Buying Advice Newbie looking for serious assistance

[sccadriver]

Kioti folks, I need some input. I am considering my first tractor and am torn.....CK2610 or CK3510? I would like a loader/backhoe.
Let me expound on my plans a bit more and on my thought processes. If I am crazy, you all are welcome to tell me. My NC project will be a one time thing. I am finally going to get some grass to grow where only shaded bare ground existed previously. Cut out 20 big oaks and ground the stumps.I need to bring in a bunch of topsoil and get grass growing! I could rent a CUT or hire it out, but there are lots of other landscaping chores that would be nice. I need to put in a low retaining wall and a gravel drive back to my shed......put in a lot of shrubbery etc. to get the NC house sold in the next few years. The SC project is a new build on a lake lot in SC. That is where I plan to use it the most. I am the GC on the project and am not under any time constraints. The first part of the build will be a 32x48 outbuilding. I will need to level (very minor grade) and prep for the pad as well as trench for electrical and water. The DHEC plan for septic calls for 8 trenches 70' long with a max depth of 27". I was hoping to do these myself. In addition, I was planning to trench for power to the dock and prep walkways etc. The house plan is a daylight basement but the lot has only about 6 degrees of slope. So the basement back wall will be only about 5' below ground. My original intent was to use the CUT and slowly dig that out with the backhoe and move the dirt with the bucket for side fill. Speed is not a concern as I plan the whole project as a 18-24 month project. I know that I could hire this out and get it done much more efficiently but considering the timing of the different phases it will mean multiple contracts. Ultimately, I will pay out a good bit and have nothing of value to show for it. I was hoping that the asset value of the unit would be a benefit (at least I told my wife that......I'll probably love the thing and keep it for many other chores like maintaining the drive!!!)

So my questions......
1) should I buy or just contract my jobs out?
2) which model? I know the higher HP would be nice but is it worth the Tier 4 issues?
3) am i trying to do much with a CUT?

lastly, am I being ridiculous and trying to justify the purchase?

 

[Coyote machine]

1st request: use paragraph breaks to allow people to better read your posts.

2nd, I agree on avoiding the Tier 4 final additional crap slapped onto all recent tractors over X HP. It causes LOTS of issues, and will continue to as the tractors get older and dirtier, over time. Electronics do NOT like dusty, dirty environments at all..

Yes, you're justifying your purchase to yourself and your wife. You could buy a used mini-ex and get what you need done faster and with less effort, or buy a new one and keep it or sell it at end of main projects, and then buy a SCUT to maintain the drives etc.

Nothing wrong with buying a new SCUT or used older bigger tractor, if you can find a pre-final Tier 4 unit.

You have to decide what is best suited to now and future use, and it may not be the same machine.

 

[The Fred]

Maybe consider a used excavator then sell it when you are finished.

Best of luck, Fred

 

[RandyinTN]

Your choices are almost endless. Before you decide on a brand go and sit in the tractor seat and see if it fits you. Once you narrowed down to a comfortable tractor then go from there.

 

[4570Man]

Are you in a position to not need the financing? If so I’d recommend going used and bigger. I like my full size TLB a lot but the biggest downside is price of a good one and moving it since it weighs over 8 tons. The suggestion in your other thread to look for a Kubota TLB is a good one. The built from the ground up backhoes are in a different class than a attachment backhoe ( although they technically are an attachment backhoe ) I think you’d be a lot more likely to get this done with a L45, M59, Kubota or John Deere 110. The old timers did it with a shovel so of coarse it’s possible with a little backhoe but I think it’s impractical. Another thing to consider it’s impractical to dig a ditch wider than the backhoe bucket and the fill line probably call for a 2 foot bucket. That’s a lot to ask of a little backhoe.

 

[CalG]

Kioti folks, I need some input. I am considering my first tractor and am torn.....CK2610 or CK3510? I would like a loader/backhoe.
Let me expound on my plans a bit more and on my thought processes. If I am crazy, you all are welcome to tell me. My NC project will be a one time thing. I am finally going to get some grass to grow where only shaded bare ground existed previously. Cut out 20 big oaks and ground the stumps.I need to bring in a bunch of topsoil and get grass growing! I could rent a CUT or hire it out, but there are lots of other landscaping chores that would be nice. I need to put in a low retaining wall and a gravel drive back to my shed......put in a lot of shrubbery etc. to get the NC house sold in the next few years. The SC project is a new build on a lake lot in SC. That is where I plan to use it the most. I am the GC on the project and am not under any time constraints. The first part of the build will be a 32x48 outbuilding. I will need to level (very minor grade) and prep for the pad as well as trench for electrical and water. The DHEC plan for septic calls for 8 trenches 70' long with a max depth of 27". I was hoping to do these myself. In addition, I was planning to trench for power to the dock and prep walkways etc. The house plan is a daylight basement but the lot has only about 6 degrees of slope. So the basement back wall will be only about 5' below ground. My original intent was to use the CUT and slowly dig that out with the backhoe and move the dirt with the bucket for side fill. Speed is not a concern as I plan the whole project as a 18-24 month project. I know that I could hire this out and get it done much more efficiently but considering the timing of the different phases it will mean multiple contracts. Ultimately, I will pay out a good bit and have nothing of value to show for it. I was hoping that the asset value of the unit would be a benefit (at least I told my wife that......I'll probably love the thing and keep it for many other chores like maintaining the drive!!!)

So my questions......
1) should I buy or just contract my jobs out?
2) which model? I know the higher HP would be nice but is it worth the Tier 4 issues?
3) am i trying to do much with a CUT?

lastly, am I being ridiculous and trying to justify the purchase?

Seriously

Hire the work out, You don't seem to be calm enough to actually use a tractor, or own one.

They can be fun, but come with responsibilities.

 

[4570Man]

Seriously

Hire the work out, You don't seem to be calm enough to actually use a tractor, or own one.

They can be fun, but come with responsibilities.

My tractor saved a lot of money over the course of building my house and I rate it 10-10 on the good idea scale. Although I still hired out the septic install, footer and basement digging and clearing the lot. There’s still a LOT of work outside of those task to be done. I don’t have a spreadsheet of exact expenses but I lost between 0-1000 dollars when I sold my tractor after using it for 700 hours plus fuel. The only part I would have done differently is bought a bigger machine and my L3240 was twice as big as the OP is considering.

 

[CalG]

My tractor saved a lot of money over the course of building my house and I rate it 10-10 on the good idea scale. Although I still hired out the septic install, footer and basement digging and clearing the lot. There’s still a LOT of work outside of those task to be done. I don’t have a spreadsheet of exact expenses but I lost between 0-1000 dollars when I sold my tractor after using it for 700 hours plus fuel. The only part I would have done differently is bought a bigger machine and my L3240 was twice as big as the OP is considering.

Right! Equipment can save a fellow money, or cost a lot. It a depends on the situation. Maintenance and repairs are not trivial.

If one is looking to justify machinery on an internet forum, well good luck. If all you need is a nudge to get you going, and help along the way, this is the place!

I finished up running the hard lines for front and rear remotes on the Kubota today. All that remains is a pair of hoses to the lift cylinder and I will have a second tractor with front mount snow blower. Keeping up with needs is not always easy... ;-)

PS

When ever someone posts that they need "serious" responses to their questions, I sense they haven't a clue about what they are really asking.

I mean "seriously". ;-)

 

[oosik]

Seriously - I see a guy with ZERO experience on construction equipment. He expects to purchase "something" and do general contractor class work. This will include - site preparation, foundation excavation, landscaping, septic system construction and, as of yet, unnamed projects.

Lets not fool him - - unless some form of miracle happens - - this, most likely, will end up as a real big mess. Which will cost even more - to have a contractor come in, straighten out his mess and complete a project.

Road maintenance, snow plowing, minor landscaping, planting trees & shrubs, felling trees for firewood - - these are projects suitable to learn how to operate a tractor/backhoe.

Many general contractors have spent their entire life learning their particular job and the skills required. Can we, honestly, tell this fellow that he can duplicate this level of skill and knowledge by simply purchasing a piece of equipment and - - GO.

I seriously recommend that those tasks/projects I've listed in my first paragraph be contracted out.

 

[atsah]

Seriously - I see a guy with ZERO experience on construction equipment. He expects to purchase "something" and do general contractor class work. This will include - site preparation, foundation excavation, landscaping, septic system construction and, as of yet, unnamed projects.

Lets not fool him - - unless some form of miracle happens - - this, most likely, will end up as a real big mess. Which will cost even more - to have a contractor come in, straighten out his mess and complete a project.

Road maintenance, snow plowing, minor landscaping, planting trees & shrubs, felling trees for firewood - - these are projects suitable to learn how to operate a tractor/backhoe.

Many general contractors have spent their entire life learning their particular job and the skills required. Can we, honestly, tell this fellow that he can duplicate this level of skill and knowledge by simply purchasing a piece of equipment and - - GO.

I seriously recommend that those tasks/projects I've listed in my first paragraph be contracted out.

I would agree, he will be in over his head..