need advise about what to buy for construction project

[drewsteele]

Hey guys - I'll be starting an owner build project this spring and will need to upgrade my deere 955.

I'll be looking to move alot of dirt fast and will be looking for much more power than the compact.

I'll also need to drill the foundation piers. Geo specs 8-16 ft deep and I am expected to hit bedrock - limestone. 18-24" diameter holes.

I'd like to buy one used machine and keep it under 25k
Ive been looking at extendahoes but would love to pick up a tracksteer if it would do the job. (Im on a hillside so more comfortable than a skidsteer)

I think biggest concern with a tracksteer and really the question Im asking - would be - do they have enough power to get into those sizes and conditions of pier holes? Assuming I have the right bits and motor of course.

thx for any advice!
Andy

 

[20 20]

If your moving a lot of dirt and clearing etc. NOTHING beats an excavator. You can get attachments also for doing most anything.

 

[Topstrap]

I know you said one machine but for that amount of money and some smart shopping you could get a nice lil excavator and also a skidloader with add on tracks. Those two machines can cover nearly any project you run into. That is what I use and it's amazing what you can accomplish with them having them work together.

If you're on a hillside personally I like my New Holland LS170 with steel tracks, low to the ground, plenty of power and will cling to a hillside like a bug. John Deere is another good brand that has low center of gravity but tracks are well worth getting for them.

I have a Yanmar mini and have also had a Hitachi and both have performed well. The Kubota brand of mini excavators are pretty nice, I forget the model but one that was on a job I borrowed had a extend-a-hoe in the boom and was still a nice small unit.

Topstrap

 

[Dirthog]

To drill a 18-20" hole in rock even 8' deep is going to take a lot of power we installed a auger on a 26000 lb excavator and that was about all it wanted to do and the auger is not cheep the power head it self was over 25k and that did not include the auger or new bits (teeth) which will be carbide and around 10-12.00 dollars each in limestone they will not last all that long either BTY we are quoting one now to drill 42" holes and they are saying at least a 45000lb excavator to run it with 30-50 gal a min of flow

 

[AKfish]

8' of limestone... How about driving piling - I-beams? 'Course you'd likely have to sub out the work. But, it just might be cheaper in the end. Or you could drive pipe, too. But, that's more money.

AKfish

 

[Topstrap]

Not real sure in your area but couldn't you drill and put rebar or anchors into that rock and pour on top of that bedrock? I'd think the bedrock would be a great base to build on. A lot of times here if we hit a rock ledge like that we'll form on it or anchor ito it and keep going.

Topstrap

 

[drewsteele]

guys - thx for the replies!!

So geo report says I only need to go 3' into the bedrock. The rest is clay.
That said - still HUGE excavator? -

Although I like the speed of a skidsteer Im leaning torwards like this

Case 580E 4x4 Backhoe

any thoughts?

 

[AKfish]

The Case looks promising... but even with the Xtend hoe - I don't think you'll make 16' to bedrock.

Then, you gotta figure the 3' hole into the limestone. My geology days tell me that limestone is porous and not especially hard. That's why it makes for a great oil-bearing and gas-bearing formation.

Your budget and the fact that it's gonna take some major uummpphh for those 24"x3' holes leads me to believe that those are not DIY...

But that Case TLB would be a great setup for the remainder of your project - especially with the 4n1.

AKfish