Will I be happy with 3t (6300-6500lb) vs 3.5t, homestead/occasional use machine?

[paulsharvey]

Un general, something like a JD-27 to JD-50 are very utilitarian sizes, with the 50 being capable of setting small manholes, septic tanks, ect, and a 27/35 better suited for small services, telecoms, ect. If you knew that you were doing septic tanks/manholes on the small side, upto basements, I'd go 85 size.

On this forum, it's often stumps, and really even an 85 sized machine isn't want you want for many or large stumps/trees.

If tight spots aren't the fight, and time is unlimited, a JD-310 TLB has Far more weight, and can be roaded,

 

[nyone]

I have a kubota kh-41. 3,500lb machine. I'm just a home owner but dont contract anything out. I put 700hrs on my machine in 5-6yrs.

I have put a complete septic system in. Dug sono tubes for a 20x32' cabin, put in a 700' driveway including spreading 200' of stone, cleared the land and removed that stumps for all the above. Moved and burnt all that brush, stumps and trees for that land clearing. Buried all the down spouts for my house. Put up a 16x20 pole barn. Removed countless stumps, including some that I couldn't get out of the hole. I even dug out a existing houses foundation, 24x50'.

Granted it's not the fastest thing on earth but its paid for and does the job.

Its next big task is going to be re running underground utilities between buildings and digging up my 1,500sqft house to put dimple board up and drainage.

 

[txbonds]

I have a 2021 KX-73S (3 ton / 6200 lb machine) that has 625 hours on it. I use it on a 62 acre pine tree farm and its okay for digging drainage ditches and the like, but not heavy enough for dealing with stumps, logs, etc. We previously had a John Deere 310K backhoe that was better at dealing with stumps and logs, but sucked at a lot of drainage and pond bank work due to weight. I think for me, one day I'll look to upgrade to something in the 4 to 5 ton range. That should get me closer to the strength of the 310k backhoe but still lighter with tracks for work on softer ground without sinking or compressing the ground like the 310k did.

 

[mike69440]

Rock and stumps will challenge even 5 and 8 tonne class machines. smaller machine can dig out most 12" stumps

 

[txbonds]

Rock and stumps will challenge even 5 and 8 tonne class machines. smaller machine can dig out most 12" stumps

I can get the stumps out, but the machine can't lift quite enough and the track width and machine weight don't offer quite enough stability when off road on soft ground. Again, I'm using it and will be for a while until I can substantiate an upgrade but am just noting it doesn't have the capability that a 9k lb to 12k lb machine would have. If I did a lot of stump removal, I'd probably look at a ripper to tear roots as part of the process.

 

[paulsharvey]

For real hoe work, before you bit the bullet on a 50/85 class machine, atleast look at the prices of a 120/165 machine; IF it will live out it's days on one property. At times a real hoe isn't much more (if at all) than a smaller one.

Now, operating is the same, and it's not That much more expensive to run, BUT maintenance is a LOT. A fuel hydralic fluid change, is 33 gallons, thinks like tracks are often a career ending injury; ect.

The PC85 class machines are a really nice middle ground for digging, medium pipe work, but have no place in mass excavation.

 

[paulsharvey]

But back to 3 ton vs 3.5 ton, I think the weight difference is so small that a well engineered 3.0T might outwork a poor 3.5T. but give the two choices, I see no down side to going to a PC35/JD35/Cat303.5, class machine. I also would look at Yanmar, Ditchwitch, Takekuchi, ect. See what yiu like; but also do some real thinking about if the two sizes you listed are appropriate for what you want to do.

 

[snowninja]

I have a U27-4 purely for home use. Its 5908 lbs. and great in physical size but can max out in capability pretty quick depending on what you ask. Overall I'm happy and don't think a bigger one would make me any happier.

 

[mike69440]

What is tease pardon me but I'm thinking your asking the wrong question. What I don't see is what you want to accomplish and what is the best machine for the job. The best machine, once you have detailed your objectives may not be an excavator. Also, there is not much difference in machine capabilities of 6K vs 7.5K lb machines. Possibly a little more reach or lift at distance but not much. You won't see big differences until you double the machine weight, say going from 10K to a 20K lb machine or a 2K to 5K lb machine.

 

[mike69440]

What are the soil conditions? Do you have to rip thru rock, roots, hardpan?