$25k budget, looking for suggestions.

Hi all,

New to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. I own 40 acres, mostly hardwoods and had a lot of straight line wind damage 1.5 yrs ago. I still have a lot of trees to clear on trails, put into logs and stack,etc. plus I'd like to clear a 1/2 acre for a shop.

I'm trying to balance size in the woods with enough power/force to push the smaller trees and dig most of the stumps, and ideally load into dump truck.

From research, I think, I'm looking for a 10k to 20k weight machine with blade and hydraulic thumb, 72 to 96" wide. I realize that the smaller end will mean more work/time and I'm ok with that...but I do need to be able to do the job and my budget, ideally, is up to a max around $25k.

I may be interested in resale in 12 months, so I'm interested in what has a reasonable resale.

Looking at lots of machines, from kubota kx 40-45 series, Jd 50d, yanmar, ihi, marketing is all over the map so thoughts from experienced owners/operators is greatly appreciated.

I'm not interested in hiring out as I believe I can do it, and have fun with it as well as learn a new skill over time.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions anyone has on a good machine.

Brad

I applaud you for having "a plan"..
You know what your budget is..
you know what you want/need to do w/ the machine.
& you have an idea of what type of machine your looking for..
Now start looking at machine SPECS.. HP, lifting capabilities & such & write them down..
That way when you narrow it down, you have the info "in hand"..
How about renting some machines to, try-it before you buy-it..??

Hey toylc got an idea that might not change your mind but just something to think about in my neck of the woods there's lots of 490d's e's that can be had for fair coin a machine this size opens ups lots of parts options that small machines don't have and you can work machine very lightly and get more work done. I would love to own a 5 tonner but they usually bring good money and they are expensive to repair best of luck either way and we would love to see pics of machine and work

One thing I notice about the mini track hoes that have blades is that people think they have a dozer. They are not ment to push truck loads of dirt or push over trees.they are for smoothing up after you back back fill a hole.

Around here older larger machines are cheap due to the cost of moving and ownership costs when used day in and day out. In your case I assume it'll be hauled in, worked and then hauled out when sold. I've seen several decent looking machines here in the 30 ton size worth the money and within your budget. I'd assume it's the same in your area.

For the type of work described I prefer a dozer . Playing in the woods with trees , building roads & clearing off a site for a shop is Dozer work .

Spotted this Cat D7E in NC for sale in the price range . https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/10153079/1965-cat-d7e

Can also find some Cat 953 " high lift " dozers pretty close to the price range .

https://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/21818843/1990-cat-953-lgp

I agree on the dozer. A hoe looks easier from the outside looking in. However, I think there's more work done per hour with a dozer. Too easy to spend extra time farting around with piddly stuff because you can see it. Plus I've seen quite a few windows busted out because the operator isn't thinking about which way they're swinging with a tree pinched between bucket and dipper. Out of nowhere you $hitwhip yourself and the cab with it.

I used to clear the fence lines and whatnot of the reclaims we did so I could have the good trees for firewood. After using both I decided I liked a dozer better. I could often push the whole tree over and find the sweet spot to shove it down to my landing. Many times I'd limb it on the way there

Another plus for the dozer is simplicity. No complex hydraulics, wimpy undercarriage, lots of glass, exposed hydraulic lines yada yada. A dozer will also move from point to point faster.

And for the final nail in the hoe coffin....I've yet to hear a hoe workin that sounded as mean as an older Cat or International dozer grunting it out.

Something else to consider for a rural property owner that wants one machine for the task .....

A 4x4 skip loader ........ Has a heavy built loader and 3 point hitch & PTO for attachments .

Buddy has a Ford 545 similar to this one .
https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/22779653/1990-ford-545c

I tell ya what ...... Pound for pound that rig really performs !

I'd second td25c's suggestion and up it to a 4x4 backhoe. Depends on what you really want to do, but a backhoe is useable for many things. Love my old backhoe and love my old 200 excavator, depends on your overall plan and terrain.
My 2 pennies

Hey guys, really appreciate the responses. My concern with both dozer and much larger excavator is sheer size. When clearing trails, these were already established, now have 20-30 trees across them from the storm, so I'll be cutting to logs and stacking. Burning or hauling out stumps and branches.

I am considering the 10ton machines. As mentioned above by junkyard, I don't plan to haul it around much once onsite, if I need to move it, I'll hire it out as it will be infrequent.

I burn an outdoor wood furnace, so lots of log work/stacking with the downed trees. Most of my trees are 50-75' tall that are down or that I'll clear on 1/3 to 1/2 acre for shop.

I'll take a look at the backhoe suggestion as well, my terrain is sloped from 900 ft at the top of the property to 600 ft on the low side, all mature hardwood for the most part.

For a general purpose, one machine has to do everything application I will agree with the 4x4 loader backhoe. Another good feature on the backhoe is it has a reasonable road speed and can drive 10-20 miles faster than it can be hauled.

12 ton excavator. You mention a lot of lifting and you can't lift with a dozer. A TLB is useful but the capacities drop if you lift the outriggers. 40 acres is a small area so travel time is a non-issue. A dozer will do some parts of this project faster but an excavator can do it all.
I always like to bring the right tool for the job but sometimes I'm limited to one choice. I'll grab my 20 ton hoe every time when working trees and stumps unless I'm clearing larger acreage or pushing a thin brushy fence line into a pile.
Find a good operator or mechanic to help you with the inspection of any used machines. They might save you thousands.

When your looking for high resale value its a Cat also why you wont find a good cat in your budget
As long as we are tossing out ideas and you didn't say if you had any support equipment I would buy and keep a rubber tire skid steer with over the tire steel tracks, grapple and forks you would do most of the work carrying trees up stacking wood ect then can rent a 15ton hoe for a month around $5000 to clean up the stumps and anything that's to big
The problem with buying a used excavator hoping to recoup your money in resale with no paying jobs to do is its a gamble you might get lucky and only have to put a few hoses on or the pumps might shell out a week into the job

^^^That is an excellent plan as well.^^^

Hey toy what ever you get I thinks there's lots of us on here that can sit in the seat for you lol I think this is turning in to a Christmas wish list haha

Truth be told most of are jealous he's got land to clear and actual $$ for his toy! Uh I mean equipment. I'm stuck in the college zone soon to be another driver in the house and another a year after her!

There are several ways to accomplish your tasks. I don't know that any of them are bad or wrong. A thought occurred to me. Several years ago I rented a nice dozer for some work I needed to do. It was essentially his payment as he was overextended and trying to hold on. The few months I rented it gave him a little breathing room and he's been growing ever since.

I will say this, based on my years around various types of yellow iron and trucks seldom does it pencil out to buy, work and resell ending up in a positive position money wise. I get wanting to do it yourself but I can't help but think you could pay somebody for the heavy work, buy a good TLB and have a little scratch left over. Once the big stuff is done the TLB will more than keep the place up. The older I get the less ambitious I am haha.

You could be like me though, I buy stuff all the time. Usually a basket case, somehow I manage to find time to fix, use and resell. Lifetime I'm ahead but I could say how much!

ToyLC said:

I'll take a look at the backhoe suggestion as well, my terrain is sloped from 900 ft at the top of the property to 600 ft on the low side, all mature hardwood for the most part.

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Our terrain lays about the same . Hills & hollers with some steep grades in places .

Sounds like allot of the work clearing the trails & cleaning up after the storm is mostly chainsaw cutting to lengths and skidding the logs away with a piece of equipment .

On the storm damaged trees leave the stumps in place & let Mother Nature take of them unless they are in the way . Cut off the log & drag it in for firewood or sawmill .

Feller with a chainsaw & farm tractor can take care of this type of job . Cut them off the stump & drag them in . We call it " cuttin firewood "

I may be missing something on this job but would not send an excavator ?

Chainsaw , tractor / dozer ......

Like TD says, my dad and I have done a lot of logging (as a hobby) with chainsaws and a small dozer. 10-12 ton excavator would be handy for clearing and dealing with blowdown, but it isn't possible to shovel logs out of standing timber without a rotating grapple.

Since you've already got a budget in mind, it's really going to come down to what's for sale in your area. There are a number of ways to get a job done. Do you already own any equipment, tractors or trucks?