Buying Advice If you could do it all over again....

[TripleR]

Like I said previously, I don't care if it took me a weekend to dig out a stump...actually, I could care less if it took a year, however then the fuel costs would have to be considered.

SCUTS don't burn a lot of fuel compared to bigger tractors, but as you say, run them long enough and they can all get costly.

My sons used a couple of our bigger tractors doing some dirt work and the fuel bill was about the same as we could have hired it done and they wouldn't have had to work all day and run tractors at night.

 

[jenkinsph]

smithrr,
I do this kind of work all the time and use the equipment in my signature to convert rough small properties into lawn areas. From an economic standpoint it is cheaper to use larger equipment to handle the larger and heavier tasks by a wide margin. I suspect that with a budget of $20,000 you would be better served to consider spending 10% of this to hire a larger backhoe with experienced operator for two or three days. Then take the remainng $18,000 and buy the subcompact without the backhoe. Get the attachments and implements you need the most for finish work.

An experienced operator with a full sized backhoe can dig up six or eight large stumps and fill the holes in an hour or two and can move to the next job at hand, no way you can compete with this. He can also blade an area smooth and flat so fast it will make your head swim. What I am getting at is use the right tool for the job if you wan't to save money.

In summary I would atleast get some bids from the best local excavating contractors to see what they think it would cost to deal with the heavy work you need done. It will aid you in the decision making process whether you use them or not.

 

[TripleR]

smithrr,
I do this kind of work all the time and use the equipment in my signature to convert rough small properties into lawn areas. From an economic standpoint it is cheaper to use larger equipment to handle the larger and heavier tasks by a wide margin. I suspect that with a budget of $20,000 you would be better served to consider spending 10% of this to hire a larger backhoe with experienced operator for two or three days. Then take the remainng $18,000 and buy the subcompact without the backhoe. Get the attachments and implements you need the most for finish work.

An experienced operator with a full sized backhoe can dig up six or eight large stumps and fill the holes in an hour or two and can move to the next job at hand, no way you can compete with this. He can also blade an area smooth and flat so fast it will make your head swim. What I am getting at is use the right tool for the job if you want to save money.

In summary I would at least get some bids from the best local excavating contractors to see what they think it would cost to deal with the heavy work you need done. It will aid you in the decision making process whether you use them or not.

We have four tractors in the 50 to 85 HP range and when my son in law needed some dirt work done twenty miles away, he went with a dozer who happened to be working a job not far away and the job was done for a few hundred dollars in a bit under a day; would of cost us that much in fuel and transport plus a lot of time.

 

[Smithrr]

So this is going to get interesting...2.5 miles up my road is an excavating company. I have thought about having him come down with one of his dozers and push some trees over and smoothing out the property. I figured there is 2 days work with a dozer and could have the other 20 trees in my front yard taken out and then another say 10 in my cleared area in my back yard. I agree with everyone in getting the job done; when it's a job that needs to be done fast.

So here's what happens if I get a dozer out here...I will most likely have to have a small backhoe to dig out and replace my crushed field lines for my septic tank. Yeah, that's easier than digging stumps. I will also have to have my lower half of the driveway replaced from the heavy equipment. The large dump truck that delivered 3 loads of top soil already did some damage, and I did hire someone to level that out at the time. It cost me $760 to have 3 loads of top soil hauled out and leveled. $250 of that was for the Bobcat to level it out which took about 90 minutes.

 

[Don87]

Scut with FEL, and rent a stumpgrinder..........or contract out the stumpgrinding.

This is in light of the new information given by the OP.

I had two 36 inch Pine stumps ground out in 20 minutes, at a cost of 60 dollars.

 

[Smithrr]

Scut with FEL, and rent a stumpgrinder..........or contract out the stumpgrinding.

This is in light of the new information given by the OP.

I had two 36 inch Pine stumps ground out in 20 minutes, at a cost of 60 dollars.

This is probably going to be the route I take, however I'll still get the backhoe. I have a french drain to make and do some digging better fit for a post hole digger, but can get done with the backhoe too. I have various little projects to use the backhoe for. Some just fun things like a waterfall into a goldfish pond...etc...etc...

I'm thinking sawing off the stumps as low as I can and grinding them down and I'll probably just have someone come out and do it and just leave the mess and I'll do the cleanup. These are all Scarlet Oak and Black Oak trees, so they are pretty hard. So for the sake of this thread, we'll assume those are going to be ground down by a contractor.

I still welcome comments on the SCUTs if anyone would like to tell me what to stay away from and why. I really did appreciate all the information given in this thread. I was hoping to get owners of the SCUTs to tell me whether they're happy with the purchase, had buyers remorse or wish they bought a different model and why.

I completely understand the advice of a SCUT not being efficient in doing what I have on my list and do understand that a larger tractor is more capable, however I also know that I could eventually get all the stumps dug out with a pick axe, shovel and wheel barrel.

 

[TripleR]

We have no buyer's remorse on our BX2660 and if it ever dies, it will be replaced with another SCUT.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I wish I had a backhoe. Could I justify one? No. Because my neighbor has an 85 hp Terex 4x4 backhoe and will come do what I need for about $60/hour. Cheap. He can dig out large 30" post oak stumps in just a few minutes.

 

[tsteahr]

This is probably going to be the route I take, however I'll still get the backhoe.

You'll never regret getting the backhoe. It's useful for more than just digging, especially if you get a thumb.

I was hoping to get owners of the SCUTs to tell me whether they're happy with the purchase, had buyers remorse or wish they bought a different model and why.

I could not be more happy with mine. Only wish I had bought it 10 years sooner. After 2 years and 250hrs I would buy the exact same thing again if I had to. Zero remorse.

 

[Don87]

I love my scut, no regrets here. And by all means, get the backhoe if you can afford it...........I wish I coulda got one.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

All a person needs is that 'one' time.......sewage line backs up, waterline breaks............on a Saturday afternoon. Rental places are closed, contractors are unavailable..............makes having a backhoe worthwhile.


EDIT: They do make PHD's for SCUTS: http://www.everythingattachments.co...st-Hole-Digger-p/lb-post-hole-dig-l7200jr.htm
Scroll down to watch the videos.

 

[jenkinsph]

So this is going to get interesting...2.5 miles up my road is an excavating company. I have thought about having him come down with one of his dozers and push some trees over and smoothing out the property. I figured there is 2 days work with a dozer and could have the other 20 trees in my front yard taken out and then another say 10 in my cleared area in my back yard. I agree with everyone in getting the job done; when it's a job that needs to be done fast.

So here's what happens if I get a dozer out here...I will most likely have to have a small backhoe to dig out and replace my crushed field lines for my septic tank. Yeah, that's easier than digging stumps. I will also have to have my lower half of the driveway replaced from the heavy equipment. The large dump truck that delivered 3 loads of top soil already did some damage, and I did hire someone to level that out at the time. It cost me $760 to have 3 loads of top soil hauled out and leveled. $250 of that was for the Bobcat to level it out which took about 90 minutes.

Notice I suggested getting a fullsize backhoe with an experienced operator and get some bids. The problem alot of people have is they think their experts even though they have little experience. Better to have someone who does this work all the time look at the job and give you some pointers, estimate the time and cost.

If your driveway is damaged by running a large backhoe, lowboy or dumptruck over it then it wasn't any good to start with. I should also add that as a plumber the same is true about your field lines. A dozer with about 8 psi ground pressure shouldn't hurt your pipes.

 

[jenkinsph]

I wish I had a backhoe. Could I justify one? No. Because my neighbor has an 85 hp Terex 4x4 backhoe and will come do what I need for about $60/hour. Cheap. He can dig out large 30" post oak stumps in just a few minutes.

Kyle,
I almost bought a new Terex 760B cab with extendahoe and 4x4 back in 2004 when you could buy them new for $47,000. Logistics was the problem though and decided I was better off with the 110tlb that I could pull behind my F550 service trucks. I think $60/hr for a full size backhoe is a good deal for you.

 

[lockhaven]

Kioti they are heavy and work hard

 

[Smithrr]

Notice I suggested getting a fullsize backhoe with an experienced operator and get some bids. The problem alot of people have is they think their experts even though they have little experience. Better to have someone who does this work all the time look at the job and give you some pointers, estimate the time and cost.

If your driveway is damaged by running a large backhoe, lowboy or dumptruck over it then it wasn't any good to start with. I should also add that as a plumber the same is true about your field lines. A dozer with about 8 psi ground pressure shouldn't hurt your pipes.

Yes, I noticed and chose to ignore it. Give it a rest..I'm not going to hire a backhoe. Does it bother you that bad that I want a SCUT w/backhoe?

Most experts are self acclaimed also, just because they own their own business. That is not intended to be a dig at you, just fact, and applies to all professions.

On the field lines, it may not hurt them, however you don't own the house I do and haven't seen the crap that I've had to fix here due to shoddy work from the previous owners. The 3 loads of soil I had hauled in was to burry the field lines a bit more because one was seeping to the top.

 

[jenkinsph]

Yes, I noticed and chose to ignore it. Give it a rest..I'm not going to hire a backhoe. Does it bother you that bad that I want a SCUT w/backhoe?

Most experts are self acclaimed also, just because they own their own business. That is not intended to be a dig at you, just fact, and applies to all professions.

On the field lines, it may not hurt them, however you don't own the house I do and haven't seen the crap that I've had to fix here due to shoddy work from the previous owners. The 3 loads of soil I had hauled in was to burry the field lines a bit more because one was seeping to the top.

Usually when field lines start to seep water to the surface it is because the ground surrounding the pipes has lost the ability to percolate the water through it. Over time the sediments expelled from the septic tank tend to block off the ground and in effect seal it off. Very similar to platlets (sp) in your blood. More than likely it is time for a new field with fresh gravel around the pipe (mostly below it). There may be other problems such as a low spot in the line and all the water is running to this point. There are lots of good systems out there now that work better for some locales. Some free advice from an experienced master plumber.

As for tractors buy what ever you wan't.

 

[Smithrr]

Usually when field lines start to seep water to the surface it is because the ground surrounding the pipes has lost the ability to percolate the water through it. Over time the sediments expelled from the septic tank tend to block off the ground and in effect seal it off. Very similar to platlets (sp) in your blood. More than likely it is time for a new field with fresh gravel around the pipe (mostly below it). There may be other problems such as a low spot in the line and all the water is running to this point. There are lots of good systems out there now that work better for some locales. Some free advice from an experienced master plumber.

As for tractors buy what ever you wan't.

Duly noted and I agree. We have family in the plumbing business. I also keep an eye out for how the grass grows above the lines in the draught to make sure it's flowing free and it has been. Actually, it was seeping because it was a low spot in the grade of the yard where they did more of the shoddy work and there was...ready for it...only 6" of soil on above the line in about a 8' area. Now there is about 18" above the line and it doesn't seep any more. That particular spot in the yard I'm wanting to add about the equivalent of about 7 more loads of topsoil and level it out. Anyway, this is a bit off topic. Thanks again.

 

[Kioti guy]

Check out the ck 20 in person ,I think you will find it to be a larger ,heavier more capable tractor then the other tractors on your origional list. Its not a SCUT it is a CUT. I absolutely love mine.....Craig

 

[TripleR]

Yes, I noticed and chose to ignore it. Give it a rest..I'm not going to hire a backhoe. Does it bother you that bad that I want a SCUT w/backhoe?

Most experts are self acclaimed also, just because they own their own business. That is not intended to be a dig at you, just fact, and applies to all professions.

On the field lines, it may not hurt them, however you don't own the house I do and haven't seen the crap that I've had to fix here due to shoddy work from the previous owners. The 3 loads of soil I had hauled in was to bury the field lines a bit more because one was seeping to the top.

Yikes, I don't think I have an more advice on this one.

 

[Smithrr]

Check out the ck 20 in person ,I think you will find it to be a larger ,heavier more capable tractor then the other tractors on your origional list. Its not a SCUT it is a CUT. I absolutely love mine.....Craig

I had pulled up the specs on the CK20S HST and it looked like a nice tractor. I may go look at that tractor, however once again it's a dealer that is almost 100 miles from my house. Looks like I have some traveling to do. Thanks

 

[Smithrr]

Yikes, I don't think I have an more advice on this one.

Well I appreciate the comments that have been given.

To explain myself..

I thought I hade made it pretty obvious that I wasn't interested in hiring a backhoe or getting bids from anyone to do the work I wanted to do. I'm wanting a SCUT and didn't know the pros, cons, feel, resale, etc...etc..., so I was looking for opinions on the SCUTs.

I offered up want I was intending to do with it and then instead of targeting the ? SCUT will or will not do the tasks, it became a you don't know what your doing and hire it out thread. It's my belief one should learn a bit more about the person they're commenting on before they say or write things negatively about them. I also believe everyone on this board has hired some one in the past and when the job was done, they know they could have done a better job themselves. Unfortunately I live in a area where this seems to be very prevalent.