Newbie trying to avoid mistakes

[GADAWG1]

Merry Christmas everyone. I have a few questions and will try and be straight to the point. I am looking to buy a 955 or 977 to clear approximately 20 acres on a square 50 acre tract. I will start with a 700 ft drive into the property and clear 2-3 acres for a doublewide and a driveway that will hold 80k gross OTR truck and trailer. I plan on pushing trees over, sawing off stumps and limbs and digging various holes to burn stumps and underbrush. I have cdls and a road tractor and can haul my own timber to a mill 30 miles away. I have seen logging trailers as cheap as 1500.00 that would probably haul 30-40 loads on back roads to the mill. I realize id be buying a wore out trailer at that price. It may take me 5-10 yrs working 2 days a week weather permitting to get grass growing on 20 acres but I think I can do it on a modest income. The property has an old pond maybe 3/4 acre that the dam washed out on 20 + yrs ago. The spring fed ditch that feeds it is 10 ft deep in front of and behind the old dam to the property line. I think theres a lot of water coming thru there when it rains. Id say 45 acres of run off and the spring could feed a 3-5 acre pond on the property.

My first question

What is the difference in fuel consumption rates for a 955 and 977 per hour?
The reason I ask is I have limited seat time on a track loader. I have 100s of hrs on skid steer loaders.
How much faster would a 977 clear over the 955? I
I know the 977 would dig dirt for a dam faster and I see old Chevy C60 and 70 dump trucks for sale for 3-4k range I plan on buying to help move dirt.
I have unlimited access to a 90 hp MF that I could use to rake for my final dress.

Thanks for any advice

 

[tonyoz]

What model 955 and 977. A 955 can nearly push as much as a D6 of the same vintage and the 977 is a fair lump of a machine if you have any tight areas. You are not charging yourself and hourly rate so it doesn't always come down to production but which
machine is in the best condition and able to do the job.:2cents:
PS A 955 is a whole easer to get out of a bog

 

[GADAWG1]

Hi Tony.I saw a 67 977K rebuilt motor and trans 85% uc asking 18k. I think I can get a good 955L for $12-13K. I probably have 10 acres of pine that's 10-15" diameter and thick. 20 acres of wild privet that's big. Im gonna burn all of it. 15 acres of 6-12" hardwood that's mostly firewood. There are some real nice 30-35" hardwoods im gonna keep. It has some big hardwoods along creek bed where I want to eventually build a pond. Does anyone know what load of pine is worth in west GA? Itd be nice to be able to sell some of it instead of burning it all.

 

[bcp]

Sometimes you can't anymore just buy some land and do what you want with it.

There can be lots more to a pond than building a dam, like permits, engineering, and other requirements. Also maybe for your logging, too.

Someone here from your state and county could probably tell you more.

Bruce

 

[05rammer]

If it where me I would look at a 953 or 963. The hydrostatic transmission and rear engine make for a lot better machine. I just bought a 1981 963 $18,500, so far it's not a bad machine.