Kubota L3010 vs JD 4300 vs NH 2120 vs ?

Anonymous Poster · Dec 15, 2001

Digging? Basement, maybe 40x50x10 and pond, maybe a 1/4 acre or smaller. I've done enough digging with a pick and shovel that a quarter acre REALLY scares me. I have time, but not THAT much - and I certainly doubt my back would appreciate the effort. Just the thought makes me appreciate living today - the era of power equipment - rather than the really old "good old days." I'd not thought of buying a used dedicated "TLB" (HUH?) to do the excavations then selling it and getting a compact tractor for maintenance. Something to think about. It is true that "two heads are better than one." Thanks

Boondox · Dec 15, 2001

Small world, John! I grew up in San Diego about a block from the ocean in La Jolla (before it became THE place to live). If you're familiar with the area, my boyhood home was just down the block from the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Coast Blvd.

Don't miss it at all, though pond water just doesn't taste right after growing up in the ocean! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

TresCrows · Dec 15, 2001

I am not about to tell you what to do but I would rent or hire a crawler. At least that is what I call them. They are huge machines and scoop dirt from underneath and pile it on top and then crawl off and dump it. One of these could dig your pond in a couple of days would be my guess and pile the dirt around and then you could use whatever tractor you wind up with to smooth, contour and pretty up. A couple of passes and I had a pond!!!! I cannot imagine owning a machine of the size that could reasonably dig a .25 or larger acre pond. Why dig it out so fast--what is the hurry--well if you spend weeks or months with a tractor will not it try to fill with water which would then be needed to pump out while you work in it or are you planning on the new JD submersible tractor with optional periscope? Just a thought. J

John_Mc · Dec 15, 2001

In Ohio - Dayton area. If you're close, I would be interested.

Sorry, I'm up in Vermont. Grew up in NW Ohio, though.

Been told by a salesman (NH TC33) that a loader is "almost" as good for leveling dirt as a box blade.

If all you are doing is starting with a pile of loose dirt and you want to smooth it out, then yes, a loader might get you by. If you are putting in and maintaining a road, however, a loader is a very poor substitute in my opinion. With a box blade it's a relatively simple matter to put a crown on your road to keep the water draining off (you can adjust the box blade to ride higher on one side than the other... can't do that with a loader). It's also a pain in the butt to make a drainage swale with a loader, but a breeze to do with a box blade. If you are looking to cut costs, I'd use a rear blade before I'd resort to a loader only. Not to knock loaders... they are very useful tools. It's just that a box blade (or rear blade) blows away a loader for grading and certain other types of earth work.

There are a few guys on here that have MUCH more experience than I in this area. Hopefully some of them will chime in.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 18, 2001

John_Mc

I want to thank you for providing me your insights on my situation. I'm still working through the information provided here and by the 3 marketeers. Your help was very valuable to me and the TC33 is a top contender. Again, THANKS!
Roger

Anonymous Poster · Dec 18, 2001

...a block from the ocean in La Jolla ...

Lots of beautiful women in La Jolla and the rest of the beaches.../w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

My friend's wife is from La Jolla was a spitting image of Raquel Welch... more pronounced "sideways view"... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I was stationed in Imperial Beach and lived all over... La Mesa, San Diego, El Cajon... I truly loved it... lot's of sea stories... and they're all true...{some unbelievable, but true!}

For a time, after the Navy, I worked in Logan Heights and people talked about Harlem...? I even miss that! {But, not getting shot at.../w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif}

I have relatives living out there... I told my wife, I'm afraid if I visit... I would only need a one way ticket... I wouldn't be coming back.../w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

The cost of living and housing is remarkably different from back here... my cousin's home is beautiful in El Cajon, {about $340,000}, but that same home here in NY would be $130k...

Anyways, my first choice would be San Diego/So.Calif. area and the next would be Honolulu, Hawaii... but that's another story.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif