Buy new, used, or rent?

[NS Gearhead]

I've got about 140 yards of fine shale to move with a .5 yard atv trailer. Last year I moved about 20 yards by hand... and as much as I enjoy manual labor... I'm considering other options.

New (can get it for $4500 plus tax);
Prospector Towable Excavator | Princess Auto

used (got him down to $7500 over e-mail, so prob $7000);
MINI EXCAVATOR FOR SALE | heavy equipment | City of Halifax | Kijiji

or rent from my local Hertz. I could get a 3-4T excavator, or tracked skid steer for about $1200/week.

Either of the first two I'd keep until late summer and re-sell. The tow behind I'd expect to sell for $500-$1000 less then I bought it for... and the used excavator I could potentially get back what I buy it for... or not. It could also break down costing me alot.

What do you think? I'm stressing big time over this. I do have some money from selling my Jeep, but a SXS or ATV purchase will be on hold until I re-sell the equipment, or decide to rent.

 

[kcflhrc]

My personal opinion, if you can get it done in a week the rental seems to be the best choice. Then you can go ahead and get your UTV/ATV and have a little fun while your not working. Plus not have the hassle of reselling later on.

 

[Gary Fowler]

First off, I would stay away from the towable backhoe if intending to resell it. The market for them is just too small. If you are just using something to load the shale, then a SCUT tractor with FEL would work just fine loading a .5 yard trailer. If you don't already have a tractor, that is the way I would go and keep it for those around the house chores. A Kubota BX would do a good job on that small project and should be some used ones around.

 

[Green Power]

It looks like that mini excavator was already sold.

 

[NS Gearhead]

New add;
MINI EXCAVATOR | heavy equipment | City of Halifax | Kijiji

 

[Cherokee140]

Rent.

With current information:
One project, after that you have no use for the machine. Yes that rental hurts, but look at it like buying gas....you really don't get anything for your money, it just gets a job done for you.

 

[Cherokee140]

Rent.

With current information:
One project, after that you have no use for the machine. Yes that rental hurts, but look at it like buying gas....you really don't get anything for your money, it just gets a job done for you.

 

[Egon]

Proper sized back hoe and truck. Do it in one day.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Proper sized back hoe and truck. Do it in one day.

It's a tight atv trail to and from, so that's not really an option.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Proper sized back hoe and truck. Do it in one day.

It's a tight atv trail to and from, so that's not really an option.