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Which CTL for pool excavation.

Ivan01

Active Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
30
Location
USA
Hey guys. I am looking for anyone's advice on a solid compact track loader to do swimming pool excavations. I have a contract to do about 250 pool excavations per year and currently have a John Deere 332e that's not standing up to the task. After about three hours of digging I can't even make it out of the ramp because how much it goes down in power.

I am looking at purchasing a bobcat t770 brand new. But would like to know if there are any better alternatives. I'm looking for a bare bones machine with nothing fancy. One that'll just dig dig dig non stop. I would like to have a machine in the 80+hp range

Thanks guys.
 

Mark13

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
272
Location
IL
If you want a CTL that isn't fancy but will dig with the best of them, have a look at the Takeuchi machines.
 

lumberjack

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Joined
Dec 24, 2011
Messages
1,044
Location
Columbus, MS
Another vote for Takeuchi. I had a TL250 that we used on a large house pad in 2013. We cut and piled 2k yards, 8k fill imported, 1k of the piled cut spread and the rest loaded and spread on another lot. I'd burn 4.5-5gph pushing fill, but man it could push.
 

JNB

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Feb 13, 2012
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823
Location
North Texas
Occupation
Flyin' low and rollin' slow...
Back in the day we used an International 100E to dig pools...and we did a gang-load of them. The 100E weighs in at about 15k with a 4n1 bucket and is pretty narrow. Being narrow really helped in maneuverability in the tight confines of back yards and pool bottoms. I own a Kubota SVL90 and love the way it works, but I'll agree with both Mark and Lumberjack on the Takeuchi choice. The TL250/TL12 is heavier, narrower and has a nice tighter turning radius than the Kubota. My choice came down to the dealer, but if I dug a lot of pools I may have gone Tak. They are tall though, but if that's not a problem for you get a Tak with a 4n1 and go to work.
 

CM1995

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Joined
Jan 21, 2007
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13,248
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Alabama
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Running what I brung and taking what I win
If you a want a bare bones digging machine I'd look at the Tak too.

I just purchased a new Cat 279D because I wanted frills and get all the equipment one brand. I use a CTL for utility support, backfilling and fine grading work, not heavy digging.
 

Mark13

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2013
Messages
272
Location
IL
often times the dump trucks are out in the front of the house and mobility is necessary to load the trucks with dirt.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but would a CTL/SS/Mini Wheel Loader to transport the dirt and a Midi excavator to do the digging be an option? I'd think a large mini or a midi excavator digging and piling and a "skid steer" moving the dirt to the waiting trucks at the road would have to be faster then digging and transporting with a skid steer alone. Depending on the distance to the road and if you kept the 332 you could even run 2 machines transporting dirt to the trucks while an excavator was digging the pool.
 

cdm123

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2009
Messages
272
Location
manitoba canada
I'm not sure what your budget is, but would a CTL/SS/Mini Wheel Loader to transport the dirt and a Midi excavator to do the digging be an option? I'd think a large mini or a midi excavator digging and piling and a "skid steer" moving the dirt to the waiting trucks at the road would have to be faster then digging and transporting with a skid steer alone. Depending on the distance to the road and if you kept the 332 you could even run 2 machines transporting dirt to the trucks while an excavator was digging the pool.

This is what I was thinking as well.
 

Ivan01

Active Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
30
Location
USA
This is what I was thinking as well.

I don't have a budget for a mini excavator. And I would also have to hire a 2nd operator. In some cases the mini excavator would be ideal but the soils here in Houston are rock free so a skid steer will do the job just fine. Just need to find one that can stand up to the abuse day by day.
 

Stick Pro

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Messages
154
Location
Fresno CA
We use our cat 299d2 to excavate swimming pools. We dig 4 a week, any ware from hard pan all the way down to white sand. The 299 will climb out of a ramp better than the bobcat t770, I find it digs better than the bobcat also. The cat is does not beat you up as much as the Deere or the bobcat. Good luck let us know what you decide to get.
 

Ivan01

Active Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
30
Location
USA
Then go talk to your Takeuchi dealer, that would be the best machine for your needs it sounds like.

Thanks for the advice, is there any technical reason why Takeuchi would be the better choice for digging in tough clay? Over lets say a bare bones bobcat or cat?

We use our cat 299d2 to excavate swimming pools. We dig 4 a week, any ware from hard pan all the way down to white sand. The 299 will climb out of a ramp better than the bobcat t770, I find it digs better than the bobcat also. The cat is does not beat you up as much as the Deere or the bobcat. Good luck let us know what you decide to get.

Thank you, I will also stop by the cat dealer and have a chat about a 299. They are pricey but if its a work horse i will consider one.
 

skata

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Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
1,541
Location
midwest
Thanks for the advice, is there any technical reason why Takeuchi would be the better choice for digging in tough clay? Over lets say a bare bones bobcat or cat?

takeuchis are at the top of the list when it comes to brute force in digging. bobcats tend to have weaker drive motors. cant comment on the cat.
and the takeuchi hydraulic over hydraulic controls are very nice and easy to use.
 

CM1995

Administrator
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Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,248
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Alabama
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Running what I brung and taking what I win
Take a look at the 279, I'm impressed so far.
 

Catbota

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Messages
5
Location
Pa
I have a Kubota svl90-2 and it is a great machine. I demoed a tak tl10 and the 90 side by side and the Kubota surpasses the tak. While I know that the tl12 would have been a more fair comparison, it didn't take long to long for me to decide which machine was right for me.
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
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Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
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Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
CAT 259, 279, 289 of 299.....loads of power to haul full loads up the ramp. We use out 299XHP and there is nothing it can't power through and the ride is magnitudes of order better than the TAK...this keeps the operator working faster and fof longer periods of time. The 200XHP's are expensive but cost is relative, these machines make very short work out of a pool removal...Time is money in that game as it is in so many others.....
Ride control of the new CAT iron is a great feature....good luck and let us know what you end up getting...lots of great equipment on the market these days...
 

Ivan01

Active Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
30
Location
USA
Thanks guys, I went to CAT and liked the 289D, my only concern was that the lift height of the bucket was only 10'5", that will barely clear the top of my dump trucks and not a lot of room to shake the bucket. My John Deere 332E had a similar problem. The T770 has an 11" dump height and this works out. I really like the 289D and it was a very smooth machine and I like how its well thought out as far as ease of serviceability. Another concern I had was the power of the CAT D (269D, 279D, 289D, 299D) machines. They jump from 74hp up to 100. There is no in between. Will a 269 with 74hp perform the same as the 289. They have different ROC but will the force to excavate be much of a difference?
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
I own and operate three of these model CAT CTL's.., the 259D, the 289D and the 299 XHP....The difference in ROC is due mainly to the weigh of the machine itself and that is the main limiting factor. The 259 does perform every bit as good as the 289, in some case better. The same motor pavkage driving less weigh around proves to be a very good package, for me the 289 is. Big under powered due the size the weigh of the machine itself ...I can climb bigger hills fully loaded with the 259d better than the 289 D but the 289 can carry more weigh. The 299 XHP is an animal and lacks for nothing. It out performed anything on the market today in my opinion. The best thing to do would be to Demo each size on chula work conditions and pick the one that best suite those needs, I think you will find the 259 and the 279 to be all the machind you need. Make sure you get the wrigh pavkage, it will bring up the ROC numbers quite a bit....hope this help. Other son here have great advise as well across varies brands. Hopefully CM will chime bavk in ad he just bought himself a shiny new 279 and He is a wealth of experience and unbiased information....good luck..keep asking questions nd try them all B 4 U buy !
 

Ivan01

Active Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2016
Messages
30
Location
USA
I own and operate three of these model CAT CTL's.., the 259D, the 289D and the 299 XHP....The difference in ROC is due mainly to the weigh of the machine itself and that is the main limiting factor. The 259 does perform every bit as good as the 289, in some case better. The same motor pavkage driving less weigh around proves to be a very good package, for me the 289 is. Big under powered due the size the weigh of the machine itself ...I can climb bigger hills fully loaded with the 259d better than the 289 D but the 289 can carry more weigh. The 299 XHP is an animal and lacks for nothing. It out performed anything on the market today in my opinion. The best thing to do would be to Demo each size on chula work conditions and pick the one that best suite those needs, I think you will find the 259 and the 279 to be all the machind you need. Make sure you get the wrigh pavkage, it will bring up the ROC numbers quite a bit....hope this help. Other son here have great advise as well across varies brands. Hopefully CM will chime bavk in ad he just bought himself a shiny new 279 and He is a wealth of experience and unbiased information....good luck..keep asking questions nd try them all B 4 U buy !

I am torn between the 299D2 and the T770. Both have been optioned to be bare bones pretty much.

the T770 is bare bones with no options, I am being quoted $71,000 for the machine
The CAT 299D2 I am being quoted $75,592 but it has ride control and an advance display.

I am thinking if I can get CAT to get down to the price of the T770 I will go with the 299D2

Any opinions on pricing?

Thanks so much for every ones help, its really helped me narrow down on what will work best.
 
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