compact TLB vs. full size TLB

[alchemysa]

Coopers is right, but this has turned into a urinating match.

I'm gonna let the little TLB guys win this one. I'm tired of trying to help people. I feel like when I or another member can give real world experience, it's like a free gift of sound

Thats funny. I've read most of the posts and I thought the the full size TLB's were winning the discussion. Heck, I've got a small TLB and even I thought he should go 'big'.

 

[Builder]

In the FWIW column, I am at this position now. And let me tell you, as the boss writes the $120 each delivery checks for materials (rock mostly) I can tell you I am a wishing I had one.

I am in a bit of a unique bind in that if we get a dump truck, we have to commercially insure it. I tried the Tack of getting one insured as a "farm truck" but both our insurers nixed the idea as we had a landscaping business and it was just too obvious.

It always sounds real good when I initially talk with them about the insurance, but when it comes to brass tacks I end back up at a couple hundred a month.

As to dollar values, sometimes you can get a pretty jamming deal on an older single axle dump then you can on the one tons.

But if I had to have one vehicle and was building a house with it, a one ton dually dump flat bed would be hard to beat for all the trips to the store you will be making

Another perfect example of how you get ripped-off for smaller equipment. You can pick up a 26,000 GVWR older Ford, IH , GM dump for less than a one ton dump. You can carry 3-4 times as much weight per trip, pay the same or less in insurance and get more work done. The registration fee is a little higher, but it's worth it. I've been through all this before, so what do I know, but it's the same discussion as above. Spend similar amounts of $$ for a piece of equipment only real difference is that one is bigger one is smaller. You need to chose the one that works best for you, but small dumps cost more per GVWR than big ones.

 

[jmfox]

I'm gonna let the little TLB guys win this one.

Whoa, a contest? For me it was more like brain storming. JPCjr, you better demo/rent a full size tractor/loader/backhoe and let us know if it works for you. And you better do it soon before Builder gets so aggravated that he takes his TLB to your lot and does it himself.

jmf

 

[xxxsandman]

Another perfect example of how you get ripped-off for smaller equipment. You can pick up a 26,000 GVWR older Ford, IH , GM dump for less than a one ton dump. You can carry 3-4 times as much weight per trip, pay the same or less in insurance and get more work done. The registration fee is a little higher, but it's worth it. I've been through all this before, so what do I know, but it's the same discussion as above. Spend similar amounts of $$ for a piece of equipment only real difference is that one is bigger one is smaller. You need to chose the one that works best for you, but small dumps cost more per GVWR than big ones.

Heck since bigger seems to be the way to go, why not get a semi dump, you can pick up an old tractor and used dump trailer for about the same as a 1 ton cost now days. LOL

Bigger isn't always better, it can be as bad as having too small of a machine in some cases. I'm not disagreeing with the suggestions here, just trying to make a point and that is don't buy the biggest machine you can find, buy the one that best fits what YOU are going to do with it most of the time.

 

[JPCjr]

.... My advice to you then it to get a full size TLB. You've got plenty of space. But in my opinion, one ABSOLUTE MUST on any TLB is a 4in1 loader bucket, especially for the site work you have planned where you'll want to do a lot of dozing, scraping and 'picking up'. You'll find more of those, cheaper, on full size TLB's too.

I agree. I've pretty much decided that I'll have a 4n1 bucket.

 

[mike69440]

I hope the manufactures of TLB are reading this.

FYI, Case called me up last year and I was part of a paid survey on TLB's
How is a new 65 HP 12,000 lb open cab 4x 4 w/ 12' BH & open cab for under $50,000? Cab would add $5K, another 5 K for those nice options like pilot control and 4 in 1 bucket

I'd like it to be about the same size as an L48, with larger front axle and 4,000 lbs additional steel. A small but HD TLB would really be nice to have. At 12,000 lbs, it would not be for mowing, but who wants to mow with an L39 or
L48 unless it is rough mowing a dry solid field.

My 18,000 Lb excavator is a push to tow with even an F450 size truck. A full size 6 wheel dump is the way to go. I should have been looking at a 10-13 ton machine, which physically is not much larger and can be towed with the same 6 wheel truck which I could use as a material hauler anyway.

 

[JPCjr]

I also decided to look at a severely used Case 580 that an underground construction company was unloading for $10,000. There was limited life left in it; if I purchased it my marriage would have been destroyed with "I told you so!" It had been over-heated more than once, leaky hydraulic cylinders, worn tires, and dry zerk fittings; it also showed signs of being used as a "bulldozer!?" The house probably wouldn't have happened? Anyhow, I went with a new Kubota and added a loader/9' BH. Rocks were not a problem; but trees were added beauty, that we didn't want to remove. The big Case would require many trees removed, because of some restricted tight areas!

The woods on our land is mostly mature trees. I'm planning on only cutting what I absolutely have to and leaving the rest. For the driveway, most of the mature trees can stay and I'll still have plenty of room to navigate a FS TLB. There's a lot of undergrowth and smaller trees that need to come out, but most of the big ones will stay. For the house, there are a few hardwood trees that need to go, but I'm planning on saving those for wood work in the house. This is one reason I need the barn built first. As of now, it looks like the barn may be placed in a area that was attacked by southern pine beetles, so it's a matter of cleaning up and moving debris more than taking down large trees.

I don't know how long you have owned your property, but I would spend many hours on the site location only, direction of the house in relation to sun exposure for future solar systems for hot water/electricity, septic field, etc. Our house,(English Tutor), swimming pool, and domestic hot water is provided by the sun nearly year around in Northern Calif.; and it's a big home 8000+ sq. ft. We wanted all that for our future home, and changed the location several times to get it right. Solar panels mounted on the front side of a home make it look like a commerical building? Maybe another site there maybe rock free, but give you less of a view? Maybe even spend money on a geologist to give you piece of mind on soil conditions before you start digging? I don't recommend three years deciding like we did; but it sounds like a beautiful site, and will be a big investment in time and money.

We've owned the property for almost a year, but I wasn't able to spend much time out there until recently. I've walked the property several times and plan on spending a lot more time there before I do anything. I'm also planning a larger home and will make use of solar systems. There really is no other homesite that will have anywhere close to the same views. It's either battle the rocks or move away from the creek. My uncle is a geologist and he suggested that the best way to find out what lays below the surface is to just start digging.

One early mistake was not buying a one ton dump truck (dually),early in the project to purchase the materials for building the 800' driveway, court yard, and septic field (500' leach lines). Wasting time for delayed deliveries; plus the transportation costs was a (PITA). I would rate the truck second to the tractor; it will save $$$! It will be both rewarding and challenging experience to build your future dream!

I've thought about a dump truck, but I don't think that is in the budget. We'll see as time goes on.

 

[JPCjr]

JPCjr: What other questions do you have or what other things do you have running through your head? I feel we're beating a dead horse right now and just trying to fix misconceptions at this point (from other posters); so any other things you're curious about or whatever let us know.

Blake
WA

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions soon. I'll probably start a new thread with some questions.

 

[JPCjr]

Also remember that your mate will probably want a good view from the kitchen.

jmf

You are correct.

 

[JPCjr]

...
Good luck with your project. I hope I was able to interject some sense of what is the correct machine for the size job you're doing....

Yes, I'm convinced that the FS TLB is the way to go. I do enjoy hearing both sides of the discussion though. Makes me think.