Would you think I was crazy if...

[300UGUY]

2 words: **** yeah!!!

I'd love one, but it ain't happening....

 

[TCJatko]

If you have the resources, go for it. I'd love to have such a tool.

 

[EddieWalker]

I think that kind of crazy is a good thing!!! I've been looking at excavators for years. Every time I get in one that I'm sort of kind of wanting, I play around on it, then run the numbers again and question if it's big enough, or way too big. The problem for me is that I have a full sized backhoe that does everything I need it to do. The excavator will just do some things faster and better. But it's terrible at moving material and hauling stuff. I think it's very hard to beat the versatility of a full sized loader backhoe.

I also get to thinking how much I want a cab tractor big enough to pull a 15 foot batwing. That one just might win out over my not wanting to go into debt defenses.

If you buy it, make sure it's big enough to do the job efficiently. Small stuff comes out easy no matter what you are using. Stumps and bigger trees are going to need a certain amount of weight and power to do it safely. I have my doubts that little Kubota is up to the task.

Eddie

 

[Rustyiron]

I even has the Boss on board with the idea.

??? and you're here jerking around with us! Get going man!

 

[mjcountrybumpkin]

I didn't take time to look , but the OP is from southwest va. Same general area as me.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt a Fullsize backhoe is not nearly as efficient here as it would be other places. Main reason it can get real steep real fast on one around here.
I would have a lot of toys in the barn if I just had the cash, but a backhoe will not be one of them , no matter the deal. Just won't do any good for me in my terrain.

 

[Loadstar]

A mini would probably be a good choice. I found a cat when my friend was looking for one, he paid $10K for it and it has been constantly used. It was well cared for and it has been great. As a home/hobby machine I think the mini would be better suited than a dozer. A mini undercarriage is cheaper to maintain, easier for a homeowner to maintain, and is a easier machine to transport. Inexperience on a dozer can get costly real fast.

 

[moriboy]

If I call you crazy then what the heck am I? I just bought a KX-057 for my ranch. That is the handiest thing that I have ever put diesel in. The maneuverability in tight spots is where I think it shines over the TLB. For building roads on steep ground, I like it better than the dozer because you can pull and place dirt off of a bank and slope the bank nicely at the same time. My tractor w/ grapple and a 6 way dozer basically sit now. Building roads, piling brush, digging/cleaning ditches, grading slopes, pulling fence posts, spreading and grading gravel, the list goes on....

 

[bspeedy]

I look at everything from the financial side - sometimes that is a problem... If you buy a good used machine and use it carefully, you will likely get most of your money back when it is time to sell. Don't look at it as an expense. It is an asset that can increase your enjoyment and increase the value of your land. Better to spend 40 grand on a good piece of equipment than a car or truck. Holds it's value better and is more useful. DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Redneck in training]

If it gets steep very quickly here is the machine for it. MENZI MUCK Construction Equipment, Used MENZI MUCK Construction Equipment, MENZI MUCK Construction Equipment For Sale At MachineryTrader.com - 6 Listings - Page 1

Google Menzi Muck for videos.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Steppenwolfe, I've only got 29 acres and I'd love to have a mini-ex. If you have the means, then go for it. Screw the backhoe; get the mini-ex. I've got a little BX backhoe and I love it. But a mini-ex will dig circles around a backhoe all day long. My land clearing would go a lot faster with a mini-ex than a backhoe, for sure.

I'd be tempted to buy a new one just because of the warranty and the tracks and undercarriage replacement/repairs are so expensive on them.

Oh, and it goes without saying that it has to be a Kubota. Right?