Backhoe vs miniex for roads, sitework.

[mcbane]

Just a bit of skid steer experience:

1) you have almost no ground clearance with a bobcat skid steer and bobcat hoe. So every time you move you need to unlock the attachment from the skid steer. Not a problem if you are trenching in asphalt or only trench occasionally. Huge pain when you get off road and need to do so often.

2) If you need to move a lot of snow, skid steers with high flow hydraulics and blowers kick ****.


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[finn]

Just a bit of skid steer experience:

1) you have almost no ground clearance with a bobcat skid steer and bobcat hoe. So every time you move you need to unlock the attachment from the skid steer. Not a problem if you are trenching in asphalt or only trench occasionally. Huge pain when you get off road and need to do so often.

2) If you need to move a lot of snow, skid steers with high flow hydraulics and blowers kick ****.


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Ever try to drive a skid steer on a crowned, ice and snow packed blacktop road or an off camber driveway?

It’s the true definition of “really *****”

My skid steer stayed in the garage until the snow melted. My wife got tired of pulling it out of the ditch.

 

[Roundhouse]

How much road you gotta build ?
And how wide ?
Quality ?

Just for cars and pickups like a driveway , or heavy traffic ?


For trenching and digging i much prefer a mini ex over a backhoe

After you dig six feet you gotta move forward
With a backhoe you pull up the outriggers and hoe , flip the seat around , raise the front bucket , release the parking brake , put it in gear , drive forward Six feet and do it all over again

With a mini ex you just track forward

Also I never noticed until I used em both at the same job but the backhoe is exactly dead center of the machine so you can’t see what you’re digging

On a mini ex the hoe is off center so you can actually see the trench

For a skid steer , get one with tracks
The ones with tires are worthless

 

[Orionrising]

need to upgrade and gravel 2000-4000 feet of road good enough to handle winter traffic for a house and concrete trucks. call it 1500 yards of gravel pulled out of the bank and moved half a mile. Some ditching and rock poping, but not too much, couple culverts.

eventually build house garage, septic, drainage, etc maybe clear a few acres. most stumps are fairly small, timber is mostly 25 years old.

oh and strip off some ledge to see if I have any tourmaline in a pegmatite deposit.

If i like the work like i think I will would love to have an excavation business eventually, but it would be hard to replace the income and benefits from the day job.

Not really leaning towards a skidsteer. KInda liek small new 5 ton excavator and old non road legal dump, and rent a loader or big excavator for loading out the gravel once the rest of the road is ready.

 

[Dom165]

As others have suggested I would consider a tractor with a front loader and backhoe attachments. I don't have the road building job you are faced with but the machine I have has been great for "general" excavation work. I outfitted mine with an aftermarket backhoe attachment and was able to get a hydraulic thumb. The thing I like best is the versatility. I can remove both attachments and use it as a tractor and use any 3 point hitch implements I want and I have one machine to maintain.

Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[mcbane]

"Ever try to drive a skid steer on a crowned, ice and snow packed blacktop road or an off camber driveway?"

If you are driving a skid steer on ice, you need chains. I have two-link chains on all four wheels and do not have traction issues on icy, crowned roads.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

My 2 cents is to buy what you'll get the most use out of and rent or trade for the other work. No perfect tool for all jobs.

A tractor, preferably with a loader, is almost necessary for owning 100 acres. It can do a lot of things, but none of them as well as dedicated piece of equipment can.

 

[tthornto]

You have experience running dozers, need to be able to load gravel from a bank and build a road through an area with lots of random big rocks. Have I got a machine for you (slaps hood) A 71' Deere 450 Crawler with a 4in 1 front bucket and a backhoe.https://maine.craigslist.org/hvo/d/1971-john-deere-450-crawler/6717217175.html

 

[Orionrising]

Yeah I saw that one, guess I could build a cage for it. I have been avoiding things without rollover protection but that could be worked around I suppose

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[4 FN 27]

I'd be lost without my Hoe.

I cleared 1.5 Acres with my Hoe. I bought it in 2008 with 37 hours on it as a demo. Now have 673 hours on it. Makes clearing easy. Works OK for grading and if you need a trench dug it is great. Need to move a pile across the yard it is good at that too.

Now if I only had a Mini-Ex too...unfortunately my Sand Box is not big enough.

 

[machsnell]

Any machine will get the job done. It's just a matter of how much time you have and how frustration you can deal with. Rent or hire the right machine for the job and buy what you want for the rest of the work is what I would suggest.

For cutting a half to 3/4 mile road a mini ex (5 ton as suggested) is really small. Rent a track loader like a 953 and cut what and where you can hire an operator if you cant run it. Or just here a guy with a loader for ?110 to 125 an hour plus probably delivery charge and get as much done with the loader as you can. Then take a decent size track hoe and cut rocks or ditches.

Hire a dump truck (or 2) and have the excavator or loader load trucks to move the 120 loads of bank run or whatever material it is you have to move.

Backhoes are nice if you dont have a loader but a track skid steer will run circles around a backhoe loading or digging. Now that mini and midi excavators are common backhoes have become much less needed and desired by contractors. I hardly ever see one sites anymore. I only keep my backhoe for primarily snow and to have at the yard when all Bobcats or excavators are out.

Minis and midis are so much more versatile and quicker and maneuverable on (shallow) trenching and tracks always win over wheels off road.

A mid size excavator (7 to 10 ton) is a versatile machine but they are more expensive than a mini or a skid steer.

Just my 2 cents.

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[mike93lx]

sounds like my buddy's property in East Waterboro.

I've seen some big *** rocks moved with 3-4 ton mini's. not ideal, but possible.

I'd make sure to check craigslist down my way and into RI/CT. You might be able to get a nicer machine from someone wrapping up a construction project or closing a business. The guy that cleared my backyard picked up an almost new 3 ton mini from a guy in CT that had bought it to clear his own property for a house. Can't remember exactly what he said he paid, but it was cheap.

 

[6768rogues]

I recommend the four wheel drive backhoe. I have one and I also have a skid steer loader. The skid steer does bucket tasks very well, but is not as versatile as the backhoe with bucket tractor.

 

[ez-duzit]

Bought a Case 530CK loader/backhoe for $5k. 580 is even better. A machine like that could do pretty much all you're going to need.

 

[Farmall450]

No blade, manual thumb, but it would move some earth.

https://maine.craigslist.org/hvo/d/jsw-80/6705024451.html

Agreed. Nothing beats a good hoe.

 

[Farmall450]

Ever try to drive a skid steer on a crowned, ice and snow packed blacktop road or an off camber driveway?

It’s the true definition of “really *****”

My skid steer stayed in the garage until the snow melted. My wife got tired of pulling it out of the ditch.

Ever hear of chains or tracks?

 

[finn]

Ever hear of chains or tracks?

Not a lot of clearance for chains, plus, they don’t last long.

I solved the problem by buying a compact tractor with a cab, heater, and 60” front mounted snow blower. Beats a skid steer with no cab or heat, that dumps snow on your feet when stacking the snow in the spring. Tractor handles the crowned, ice covered road, even without studs.

 

[Farmall450]

Not a lot of clearance for chains, plus, they don’t last long.

I solved the problem by buying a compact tractor with a cab, heater, and 60” front mounted snow blower. Beats a skid steer with no cab or heat, that dumps snow on your feet when stacking the snow in the spring. Tractor handles the crowned, ice covered road, even without studs.

Most compact tractors have the same tread as skidsteers.
Trust me, our 4x4 Kubota w/ rear mount snowblower has a real hard time.

Plenty of room for chains on our Case 85XT. Normally only need rears too. Plus, just like your tractor, you can option a heated cab.

 

[4xdog]

I saw a Cat television commercial for prospective homeowner purchases today -- mainly skid-steers. First time I've seen a consumer ad for "real" Caterpillar products. Sponsored by Fabik Cat, our local dealer.

 

[seanc_mt]

To answer your question I have a 2006 Cat 257B and an old Komatsu Mini Ex. Skid steer just has a bucket right now but im designing a wood processor for it. Skid steer is the ONLY was to plow snow. The komatsu has a good size bucket and a thumb. I bought 5 acres and used both to clean the whole place up and build my road. Turned out awesome.

20180921_090153 by Sean Connell, on Flickr

Theres my road right after I finished.

 

[mcbane]

Not a lot of clearance for chains, plus, they don’t last long.



I solved the problem by buying a compact tractor with a cab, heater, and 60” front mounted snow blower. Beats a skid steer with no cab or heat, that dumps snow on your feet when stacking the snow in the spring. Tractor handles the crowned, ice covered road, even without studs.

Any machine can be improperly configured for a task.

Why would anyone buying a skid steer for snow removal get one that didn’t fit heavy 2-link plow chains, didn’t have a cab and heat, and didn’t have a hydraulic blower? I have used my bobcat to clear roads of 10 ft of packed snow (typical pto tractor blower doesn’t allow full elevation on the arms). And if the road has no room to turnaround I can pivot in place and drive out without have to back all the way. Try that with a compact tractor.


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[Roundhouse]

I wouldn’t even consider a skid steer with wheels

Tracks are far More useful

 

[Orionrising]

Got an olddd non road legal dump

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[ishiboo]

Any machine can be improperly configured for a task.

Why would anyone buying a skid steer for snow removal get one that didn’t fit heavy 2-link plow chains, didn’t have a cab and heat, and didn’t have a hydraulic blower? I have used my bobcat to clear roads of 10 ft of packed snow (typical pto tractor blower doesn’t allow full elevation on the arms). And if the road has no room to turnaround I can pivot in place and drive out without have to back all the way. Try that with a compact tractor.


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Sounds like you are applying your personal situation as a blanket for what everyone should do. Truckee has a different snow situation than those of us in the midwest.

I had a 10,500 lb skid loader, a 5500lb skid loader and a 5500lb CUT and I would much rather do my work in the CUT. More comfortable, easier to get in and out of, substantially better visibility, etc. But around here we have long driveways. I plow the driveway with a front plow, use a back blade to drag away from garage doors and things, etc. far more efficiently than I could ever do in a skid loader. And I can go 18mph while plowing or between sites. I have a rear blower if I need it but plowing works best.

Hydraulic blowers are great for skid loaders where its your only option but a PTO blower is less expensive, less complex and plow just as hard.

If I was doing something that required quick turnarounds in a small space a skid loader would definitely be the way to go. When I did plow with my 773 I had chains but there was only one time I needed chains when we had solid ice... otherwise on flat land all they would do is wreck the driveways and parking areas.

Saying because it worked for you means it is the only solution for everyone else is pretty silly.

 

[ishiboo]

BTW... I've owned three skids and three tractors in the last decade. For my purposes I can be without a skid but I can't be without a tractor. I know plenty of professionals where the opposite is true.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'd be lost without my Hoe.

A "thumb" is a great option for a hoe or an excavator.

If you are going to buy a skid steer, get one with tracks and as much ground clearance as possible.

 

[rburke65]

Bought a used 37 hp Kubota TLB and wished I had a thumb for it.

 

[Orionrising]

Still haven't found a deal on anything, nor rented. We have had snow cover since the beginning of November

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[JimH74]

Thanks for the update.

 

[Metal]

Surely someone will mention a tow behind unit...

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[readhead]

Metal, I see what you did there.

 

[WittHay]

Still haven't found a deal on anything, nor rented. We have had snow cover since the beginning of November

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About 55 degrees here today on the other coast. We have a Ritchie Bros auction yard that holds sales every couple of months. Lots of buyers come up from the US and purchase because the US dollar is worth about $1.35 Canadian

Not sure how far you are from Canada but might be worth checking into equipment on the other side of the border. Usually clearing around here goes in stages. 25 ton and up digger comes in to do the main site prep. Dozer builds the roads. Then usually a skid steer and mini to mid size exc do the rest

 

[Orionrising]

Richie's has a yard in Canada over this way but no sales listed on the schedule.

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[Joe69]

Don't know what size rocks but one of the best tools I've had for building on acreage is a skid steer loader. I bought a nice older Case 1450C for a decent price 15 years ago and have put on around 1K hours on it over the years while building our house and prepping field areas. The toothed bucket works great for shallow digging and the large smooth edge bucket can move large piles of material very quickly. I moved 200 truck loads of fill around when we were leveling a field. The trucking co. owner couldn't believe how fast I did it. (Then they brought it a dozer to smooth it all out.)

Turns on a dime too while a backhoe needs a lot more space to maneuver around. The rubber tires are useless in soft ground and a tracked one would be nice. Can get a backhoe attachment but don't know how well they work. I also had an auger attachment for doing post holes. Still have the skidsteer and it doesn't get used much now but when I do, it sure comes in handy like clearing the driveway in the winter when we get a rare heavy snowfall here.

I have a 250 John Deere skid steer, with a 900 JD worksite pro backhoe attachment.

The good:
It's a versatile machine. I have a bucket, forks, a snow blade, and the backhoe for it.
The backhoe attachment works really well. It has plenty of power for it's size. Because it's a Deere, repair parts are readily available. It had a 9' reach.
You can rent an attachment for a skid steer for almost anything.

The bad:
It's limited in height, compared to a backhoe/loader
It's not as easy to move around as a normal backhoe. You have to move from one seat to another to reposition it.

I'm a heavy equipment mechanic by trade, and I felt that the skid steer/backhoe attachment was a good tradeoff for my needs. I'm not doing production work. Overall, I'm happy with my choice.

Joe

 

[Orionrising]

Melt is starting at long last down to a foot or so of snow. Haven't found anything yo buy yet.

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[Strouty]

My buddy ended up buying a ford 555? backhoe, for what he is doing it was the best all around machine. Glad the snow is melting, we are almost done with it here.

 

[Roundhouse]

Melt is starting at long last down to a foot or so of snow. Haven't found anything yo buy yet.

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Was 77 in Georgia today
Gonna need sunscreen soon

 

[red61cj5]

You should call DR. I hear they have a returned unit that only pulled a few stumps.