mid size excavator

I have a nice 710D cab backhoe with 4 in 1 bucket, thumb, super nice machine just missing AC, Think I've decided on trading it or selling and picking up a 85-160 size trackhoe. Any advice on hours or sizes that yield best value for using around the ranch, has to have a thumb and AC, and enough power to track and operate at the same time. I cant stand under powered equipment. I would like to stay under 100k on it.

How often will you move it on a lowboy? If you are staying primarily on your farm, get the biggest machine for the dollar and maximize your efficiency. Usually, machines in excess of 200 class go cheaper because they are harder to move easily and a bit more pricey to work on BUT they get the work done faster with more brute force. Everyone wants a 200 or a 150 class like everyone wants a D5 or D6 class because they are lighter and easier to move.

Bigger is also a little more difficult to work on - bigger wrenches, bigger parts, bigger torques, etc. I sold my JD 550G for what I paid for my Liebherr PR751. I wanted out of the public dirt work years ago and that did it. I just hate having to climb up onto it to work on any part of it. BUT, it is time efficient.

This one will probably never get moved unless it needs a major repair.

If you never.move it go 160 to 200

My 314 can hit 5 jobs a week it's easy to move and zero swing but it's under powered I would love a 320 but it doesn't fit my nich

I think any of the machines you listed will dig better than what your used to with the Deere BH. I would in this case, let price play a big role in what you take home. You dont mention what you plan on doing with it, but you might miss the front end loader ability, unless you have something else to use as a loader. I would make sure to get a hyd quick coupler and of course a thumb on the excavator. I would include a big ditch bucket on the bucket list, helpful in moving a lot dirt around a job site quickly.

I have not operated a standard backhoe, but have operated mini excavators on multiple occasions. They were different models, but all were in the 10k-12k pound range. I thought they had great power and abilities being smaller machines.

As of recent I acquired a loader with a small backhoe attachment. It works similar to how I would expect a traditional BH operates. It is very cumbersome for me to work with it for two reasons; the short reach and constantly having to reposition the tractor. Once you switch to an excavator you will throw stones at that BH.

I even used the backfill blade on one of the minis to move large piles of dirt around. It felt like a baby dozer and moved fast. I recommend buying one with a power angle blade. It's really handy. My favorite is Kubota, but I like orange.

A 710 is the same size as a 130 size machine so you wont gain much if anything if you go that route

A backhoe is a famnominal tool when handed correctly and 710s are pretty capable and have a lot of finess

If you use the loader on that machine at all you will miss it right away you wont find a machine above a 130 that has a backfill blade on it and while they are really handy they are limited