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What's the most versatile piece of equipment? Which model should I get?

Norwegian Steam

Active Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2018
Messages
40
Location
Orange County
I have never seen the usefullness of a skip loader. A backhoe with a 4 in 1 bucket would do the job, plus you get the backhoe. Even a tractor with a good box blade, at least you can use other attachments. Guess if you already own it, but I would never buy one myself.
For all the work required to keep a road graded and clean a skip loader beats a backhoe for sure. If you need to do more digging than grading a backhoe is the choice.
 

Norwegian Steam

Active Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2018
Messages
40
Location
Orange County
They work off a ram attached to the three point there is no rock shaft so you get side to side adjustment back an forth pitch and up and down all with down pressure

If your not paying attention you can take to much weight off your rear tires and spinout if you dont have 4wd

But they balance well also they have the power to use the rippers and force them in the ground effectively

I have also seen one with a top on 3d system on it works pretty slick
I’ve sold a few of them with Leica systems to guys who are punching pads for a living.
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
Run what ya brung . :D

Skip loader's & farm tractors kick ass for " all around " type tasks .

 

Lucas Burcon

New Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2019
Messages
4
Location
Ann Arbor
Currently a Michigan resident who just acquired 50+ acres with multiple projects needing general land moving, and a pond to potentially alter/modify. I've been looking across multiple forums and "guides" with not much luck besides the general overview. My main question, what do I want and why? As mentioned, the most versatile piece of equipment is probably what I'm after. I have so many questions, I feel as though this is better left open to begin..
Situation:
- Pond
- 50 + acres of land with trees to potentially move
- Some hilly areas (concerns in regard to flipping?)

I see all over the place, "You want a skidsteer, they can do multiple things and have all the power you need.." From any loyal skidsteer'ists, is this true? My initial thought was the skidsteer (bucket changing potential, forklifts for tree moving, etc) but after researching, they can be a similar to price to full sized excavators if not more expensive. So with cost being taken into comparison, is it worth it? What's the maintenance issue? If I can get a full out back hoe/front end loader (what I assume to be the most usable for different projects) for half the cost, what should I be concerned with? Do they break down and are a maintenance nightmare?

Long story short: Trying to get a piece of heavy equipment that won't be a maintenance nightmare and can do the most jobs/is the most versatile, while keeping cost in consideration. i.e. A bulldozer would be incredible, but is much more expensive, and can't do as many jobs as a Skidsteer (I don't believe..). WHAT should I consider when looking at various option between Back Hoe Loaders, Skidsteers, and potentially full sized excavators? For a skidsteer, why would one be $35k and another $10k? Is there really that much flux in the quality, or is that more so for professionals who want to run them 15 hours a day and they're priced that way based on engine longevity over overall power.

UPDATE: Thank you all for your input!!!
Currently looking at spending $20,000 - $30,000
After taking everything into consideration, I'm looking to get a tractor/backhoe combination.
I'm looking at the Kubota B2650 (found a deal for one with 50 hours) currently, as I don't necessarily need the B3650 considering the Raptor won't pull the weight.
It has the backhoe, front bucket, and other attachments and is a 2016. Priced around $21k - Seems to be a good deal.

My concern: do these machines have issues that aren't advertised? I've known Kubota to be a reputable brand but want to hear some opinions. Is there a similar product, in the same price range (or close), that outperforms it?
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
Nice little tractor, but it wouldn't have the power or convenience of an actual backhoe. Getting out of the cab to run the backhoe, gets old fast, but on the other hand, a backhoe is just a backhoe. You can take the backhoe off the Kubota, and use it as a tractor
 

rondig

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
517
Location
fort macleod alberta
Occupation
excavation
Well if your happy lifting 600 lbs or so with the loader...and dont use the backhoe much...you should be fine....the tractor is very good.... but everything is very small....my dad had one for is sugar camp...it was a 2 hr stumper...it took 2 hrs for most decent stumps....i did not have the patience to run it long...and it was VERY tippy. Wont lift a round bale either...4 ft bush hog...and had to go super slow...if you said 5 acres...i would say great...but 50 acres....you will grow...the machine wont....it will be like hauling 500 gallons of water one cup at a time....can it be done...sure....but the days would get long fast
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,248
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
UPDATE: Thank you all for your input!!!
Currently looking at spending $20,000 - $30,000
After taking everything into consideration, I'm looking to get a tractor/backhoe combination.
I'm looking at the Kubota B2650 (found a deal for one with 50 hours) currently, as I don't necessarily need the B3650 considering the Raptor won't pull the weight.
It has the backhoe, front bucket, and other attachments and is a 2016. Priced around $21k - Seems to be a good deal.

My concern: do these machines have issues that aren't advertised? I've known Kubota to be a reputable brand but want to hear some opinions. Is there a similar product, in the same price range (or close), that outperforms it?

The $1000 question is what do you expect out of that little tractor on your 50 acres?

I would love to have one of those for small property maintenance with a belly mower and removable backhoe. It would be great to mow grass, plant bushes, turn over a garden and general maintenance. If those are the tasks you're looking at completing that machine will work nicely.
 

renovator

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
New Mexico
My concern: do these machines have issues that aren't advertised? I've known Kubota to be a reputable brand but want to hear some opinions. Is there a similar product, in the same price range (or close), that outperforms it?

I've done some digging with Kubota-sized machines. While they do have plenty of power, they don't have the weight. The little buggers beat me to death digging with the hoe. They can really throw you around if you're working in hard(ish) dirt.
 

Tenwheeler

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2016
Messages
870
Location
Georgia
UPDATE: Thank you all for your input!!!
Currently looking at spending $20,000 - $30,000
After taking everything into consideration, I'm looking to get a tractor/backhoe combination.
I'm looking at the Kubota B2650 (found a deal for one with 50 hours) currently, as I don't necessarily need the B3650 considering the Raptor won't pull the weight.
It has the backhoe, front bucket, and other attachments and is a 2016. Priced around $21k - Seems to be a good deal.

My concern: do these machines have issues that aren't advertised? I've known Kubota to be a reputable brand but want to hear some opinions. Is there a similar product, in the same price range (or close), that outperforms it?
A dealer I respect told me on a scale of 1-10 a Kubota is a 10. He also sold two other brands and I bought a Mahindra 3525 with a loader. Actually my wife did for her horse barn but I use it a lot more than she does. I regret not having 4WD sometimes. I would not want anything less. The tractor you are looking at is just to small in my opinion.
 

Tugger2

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2018
Messages
1,366
Location
British Columbia
My yard machines are a 910 Cat wheel loader and a 303 Cat excavator.
The 910 has a hydraulic quick change , forks ,a bucket and a trailer hitch. The 303 handles digging and stumping pretty well and the 910 levells moves stumps and brush and dirt P1010163.JPG P5141260.JPG . Ive only got 5 acres ,if i had 50 acres id probably have a bigger excavator and a D6 . My machines are older ,and i dont have a huge investment in them reliable. As for skid steers, you might as well just have a 6 bottom plow they just chew up ground and feel like getting in and out of the grandkids carseat with safety bars and doors that interfear with the boom.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
$20,000-30,000 you could get 2 decent older machines. If your family has 160 acres and a bunch of equipment already, why is it so hard to figure out what would work best for you? The only miracle machine that can do anything is your wallet if you want to hire everything out. In a tractor I think you'd want at least 40HP. CTL's can be expensive when it comes to tracks and maintenance. Skid steer might be a better option. Thousands of 30+ year old farm tractors are still earning their keep if you want something dependable that isn't a nightmare to repair. 100's of 3pt. hitch attachments readily available new and used.
 

JD955SC

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
1,349
Location
The South
Doing a pond and general earth moving/land clearing the little tractors aren’t going to cut it. Property maintenance once the heavy work is done? They are great
 

John Canfield

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2009
Messages
431
Location
Texas
Occupation
Ranching
UPDATE: Thank you all for your input!!!
Currently looking at spending $20,000 - $30,000
After taking everything into consideration, I'm looking to get a tractor/backhoe combination.
I'm looking at the Kubota B2650 (found a deal for one with 50 hours) currently, as I don't necessarily need the B3650 considering the Raptor won't pull the weight.
It has the backhoe, front bucket, and other attachments and is a 2016. Priced around $21k - Seems to be a good deal.

My concern: do these machines have issues that aren't advertised? I've known Kubota to be a reputable brand but want to hear some opinions. Is there a similar product, in the same price range (or close), that outperforms it?
Like others have said, that's too small - been there done that with my 30hp Kubota. Its max lift at the loader pins was 1,000 pounds on a good day, round hay bales are 1,000+ pounds. Plus the loader was fixed - no way to change to forks, bale spear, etc. In 10+ years of owning our small ranch, I never once missed not having a backhoe. If you need to dig, buy or rent an excavator - that's what they do best. Having said that, I did buy the Bobcat E42 mini-ex to compliment the other equipment but I have a bunch of work for it and it's just fun to have and operate.

My Kubota was a great little tractor and extremely reliable. I had a front axle seal go out at 100 hours, at about 400 hours I replaced all of the hydraulic hoses and at about 500 hours I had both lift cylinders rebuilt.

I bought my Deere 4720/cab for $34k with a new H180 loader and MX8 pull mower - about 400 hours and it's a 2010 model, no emissions BS on it. It's a pleasure to own and operate.
 

Tenwheeler

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2016
Messages
870
Location
Georgia
My yard machines are a 910 Cat wheel loader and a 303 Cat excavator.
The 910 has a hydraulic quick change , forks ,a bucket and a trailer hitch. The 303 handles digging and stumping pretty well and the 910 levells moves stumps and brush and dirt View attachment 195478 View attachment 195476 . Ive only got 5 acres ,if i had 50 acres id probably have a bigger excavator and a D6 . My machines are older ,and i dont have a huge investment in them reliable. As for skid steers, you might as well just have a 6 bottom plow they just chew up ground and feel like getting in and out of the grandkids carseat with safety bars and doors that interfear with the boom.
Bigger equipment for 5 acres Hmm? What is that in the back? A Cub or an A? What is that tiller on the left? A David Bradley or a Wheel Horse? Cow and the horse don't look bad ether but I would thank he should buy a tractor that would be a life long purchase.
Nice pictures.
 

Jeckyl1920

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2018
Messages
226
Location
Riverside, CA
The main factor here is your terrain. Is it mostly dry? Does it stay that way other than snow? Do you intend to clear your drives as well? Is it dense wooded?

Some pictures of the pond and landscape would help. Almost everything here is spitballing favorite machine opinions.

Start with tread. Tracks or tires? 50 acres is far to track, but beating the wrong machine on a task will take just as long. If you muck around in a pond a lot, you may want an excavator. If its cutting weeds and general maintainence, the kubota would be fine.

You need to decide, how often will you use a heavy machine? Will you just need maintenance with the occasional tough task every 10 years or so?

I could tell you my favorite machine would be a backhoe or excavator, but how often will you move dirt? What will you mainly be moving?
 

Tugger2

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2018
Messages
1,366
Location
British Columbia
Bigger equipment for 5 acres Hmm? What is that in the back? A Cub or an A? What is that tiller on the left? A David Bradley or a Wheel Horse? Cow and the horse don't look bad ether but I would thank he should buy a tractor that would be a life long purchase.
Nice pictures.
The tiller is a troy built and the tractor is a Cub . Its a bit overkill, the loader and excavator are semi retired from work projects . The old equipment isnt worth a lot and I seem to have a hard time parting with equipment anyhow.The old mare might be offended at being confused for a cow .
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,432
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
I own a small farm(80 acres) have a ANCIENT Tracked Loader(old Allis) a farm tractor with loader and a few implements, loader at 23000lbs is a bit light for some work, but can work around that, rails and shoes are shot with nothing new in the replacement catalogs for these old machines so I deal with as can. Use a 8' BUSH HOG brand Brush hog on a 70hp farm tractor to knock down brush where then can run a disc thru to cut the root structure up. Chemical application for stubborn thorny brush and if I need heavy work done as pond rework or build will call a registered and reputable contractor with proper machines primarily mid sized excavators
 

rondig

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
517
Location
fort macleod alberta
Occupation
excavation
I have built a couple ponds with the kx080 excavator....would not want to try it with anything smaller...it took forever...the 9050 case is way better lol
 
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