Excavator size for farm work

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Retirement is scheduled for 2025. soooo I have had the bug to get an excavator for some time. Rented one to do some work around my 2 acre pond years ago. I have a specific project to start with it. Its a wooded strip about 170 ft long and about 40 ft wide. Most trees in it are under say 20 inches wide, mostly pine. A few are well over 30 inches but I could leave them there as they are right on the property line anyway. My goal is to turn that wooded strip into a parking area for our U-pick customers.

Second project would be to remove some smaller pines/hardwoods that have started growing beside the ponds edge.

I found one (see pic below) and it looks like it might do most of what I needed to do. If I had to cut some trees down, saw them in half and then take an EX to move them to the disposal area I would.

Price is in the ballpark of what I could afford. Especially if I decided to sell it when I have run out of ideas what to do with it.

According to the specs (see richiecpes below), it says it has a lifting capability of a little over 5K#.

It looks like from what I can understand about green timber/trees a 20" pine would weigh about 3k# . Well under the capabilities of the one below. The particular one listed shows as having a 6 month warranty. Asking price just under $22k + delivery.

https://www.ritchiespecs.com/model/caterpillar-305e2-cr-mini-excavator

Timber and Lumber Calculators at WOODWEB

Timber and Lumber Calculators at WOODWEB

www.woodweb.com

i had checked into renting a bigger EZ at about $6k a week +$700 delivery.

What'cha think underpowered? I'm not too concerned about it taking longer with a smaller piece of equipment.

 

[Seven Gables]

I think you’ve picked a good size for your described uses , 5-6ton should take those stumps out well. I’ve got a EC60e Volvo that I mainly use for taking out cherry tree stumps, mostly in the 10-15” range but a fair number up in the 20-24” range. I’ve taken out in excess of 2000 stumps in the 7 years I’ve owned it. Perfect size for my uses and one of the most used pieces of equipment I own, would buy again in a heartbeat.
That being said something doesn’t add up with the cat 305 you found for sale. I don’t think there’s any way that machine pictured with it only having 1100hrs can be for sale at 22k. It’s more of a ball park 50k machine. Let us know what you find out.

 

[kthompson]

I bought a used Volvo EC 45, just over 9,000 machine few years ago. Have removed pines and hardwoods with it that are at least 24 inches in diameter. I learned how to dig the roots first and at the same time being sure digging for it to fell the direction wanted. I can dig and lay down a tree bigger than the machine can lift. Then there are saws.

For me, I much rather lay a large tree down with roots than remove a stump after the tree has been cut off the stump.

 

[redman135]

I think you willl find the little cat on the light side. Most farmers I know that have diggers have a few kilometers of drains to do, and they are in the 10 - 14 ton range , partly to get the reach, and partly because there are more of them on the 2nd hand market..

That said, if you have a single leg pick made up to remove stumps, you will greatly improve what you can do. I used to do stumping on peat, with a 20 ton digger and I prefer a single shank/leg pick over a 2 shank/leg pick.
The stumps ranged up to 20 ton digger foot print size, and the pick made easy work of breaking roots off the stump, then removing it.
good luck

 

[4570Man]

A 305 will dig stumps but it’s going to be slow going for stumps that size. A 305 is a touch bigger than my 40 but I’d definitely use my 120 for that job.

 

[Carl_NH]

The 305. is a good size for your scope and use - yes the 20" plus stumps will take a bit longer, but a ripper tooth is good for ripping the roots and not making a huge mess or larger hole than necessary,

I concur with 7Gables - the 305 listed w/1100 hrs minimum is $35K on the low end and $50K high side.

There are other similar good 12K machines out there - Takeuchi 260 is a very good machine or Bobcat E55 - most of which are $35-50K range depending on hours and condition, cab or none etc,

 

[kenmac]

I recently bought a 2018 Takeuchi TB235 hyd thumb with 1800 HRS not long ago.
I bought this size because I wanted something I could transport with my 14K trailer.
I also looked at a TB240, and I would have been ok with my trailer, but the TB240 goes up in engine size and has DPF which I didn't want

 

[ning]

I can't help but think that an older construction backhoe may be a better bet than some small excavators, dollar for dollar.

 

[4570Man]

Retirement is scheduled for 2025. soooo I have had the bug to get an excavator for some time. Rented one to do some work around my 2 acre pond years ago. I have a specific project to start with it. Its a wooded strip about 170 ft long and about 40 ft wide. Most trees in it are under say 20 inches wide, mostly pine. A few are well over 30 inches but I could leave them there as they are right on the property line anyway. My goal is to turn that wooded strip into a parking area for our U-pick customers.

Second project would be to remove some smaller pines/hardwoods that have started growing beside the ponds edge.

I found one (see pic below) and it looks like it might do most of what I needed to do. If I had to cut some trees down, saw them in half and then take an EX to move them to the disposal area I would.

Price is in the ballpark of what I could afford. Especially if I decided to sell it when I have run out of ideas what to do with it.

According to the specs (see richiecpes below), it says it has a lifting capability of a little over 5K#.

It looks like from what I can understand about green timber/trees a 20" pine would weigh about 3k# . Well under the capabilities of the one below. The particular one listed shows as having a 6 month warranty. Asking price just under $22k + delivery.

https://www.ritchiespecs.com/model/caterpillar-305e2-cr-mini-excavator

Timber and Lumber Calculators at WOODWEB

Timber and Lumber Calculators at WOODWEB

www.woodweb.com

i had checked into renting a bigger EZ at about $6k a week +$700 delivery.

What'cha think underpowered? I'm not too concerned about it taking longer with a smaller piece of equipment.

Have you contacted that seller? I have doubts about the legitimacy of buying that machine for $21k. That’s probably a 50k machine unless the hours are 5 digits.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Too low of price. That machine is $50K + with a cab. $40K without cab.