Dozer or excavator

[MattLynch]

Looking to clear a large area for farmland that was clearcut. A lot of debris and large stumps left. I can rent a large dozer or excavator for 10-15k per month and run it 20 hours a day with 2 operators. I only have time to run it for 1-1.5 months a year, but I don't need it all cleared at once. Would like to clear stumps, make big burn piles, and get the land somewhat smooth (enough to disc and plant with farm tractor) with one machine. Land consists of rolling hills, nothing too steep, wet spots won't be cleared.

Which machine would be better and why? How many acres can be cleared a week with a semi-skilled operator(experienced on smaller machines)?

 

[Tomtint]

JMO, but a excavator would make quick work of stumps. Also is quite a bit more maneuverable. If it has a thumb, even more so. My vote would be the excavator.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Excavator hands down. You have a tractor to grade dirt with and if you get stuck due to rough terrain the excavator can yank the tractor out.

With 1 1/2 months to run an excavator you will be surprised how much you can get done, how much you get done depends on the size of the stumps, how soft the dirt is and the size of the machine. Check out 'Letsdig18' on youtube to see how and what can be done with the machine.

 

[sd455dan]

times 4 have a jd 550 dozer and it works to remove stumps -
BUT an Ex is just far more versatile and when burning the stumps you can dig a pit after also digging out the stumps.
It can also push the stumps if you get one with a blade and also carry them to where ever you want if it has a thumb.

 

[boggen]

excavator with hydraulic thumb.

see if you can get a "dump truck" into the mix. for help speeding up moving of dirt, to fill in holes from stumps.

fill a few trucks loads and then using excavator bucket like a big old compactor. and place bucket on ground and just take the weight off the front of the excavator. not need to hammer the bucket down. just place it flat on ground and taking weight off tracks on one side. not really raising excavator off ground. will cause all the weight for most part be put down in one small area. helping to compact the dirt.

get it compacted at lower deeper depths, to help reduce muddy ugly holes later down the line in the field.

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have you called the local companies for estimates? from pond/lake builders, to basement diggers, to larger landscape companies, and like?

these companies more likely have the bigger equipment and multi equipment. they can haul in, have a small crew go at it, and get it done... from dozer, to excavators, to dump trucks, to compaction machine, to other.

getting a Professional in there, with feet down and being able to see what needs to be done / want done.

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at price ya renting... pending on how big of a machine. have you consider just buying a used machine? use it for what ya need it, then sell. most large big iron for most part keeps it price. granted there can be ugly repair costs / down times.

EDIT:
just caught you were in Canada. but then went over to http://www.machinerytrader.com and looked at excavators.. and there is a few in canada in the 10 to 20K range.

 

[MattLynch]

Thanks for the input! Looks like excavator it is! I would be looking at $1100+ an acre to hire someone to do it. If it was 15 or 20 acres I would hire it out. I would like to do a few hundred, and I don't mind spreading it out over 5+ years. I would buy a used one but I figure I would still need to spend 70k+ for a decent used one that isn't wore out

 

[boggen]

sounds like ya done your home work... would encourage you to read through "owners manual" perhaps "shop/service manual" second. owners manual more of what to look out for, and what and were to service things.... grease, oils, etc... , along with general track usage and doings.

shop/service manual sounds like a pretty long time! and long hours working the machine. and might be easier to do misc generic repairs / adjustments.

 

[tonyoz]

Can you post photo's of your job site as it is now? There just maybe a better way of doing it.

 

[MattLynch]

Don't have any pics on my phone, but I bet you are going to suggest mulching! I thought long and hard about mulching. Way too expensive to hire someone to mulch that much land. I really wanted to buy a mulcher and do it myself but... A good size mulcher capable of doing a decent job needs a bigger tractor then I have. Used 150+hp tractor and new mulcher I would be easily over 100 grand. I would love to mulch but can't afford to buy the gear up front.

 

[fishfactor]

Be sure to check the hour allowance on the rental. Many companies only allow so many hours per day. Go over and they charge you accordingly.