How hard is it to learn to use a rental mini-excavator?

[jbepyx]

I've been a member of this forum for a long time and appreciate the advice offered hear. I'm the proud owner of two Steiner 240's. I have two properties and they serve me very well for mowing, dirt moving and snow blowing. Last summer the machine in the picture moved 1000 yards of fill and gravel and it was maybe the best summer of my life!!! I personally think that the flexibility, power and durability make Steiner/Ventracs a very good long-term value for a mechanically inclined homeowner like me.

My place in Maine has tree stumps that are out of range for a 22 HP machine. I can push 24" and smaller stumps around once they are loose, but I can't get them dislodged.

I'm considering renting a mini-excavator to dig about 10 stumps in the 12 to 24" range. My question is, how steep is the learning curve for a mini-excavator for someone who has lots of hydraulic tractor experience? Can I reasonably expect to dig 10 stumps in a day starting with no mini-excavator experience?

 

[kozal01]

I rented this mini X this past summer and it was a breeze to operate. I loved every minute I had to use it, dug out my ditch, set in culverts and dug out 3 big stumps in the back with it. I was sad when they picked it up. I had no previous experience with a mini x, I would say it may be doable in a day if you stay on it, once you figure out a method with the stumps it should go pretty quickly.

 

[MattB4]

Possibly depending on excavator size and soil conditions you can do it. I know that in my area for a 24 inch hardwood oak you would need a midi size excavator to stand a chance of getting it out.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

Hard to say unless you can advise what mini ex you have in mind.

In my experience a new operator (who would have experience on loaders and other farm related equipment but no mini ex. experience) on my equipment would be expected to pull the 10 12" stumps in a day. I would budget 30 minutes / stump for 12" stumps on lighter soils depending on how green / smart the guy would be.

On 24" stumps or hard clay/rocky soil types 10 stumps of this size with a mini ex., new operator, 24" stump on hard ground would be a very very big day and unrealistic to expect an inexperienced hired man to do.

after 6 decades I could budget popping out of my softer ground 10 24" stumps in a day but thats a big day and I think I am pretty darn good with my excavators.

a lot will depend on what size of mini ex you be talking about, soil type, stump size, operator smarts and distance between stumps and working space around the stumps. I'm pretty good at identifying / breaking horizontal roots. Some I have seen really suck at it.

a 2,000# Cat mini ex (like the 300.9 series) versus my 12,000# 305 mini makes a really big difference.

 

[MossRoad]

Pretty easy to operate. I rented one for a weekend expecting it to take much longer than it did. Dug out 112' length x 4' deep trenches for a barn foundation in a few hours (all sand), then yanked out some small trees, and returned it for only a 4 hour rental.

 

[D&D]

I've been a member of this forum for a long time and appreciate the advice offered hear. I'm the proud owner of two Steiner 240's. I have two properties and they serve me very well for mowing, dirt moving and snow blowing. Last summer the machine in the picture moved 1000 yards of fill and gravel and it was maybe the best summer of my life!!! I personally think that the flexibility, power and durability make Steiner/Ventracs a very good long-term value for a mechanically inclined homeowner like me.

My place in Maine has tree stumps that are out of range for a 22 HP machine. I can push 24" and smaller stumps around once they are loose, but I can't get them dislodged.

I'm considering renting a mini-excavator to dig about 10 stumps in the 12 to 24" range. My question is, how steep is the learning curve for a mini-excavator for someone who has lots of hydraulic tractor experience? Can I reasonably expect to dig 10 stumps in a day starting with no mini-excavator experience?

Do they have to be dug? Locally, a rental mini ~11000 with insurance, fuel, hauling will run you ~1000/day. Hiring out (leaving stumps on site) would run 1500-2000. Stump grinding hired out would cost me ~ 75/stump. Rent a large stump grinder ~500/day

 

[kozal01]

Do they have to be dug? Locally, a rental mini ~11000 with insurance, fuel, hauling will run you ~1000/day. Hiring out (leaving stumps on site) would run 1500-2000. Stump grinding hired out would cost me ~ 75/stump. Rent a large stump grinder ~500/day

$1,000 a day? That's insane. I paid $550 for 4 days! Shop around.

 

[D&D]

$1,000 a day? That's insane. I paid $550 for 4 days! Shop around.

4 days including taxes, insurance, fuel and delivery? For what size?

 

[5030]

I grind all my stumps. Used to yank them out but then you have to deal with the hole and stumps don't like to burn in the burn pile either. Much easier to grind them 10-12" below grade least in my opinion and yes, I own a stump grinder.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Prior to this excavator this summer, I'd never run one. It took me just an hour to operate this Kubota KX080. I pulled 15 roots in 8 hours.

 

[kozal01]

4 days including taxes, insurance, fuel and delivery? For what size?

Yes, $550 total with fuel and delivery/ pickup. No idea the size, its in the pictures above. I told them what I intended to use it for and they sized it appropriately.

 

[4570Man]

Yes, $550 total with fuel and delivery/ pickup. No idea the size, its in the pictures above. I told them what I intended to use it for and they sized it appropriately.

That’s a really good deal. There’s 3 options for rentals in my area. Lowes has a Cat 302.7 which is smaller than the one you rented for $329 for 24 hours or $987 for a week. Neither price includes tax or delivery. The other 2 places don’t have the rates published on their website but they’re comparable.

 

[kozal01]

That’s a really good deal. There’s 3 options for rentals in my area. Lowes has a Cat 302.7 which is smaller than the one you rented for $329 for 24 hours or $987 for a week. Neither price includes tax or delivery. The other 2 places don’t have the rates published on their website but they’re comparable.

When I was looking at the local equipment rental places they were much higher. I happened to be at the dealer I bought my tractor from and I mentioned wishing I had a mini x and he said they rented them out, had no idea they did that. He did cut me a break since it was a holiday weekend and they didn't need it back right away but it was still going to be about $800 for 4 days.

 

[4570Man]

When I was looking at the local equipment rental places they were much higher. I happened to be at the dealer I bought my tractor from and I mentioned wishing I had a mini x and he said they rented them out, had no idea they did that. He did cut me a break since it was a holiday weekend and they didn't need it back right away but it was still going to be about $800 for 4 days.

My dealer rents them as well but they require you to have your own insurance which makes them pretty unappealing to a homeowner.

 

[kozal01]

My dealer rents them as well but they require you to have your own insurance which makes them pretty unappealing to a homeowner.

I wonder if its a state requirement or something they want? I didn't have to have anything like that.

 

[seville009]

The learning curve is very short, especially if you’re already familiar with operating equipment (in terms of being careful, respecting the power of hydraulics, etc).

I actually bought a used large one (Hitach EX-60UR) (about 6.5 tons weight) around 2008, used it for about ten years, then sold it for pretty much what I paid for it.

Depending on how large your stumps are, you generally will want the largest excavator that you can afford. Makes it easier if there is a thumb on the bucket, especially if there are large rocks around the stumps to deal with.

Just a suggestion - look on Craigslist or somewhere for someone who does that type if work. Might be less expensive and less of a headache to just hire it out if this just a one time thing for you.

 

[Redlands Okie]

$1,000 a day? That's insane. I paid $550 for 4 days! Shop around.

Central Oklahoma here, roughly $375 to $500 plus tax a day for a smaller mid size excavator that could be hauled behind a 1/2 ton pickup.

 

[4570Man]

I wonder if its a state requirement or something they want? I didn't have to have anything like that.

Renting isn’t their business model. They don’t even have a sign up that they do it. I figured they decided it was easier to pass the responsibility on to the customer instead of getting the correct rental insurance.

 

[garry1p]

Not hard at all.
Have the rental people give you a quick run through.

 

[BlueKnife]

I'm considering renting a mini-excavator to dig about 10 stumps in the 12 to 24" range. My question is, how steep is the learning curve for a mini-excavator for someone who has lots of hydraulic tractor experience? Can I reasonably expect to dig 10 stumps in a day starting with no mini-excavator experience?

Depends on soil type and your aptitude for such things. Both are huge variables. That said, a rental mini small enough to tow with a 3/4 or one ton pickup is definitely not the right tool to be pulling 24 inch stumps, unless the roots are already rotted. Consider renting a big stump grinder or hiring someone to grind the stumps. It'll probably be similar money or cheaper and the end result will be much more satisfactory. I owned a tree service in Ohio for 20 years. With the stump grinder that I had, grinding 10 12-24" stumps would have taken about one to two hours or so, depending on tree species and root flare and assuming fairly easy access.