littledenny
Well-Known Member
Anyone out there have any experience with operating a mini skid steer?
Situation: I built a 30x36 garage a couple years ago, and due to circumstances (like a few deployments to Southwest Asia) never got around to pouring a floor in it. Walls are concrete about two feet high, steel trusses and steel shell above that. Has a standard garage door, so I could get a normal skid steer inside, but am looking to try a mini skid steer from my local rental guy, just for the experience. I need to skim out 2-4 inches of hard packed Georgia clay off the top over about half the area, then move some sand into the low side in order to get the grade ready to pour a floor.
Big Question: Does a mini have "enough rocks in it's pockets" to dig into hardpacked clay, or should I just rent a normal machine? Figure I could do this in a couple hours at most with a normal machine, or real long weekend by manual dragline and wheelbarrow.
Beyond that, I'd appreciate any comments on operating one of these machines in general. Professionally, I build quite a few retaining walls with either RR ties or 6x6s - wonder if one of these machine would be of any utility in this work and worth the price vice manhandling these ties. ( My partner and I can routinely lay 25-30 ties a day, but we pay dearly for it with hot tub time afterwards. Still, not bad for a couple of 50+ retirees.)
I'd consider trying a mini for initially cutting into the banks and then moving ties from the pile to the wall, but I'm not convinced that they'd be stout enough to dig into a Georgia clay bank. I'd be happy to have someone convince me otherwise. Thoughts, anyone?
Littledenny
Situation: I built a 30x36 garage a couple years ago, and due to circumstances (like a few deployments to Southwest Asia) never got around to pouring a floor in it. Walls are concrete about two feet high, steel trusses and steel shell above that. Has a standard garage door, so I could get a normal skid steer inside, but am looking to try a mini skid steer from my local rental guy, just for the experience. I need to skim out 2-4 inches of hard packed Georgia clay off the top over about half the area, then move some sand into the low side in order to get the grade ready to pour a floor.
Big Question: Does a mini have "enough rocks in it's pockets" to dig into hardpacked clay, or should I just rent a normal machine? Figure I could do this in a couple hours at most with a normal machine, or real long weekend by manual dragline and wheelbarrow.
Beyond that, I'd appreciate any comments on operating one of these machines in general. Professionally, I build quite a few retaining walls with either RR ties or 6x6s - wonder if one of these machine would be of any utility in this work and worth the price vice manhandling these ties. ( My partner and I can routinely lay 25-30 ties a day, but we pay dearly for it with hot tub time afterwards. Still, not bad for a couple of 50+ retirees.)
I'd consider trying a mini for initially cutting into the banks and then moving ties from the pile to the wall, but I'm not convinced that they'd be stout enough to dig into a Georgia clay bank. I'd be happy to have someone convince me otherwise. Thoughts, anyone?
Littledenny