Help finding an appropriately sized FEL or large TLB

[s2dm]

Hi all,

We currently have a kubota kx 040 mini ex and an svl75 track loader on our 10 acre Avo farm. We are deep in the infrastructure phase and have quite a few (1000s) large sandstone boulders to distribute around the property for rock walls as well as ~2500 yards of fill dirt that needs to be shoved around and moved from site to site (not all of the fill is moving, but we need to move a fair bit) as well as general mulch moving, and then double duty as a strong set of forks for offloading mature trees in 6 foot boxes in the 10-15k lbs range.

We got the advice on our first two machines on this forum and they have been awesome, but we've been dropping $300/hr to have a local ex company move this stuff for us with his Deere 544 and it just adds up quick, not to mention being beholden to their schedule.

We'd like to find something that won't get used a ton, but is a very capable lifter (I'm justifying the cost partially by having it replace the chain hoist apparatus we had going in our shop), with atleast a 2 yard bucket and a lifting capacity of 10-15k or more.

Debating about an old cat or deere FEL, in the 544 size range, vs a more mangeable TLB sans backhoe in the deere 710 range. Hoping to spend under 30k and ideally more like 20. Its a machine we'd use for a few hours here and there, so higher hours probably ok. Also don't want to get into something thats a nightmare to maintain.

Any other machines I should be looking at? Don't need a backhoe, but don't mind one. Just really want a bunch of lifting capacity and a large bucket and forks.

 

[Xfaxman]

How about a wheel loader?

I have seen some that can swap between the bucket and forks.

 

[Dirthog]

You are going to have a hard time picking that much with any backhoe especially when you want to take the backhoe off.

 

[s2dm]

How about a wheel loader?

I have seen some that can swap between the bucket and forks.

Thats what we were thinking, likely a wheel loader, just wanted some help on finding a reliable, smaller one. I really don't want a backhoe attachment if possible.

 

[s2dm]

You are going to have a hard time picking that much with any backhoe especially when you want to take the backhoe off.

Hoping to find something without a backhoe, either way, we wouldnt be using the backhoe to lift that much, the capacities mentioned were for the loader portion. We really just need a much more powerful loader with a large bucket, but I could use some help finding the smallest machine that will do the job.

 

[Xfaxman]

Hi all,

We currently have a kubota kx 040 mini ex and an svl75 track loader on our 10 acre Avo farm. We are deep in the infrastructure phase and have quite a few (1000s) large sandstone boulders to distribute around the property for rock walls as well as ~2500 yards of fill dirt that needs to be shoved around and moved from site to site (not all of the fill is moving, but we need to move a fair bit) as well as general mulch moving, and then double duty as a strong set of forks for offloading mature trees in 6 foot boxes in the 10-15k lbs range.

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We'd like to find something that won't get used a ton, but is a very capable lifter (I'm justifying the cost partially by having it replace the chain hoist apparatus we had going in our shop), with atleast a 2 yard bucket and a lifting capacity of 10-15k or more.

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Any other machines I should be looking at? Don't need a backhoe, but don't mind one. Just really want a bunch of lifting capacity and a large bucket and forks.

Are you sure about the weight? How many cubic yards of dirt in the 6' box?

This 42', 18.5" DBH oak weighed less than 3,000 pounds:

 

[s2dm]

Are you sure about the weight? How many cubic yards of dirt in the 6' box?

This 42', 18.5" DBH oak weighed less than 3,000 pounds:

View attachment 541803

No, I'm not totally sure. Weights were based on the 544 our contractor was using that was easily picking up things we needed to move. And a skylift which picked up some trees for us that had a 16k capacity.

Its more that we frequently need to move rocks that our SVL won't pick up and we need to move enough dirt that the bucket capacity is getting frustrating on the SVL. So, I don't need to necessarily do everything the 544 can, though if I could find a decently priced machine in that size range I'd jump on it. But I'd just like most manageably sized machine that can push a 2.5-3yard bucket and has a good lifting capacity.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Are you sure about the weight? How many cubic yards of dirt in the 6' box?

This 42', 18.5" DBH oak weighed less than 3,000 pounds:

View attachment 541803

That is impressive.

 

[s2dm]

I'm looking at a Deere 710 and a case W20. The Deere would be more versatile but about 2/3 the lifting strength. Comments?

 

[Xfaxman]

The V723 would be the most versatile and will lift about twice its 7700 pound rated lift capacity: V723 VersaHANDLER Telescopic Tool Carrier - Bobcat Company

 

[s2dm]

The V723 would be the most versatile and will lift about twice the rated lift capacity: V723 VersaHANDLER Telescopic Tool Carrier - Bobcat Company

View attachment 542039View attachment 542040View attachment 542041View attachment 542044

How well does this run a bucket for moving dirt around?

 

[Xfaxman]

It would be much better than a TLB. And it is unstuckable. :thumbsup:

Here is my smaller V417 with a one cubic yard bucket, in the red clay:

And "Silt Mountain" from where we used to live:

 

[ovrszd]

To compliment your existing tools I think you'd be best served by a wheel loader. Use your own preferred expectations to determine size.

I'm afraid the ground clearance and tire size of a Telehandler would fall short.

 

[Wolfy]

Everybody that I have known to have owned a John Deere 710 backhoe tells me the same story, they are great on pavement, but in dirt they are fat heavy pigs that bottom out. I would either get 310/580/416 size backhoe or a small wheel loader.

 

[s2dm]

Any advice on what models to look for in small wheel loaders?

 

[ovrszd]

Sorry, can't help you there. Gonna have to do some Google searching.

 

[Wolfy]

John Deere 544s have always been popular around me. I hear that Case would be the easiest to work on, I run a 521 at work but not sure of the older models. A friend of mine has a, want to say 72-31? Terex. It is a tough beast with a 3 yard bucket and 6-71 screamer. I see them for sale, usually cheap due to the noise and tendency to leak oil. Another loader I know to be rugged is most any old Caterpillar 966 like my uncle used to have.

 

[Xfaxman]

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This 42', 18.5" DBH oak weighed less than 3,000 pounds:

View attachment 541803

That is impressive.

Speaking of impressive, using the stump bucket on a dead tree:

Balanced on the stump bucket:

Should have raised it higher, for a better picture:

Made it to the burn pile. :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

Have you considered a lease on a good sized front loader with a four in one bucket and a set of forks.