We are getting ready to dig out our footing for a 30' wall we are building. The footing needs to be 3' wide and 18" deep and is in pretty rocky soil. Would it make more sense to rent mini-excavator or a backhoe?
Digging out footing - mini-ex or backhoe
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truckdiagnostics
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Mini-excavator. Easier to use and maneuver around.
Big Barn
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Billrog
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The job is less than a 1/2 hr. with either unless you get to mini of a machine.
RedNeckRacin
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Are you able to trailer either machine? Do you have any other tasks to complete? A comparable weight mini will out dig the comparable weight backhoe.
I don't think so. All I have is an 3/4 ton. A 3.5 was what I initially thought, but didn't realize it would be so quick. This is my first time using one. Think it would take more than a day with our soil full of cobble and my lack of experience? Would a mini also work fine for removing stumps? I might want to do that if I already have it here.
calman93611
Member
If it is pretty rocky see if they have a rock bucket. Normal bucket is square across the front. Rock bucket is triangular shaped, pointy in the middle then tapering towards the sides. Makes it easier to "feel" around a rock and get underneath it.
RedNeckRacin
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I think that you could do it in a day. I would get the smallest bucket that they have available. It should definitely work digging out stumps. Just don't expect to just tram up and curl out the stump though!
RDrancher
Veteran Member
Depending on the size and quantity of stumps, a 3.5 ton mini would work fine and as Billrog said, will make quick work on a 30' footing. The controls should be switchable on pretty much anything you rent, so you'll have to find which one feels "right" to you. I had my 9 year old step son running a mini pretty well within 10 minutes or so. You'll be fine.
bigtiller
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I remember my first 30 minutes on a backhoe. I was looking for a field drainage tile so I could find and fix a blockage.
It wasn't pretty and I sure am glad it wasn't a wall foundation. .
Good luck to you and....
It wasn't pretty and I sure am glad it wasn't a wall foundation. .
Good luck to you and....
Egon
Epic Contributor
What happens to the spoil pile? If the material needs moving and levelling the backhoe may be the better choice. It would also be faster moving around to the stumps.
Just straight digging the mini is the better of the two.
Just straight digging the mini is the better of the two.
wedge40
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I would get a mini with a "thumb", Nobody asked. How big are the "Rocks"? Less then a foot?
With a thumb you can move stumps and bolders.
Wedge
With a thumb you can move stumps and bolders.
Wedge
I went to the local rental yard with the 3.5t mini in mind just to see prices. 380 for the 3.5, but they recommended 5.5 with a 3' and 18" bucket, which would put the price with delivery at around $1000 per day. I can haul the 3.5 with my truck but not the 5.5. Is the bigger one worth the extra $600?
As far as the stones, they are mostly softball sized cobble with some larger and some smaller. As far as the dirt, I we have to back-fill 6" and I imagine that we might throw the rest of the dirt, minus the cobble in the back of the truck, might talk to a friend of ours who has a skip loader and skid steer and see if he would help us. He comes around periodically to do stuff that is too big for our tractors
As far as the stones, they are mostly softball sized cobble with some larger and some smaller. As far as the dirt, I we have to back-fill 6" and I imagine that we might throw the rest of the dirt, minus the cobble in the back of the truck, might talk to a friend of ours who has a skip loader and skid steer and see if he would help us. He comes around periodically to do stuff that is too big for our tractors
RDrancher
Veteran Member
No, not for the job you described. For $1k or less you could get an owner/operator to come out and do it.
Will_C
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I am sure my brother- a excavating contractor- could do that job in an hour for his minimum charge of $250.
Will
Will
Maybe he can come down and do it!
I talked to a local excavator he says that unless he runs into problems that he could do it for around $400; if he does have trouble, it runs an extra $100/hour, but that would be just for the trench.
Now we have to decide if experience is more important than trying something new, as it would probably cost the same either way.
wedge40
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How big are the stumps that you want to remove. I'd plan on two days. Less then one for the footing and another day to remove the stumps. If the stumps aren't to big I go with the 3.5T. It'll take a little more to pop roots and such, but once you get the hang of it it'll be fun.
Wedge
Wedge
Rent the mini and run the heck out of it. It is a rental and they are designed to be used at full throttle to keep the hyds. up. As long as you do not need the spoil moved. Get everything ready so when you bring it home it , you have the trees cut down and you have fuel on hand. FIND out if it has to be back that night or in the morning. If you tire easily get someone to help run it.
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