Small trackhoe to compliment my CUT?

[Diamondback]

Great site. Have spent many hours pouring over the vast information here.

I have a Kubota L35 TLB and love it but my property is mostly 20-30% grade and heavily wooded. After watching a bobcat 331 work an area in a fraction of the time it would have taken me to clear I have considered buying a small trachoe to take on the tasks better suited to a track machine.

Since we are currently building a house a smaller, used machine is all the current budget will allow. My neighbor has a bobcat 322 he wants to sell. Haven't seen the machine yet but after looking over the specs it appears to be a bit small (19hp, 3500 lb machine) to truly be a compliment to my Kubota. It is, however, in my price range. Just don't want to put that kind of money into machine that lists lifting capacity with blade down at just a little over 500 lbs.

Anyone out there familiar with the 322 or that size trackhoe in general. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Diamondback

 

[mike69440]

Seems way to small to be of any use. My L39 could almost pick up that tiny Bobcat.

See
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/construction-equipment/96751-should-i-pursue-excavator.html

The excavator you should get should be able to pick up the L35.

10' ft out from center, the PC75 straining should be just able to do that.

 

[Boondox]

I was in the same situation. I had an L3010 with a BH, but needed something bigger with a longer reach. So I traded up to an L4630 intending to get a larger BH to go with it. But then a friend let me use his Kubota KX-71 mini excavator and it was SO much better than any backhoe I was hooked!

The 71 was a bit small for my needs, so I started shopping around. Did a lot of research, talked to a lot of equipment mechanics for the brands that had support in my area: Bobcat, Cat, Volvo and Kubota. The local mechanics said Bobcat had some issues. Minor issues, but not trouble-free. That was confirmed by the owners I talked to, all of whom loved their machines but expressed some annoyance at times. The other three were rock solid and expensive! In the end I went with the best used value I could find -- a Kubota KX121-3 with two buckets and an angled blade with float.

I absolutely love the machine! For harvesting boulders or firewood, clearing ditches, sculpting the land a mini-ex just can't be beat! But I'd advise against going too small. Get one that meets your needs, even if you have to wait a bit.

 

[carl Massaro]

I have a Bobcat 322. It has paid for itself . I use it in the city for very tight spots. I have controls set the same as a big excavator so its easy to move to a bigger machine. There are some nasty mini accidents on You Tube.