Help with purchase of Kubota M6800, KX161-3

[MessickFarmEqu]

There is a saying that you hear once and awhile. "Farming with money and not farming for money". I would venture to say that this guy is not just looking to get the job done, but have a fun time doing it. The "TBN" customer who is trying to get the work done for the lowest doller is the minority of those who shop for tractors. There are far more customers looking for a nice tractor to have fun on that has bells and whistles featuers than there are those who strive to make the best financial decision.

 

[froggy]

Have you thought about a Kubota L48 TBL instead of an excavator?

 

[Dario_G]

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your reply and helpful suggestions. We have had some experience with renting a Cat 312 for a couple of months, and also had some work done by an outside contractor. The underlying issues however are that we are not in a hurry to do any particular project, perhaps with the exception of the homes, and, probably more importantly, that my Dad is retired with lots of time on his hands and would love to do as much of the work himself. WE also have a couple of laborers we hired to help him with various projects.

Also, given interest rates are so low, financing the equipment and having time to work it, may pose and advantage over paying contractors lump sum fees as required.

With this said I still think that you make a lot of sense and will think about it some more.

Thanks again,

Dario. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[btolle]

Looking at the big picture, one other possible alternative to the $54K backhoe is to hire the really heavy backhoe work done and then buy a smaller tractor/loader/backhoe for about half the price that you could do "everyday" stuff with. The smaller tractor might also be good for pulling a finish mower later on.

An M6800 with cab weighs about 6,000 pounds and would probably leave some awful big ruts in a yard.

An L3400 with L4560 backhoe can dig 108" deep. Add an LA682 front end loader that lifts 1,499 pounds and you have a pretty stout rig. If you don't need that much depth or that much lift capacity you could back down to a L2800 or L3400 and save even more $$$$.

I have not priced a unit like those but it is a lot less than the backhoe you are looking at. That setup would handle a lot of backhoe work and would be useful for other things that the big backhoe is not good for.

That's the reason I said "Whoa!". The more you think about what you are going to be doing with the machines over the next 5 to 10 years the more ideas you will get.

Have I gotten you confused yet?

Bill Tolle

 

[Dario_G]

Yes I have Froggy. The real question is one of work capacity which you may be able to help clarify for me. The breakout force, lifting capacity, digging depth, etc. in the KX 161-3 is much greater than any backhoe attachement, including the L48. Does this mean that the KX machine will be able to do more or that the L48 will be able to accomplish the same in more time? For that matter, can a the KX do basically the same work of a bigger machine with the caviat of requiring more time to get it done?

Do you have operating experience in this area that could give me an indication on this thought?

Thank you.

Dario. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ScottAR]

First, Welcome to TBN.

Reading your posts I have a few thoughts. Take them for what you paid.

Some of things you want to do are best done with big equipment.
Digging a pond is best left to someone with experience. If it's done incorrectly, Leaking and possibly failure of the dam could result.

A compact excavator is not a clearing machine. A full size loader/backhoe is about the bare mininium for clearing and even that is pretty slow. A 20-35 Ton class excavator would be my first choice, with the loader/backhoe and/or a 50-90 hp tractor to clean up.

Rent the hammer mounted on a machine. Hammers are really hard on small and medium sized machines. Let the rental place take the extra wear and tear.

Figure out what you want to do with the various plots of land before doing anything with them.

Consider the used market. $100k is a quite healthy budget that would buy you more than 1 tractor and 1 undersize (IMO) excavator.

Buy a good chainsaw or two. 45cc -70cc. There's likely some good saw timber in those woods that could be sawn for your use as well as sometimes it's safer and easier to cut down some trees than to take em down whole.

Learn how to use it properly as it's pound for pound the most dangerous power tool one can own. I recommend taking a Game of Logging course if one is offered in your area.

I'm done for now.

 

[Dario_G]

Hi Scott,

Thanks for your reply. It made me think a bit more about the points you make with regard to pond building. I think you are right and I will follow your advice.

As a result of your and other comments I think I will let go if the idea of purchasing an excavator and stick with the tractor with loader and backhoe. Since Kubota does not seem to offer a good combination of tractor with cab and backhoe I will likely look at JD equipment and see if I can find what I am looking for.

Thanks again.

Dario. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif