I previously had 2 full size Deere backhoes a 310 and a 410. I currently have a KX-040 mini x. I thought I’d be disappointed with a 10k mini x but it packs a lot of punch for its size. It’s way stronger than the M59 backhoe. It’s not as strong as the Deere not surprisingly but it makes up a lot of ground with 360 swing, a hydraulic thumb and just all around better hydraulics. I never realized it at the time but sitting behind the boom on a backhoe is garbage. The mini has way better visibility. And like you said the stability and mud going ability is much better. All around I’ve very satisfied with selling the M59 and getting a mini x and CTL.

4570Man,

Welcome to TN. I also have a place near Knoxville. Love it.
Based upon your member name, I will presume you have that caliber with real knockdown.

Do you have any words of wisdom on the KX machine or specifically the KX40.
How old is your machine?
Where do you work machine?
Do you have the hydraulic 6 way blade? Steel or rubber tracks?

I have a quick coupler, special made for the M59 that allows us of the KX and U buckets since there are many more of these on market than TLB quick coupled buckets.
A KX 40 to 80 is possible but also a KX41 if right price in good condition. Any thoughts

 

[M59]

My Kioti does a lot. It's my main tool. My Kubota is also useful, but in doing quick and tight jobs. BUT, when it comes to big projects, ones that are not common events, I RENT the right tool. I've rented skid steers and excavators. Excavators are the only thing I'd consider for use in doing digging work- they flat out excel at it (I bury a lot of stumps- one has to dig fair sized holes in order to sink big stumps!). Big enough excavator and you can lift quite a bit (and do so at a bit of distance, keeping mindful of leveraged forces of course). A 20 ton excavator is capable of doing a LOT; I couldn't see owning anything bigger unless I was making money off of it- repairs/parts are very costly when you're up in this range.

As has been stated by others who understand things quite well, do NOT knock over larger trees. I've done it with smaller stuff and have had tops break off: I no longer will do this! But, yes, an excavator _can_ be extended to push up a bit higher and thus, in theory, helping get the tree/trunk going in the right direction; things CAN, however, still go wrong. CUT the trees by hand, leaving ample stumps stubs, THEN push over (if you can- or dig).

And when the trees and rocks are gone? Equipment doesn't need to be viewed as "permanent." You can get what you need now with the intent of getting the job done NOW and then selling that equipment and getting equipment which is suitable for long-term maintenance.

I would seriously consider the M59. I'm not a big fan of tractor-mounted backhoes but the M59 is an exception. This is right at the lower end of what I'd consider as getting into the significant work category: 60hp+ (I manage to get my 55hp Kioti to just reach into this category- as noted, if I really need power I rent it).

This is the excavator that I prefer to use/rent (and would want to get if I were to buy one):
https://www.takeuchi-us.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Takeuchi_TB285_SpecSheet_Jan_2013_v4.pdf

A big attraction of having an excavator, to/for me, would be to be able to attach a flail mower in order to mow around ditches and across fencing as well as for general clearing.

After running a skid steer or excavator for several hours it's always so nice to jump back in/on my tractor.

DieselBound,

So you've pushed a few trees to help them tip over. So have I and you must know the sphincter puckering moment when the backhoe bucket unexpectedly rolls/slides sideways off the tree trunk. That is why, if I am felling anywhere near something important, I ALWAYS rope a tree off in the direction it must fall in before I give it a nudge.

 

[Xfaxman]

As has been stated by others who understand things quite well, do NOT knock over larger trees. I've done it with smaller stuff and have had tops break off

Another advantage of a compact telehandler, the cab has a Falling Object Protective Structure (FOPS) built in.

I do the first push sitting in the cab. Then when taking pictures I stand outside, reach in, extend the boom while the engine idles, then take the next picture and repeat until the tree is flat on the ground:

Knocked the dirt off of the root ball and took it to the burn pile:

Was it removed and hauled faster than an excavator could have done?

 

[Tony H]

Both skid steer and excavator will tear up the sod.
Bit the telehandlers.... Whew cha-ching. I've used telehandlers to unload I-beams off trailers for a few years. I love the steering capabilities... Crabbing, front steer, all steer. They are great but you will need to open your wallet again to buy all the attachments to make you happy. And if the front isn't SSQA, you'll get frustrated knocking out and re-pinning each attachment.

 

[dfkrug]

Both skid steer and excavator will tear up the sod.

Ya got that right. Skidsteers, wheeled or tracked, rip the hill out of the ground. Anything with tracks do that, even my little 1-ton mini-X.

Just had a demo here of the Green Climber LV300, which is 1-ton, diesel, tracked, and REMOTE CONTROLLED. It has extra-deep treads on the tracks, but it still struggled to get up loose duff on the slopes. Flail attachment pictured.

Not as slick as Faxman's Bobcat, but intriguing nonetheless.

 

[4570Man]

4570Man,

Welcome to TN. I also have a place near Knoxville. Love it.
Based upon your member name, I will presume you have that caliber with real knockdown.

Do you have any words of wisdom on the KX machine or specifically the KX40.
How old is your machine?
Where do you work machine?
Do you have the hydraulic 6 way blade? Steel or rubber tracks?

I have a quick coupler, special made for the M59 that allows us of the KX and U buckets since there are many more of these on market than TLB quick coupled buckets.
A KX 40 to 80 is possible but also a KX41 if right price in good condition. Any thoughts

I don’t do as much shooting as I used to but yes I have one of those.

My KX040 is a great machine. It has about 1500 hours, I’m not sure about the year. I live and work in Crossville.
My machine is a 4 way blade. And honestly it’s not good for much. I’d buy a regular straight blade and use the funds to buy a tilt adapter for my skid steer. I think you’d get way more done that way. I don’t do much grading at all with the mini x blade anyway. It’s just not all that good for that kind of work. A skid steer far surpasses a mini x when it comes to grading and I have one so no need to use the mini.

I have rubber tracks on mine but if they weren’t cost prohibitive I think I’d go with steel. I wouldn’t put steel on my skid steer because not being able to drive on pavement would be a hard blow but there’s no need to drive an excavator on pavement. Steel last at least 2x as long probably more.
One of my buddies has an 80 and honestly I don’t like it. It’s too big to do little work and not big enough to do big work. Maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit, but IMO if the 40 won’t get the job done it’s time to send a 25 ton machine.

 

[DieselBound]

Another advantage of a compact telehandler, the cab has a Falling Object Protective Structure (FOPS) built in.

I do the first push sitting in the cab. Then when taking pictures I stand outside, reach in, extend the boom while the engine idles, then take the next picture and repeat until the tree is flat on the ground:


Knocked the dirt off of the root ball and took it to the burn pile:


Was it removed and hauled faster than an excavator could have done?

On your property, probably. But, not all property is the same. I have soft ground, in which case heavier equipment really needs to be on tracks.

Occupant protection is good But there should also be a concern over equipment protection. A costly repair could potentially be as bad a physical, bodily, mishap; a huge repair bill could also lay a person up.

I'll take the route of cutting trees down, thank you very much.

 

[coast40]

If I can't do the work with my Mitsubishi BD2J dozer or my Bobcat 331 mini-X it doesn't get done. I almost bought a Kubota L2250 but I'll rent a small track scoop for the little bit of gravel moving into my shop floor.

 

[M59]

I don’t do as much shooting as I used to but yes I have one of those.

My KX040 is a great machine. It has about 1500 hours, I’m not sure about the year. I live and work in Crossville.
My machine is a 4 way blade. And honestly it’s not good for much. I’d buy a regular straight blade and use the funds to buy a tilt adapter for my skid steer. I think you’d get way more done that way. I don’t do much grading at all with the mini x blade anyway. It’s just not all that good for that kind of work. A skid steer far surpasses a mini x when it comes to grading and I have one so no need to use the mini.

I have rubber tracks on mine but if they weren’t cost prohibitive I think I’d go with steel. I wouldn’t put steel on my skid steer because not being able to drive on pavement would be a hard blow but there’s no need to drive an excavator on pavement. Steel last at least 2x as long probably more.
One of my buddies has an 80 and honestly I don’t like it. It’s too big to do little work and not big enough to do big work. Maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit, but IMO if the 40 won’t get the job done it’s time to send a 25 ton machine.

Thanks. Appreciate your views as a KX40 owner/user.
Please elaborate on what you consider "little work" and "big work".

All my work is out in the country and never have to cross a paved area.