What can your Mini excavator do?

[Builder]

So you're telling me sharp rocks, concrete, etc won't damage rubber tracks or cause them to roll off? It happened to my Yanmar about 3 years ago while installing a drain sytem in a parking lot. Track came off the machine.
You telling me it doesn't happen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SK-qdGhdK0&feature=related

 

[Builder]

Show us what you have.......

 

[coopers]

How about get steel tracks for the mini.

 

[Builder]

How about get steel tracks for the mini.

Then you damage delicate driveways, but I agree they're tougher.

 

[crashz]

My father has steel tracks with rubber grousers on his Komatsu PC70 zero turn. Best of both worlds except for very, very, very poor traction on compacted snow/ice. Ask me how I know.

I can only compare the PC70 to a Cat 416, which by weight is close, but the excavator has better reach and more breakout than the 416. Hands down, the PC70 is much more versitile than the 416 onsite, excavating. The backhoe will never be replaced as the jack-of-all-trades that it is.

 

[Builder]

I think there are 2 issues lost in all this discussion:

1. The OP wants to compare a 9-12K excavator to a case 580

2. An ex may be a better pure digger, but no 12K machine can reach as far as an Xtendahoe 580, NOR can it do all the jobs a 580 can do, therefore, you would have to own a second machine, like a skid steer, to do all the jobs a 580 can do.

 

[powerstroke444e]

After seeing you have a loader tractor and that you want to use it on your place I would take a mini EX over a TLB. In my opinion the mini ex will out dig and is much easier to handle when removing trees. I do agree with Builder that if you only have one machine go with the TLB. I also have had a TLB were you could not get a mini DEEP mud. Had 6 acres of trees to remove small trees on which was flooded. I took all them out with by sliding on the bucket and using the backhoe. On differant job I used a mini on a slope to steep for a TLB.

My favorite brands of smaller under 20,000lbs are Komatsu and Kubota. I have rented several bobcats and not been impressed with them.

 

[Builder]

After seeing you have a loader tractor and that you want to use it on your place I would take a mini EX over a TLB. In my opinion the mini ex will out dig and is much easier to handle when removing trees. I do agree with Builder that if you only have one machine go with the TLB. I also have had a TLB were you could not get a mini DEEP mud. Had 6 acres of trees to remove small trees on which was flooded. I took all them out with by sliding on the bucket and using the backhoe. On differant job I used a mini on a slope to steep for a TLB.

My favorite brands of smaller under 20,000lbs are Komatsu and Kubota. I have rented several bobcats and not been impressed with them.

That's exactly what I mean, you can use both "ends" of the TLB to lift it and cross over immovable objects like boulders.

 

[trailmaker]

I've got a Takeuchi TB138fr, 8300 lbs. I've done quite a bit of mowing with it.
YouTube - mini excavator time lapse mowing

On flat land you'd be be better off with another type of machine, but for certain types of terrain it works pretty well.

 

[davygp38]

Years ago, I leased an old farm, from a guy,(for hunting) and we got to talking about tractors. He told me how he was able to farm for years with one tractor, and as time went by he got another, and another, and then a skid steer, and yet another tractor. His point was that he got by with the one tractor, but it sure was easier, and quicker to have one for each major task haying, planting etc. In my case I have the tlb, but I would like to make the tractor dedicated to tractor stuff like bush hogging, and york raking, and using the box scraper. I want a dedicated digging machine like the case, or the mini. Right now I am leaning to wards the mini, mostly because I can haul it with my current truck, and they are good diggers. I just happened to run across two very clean case 580s in very good shape, one was a 1999, extedahoe with 4121 hrs good rubber for $29000. the other was a 2001 extendahoe with clam shell bucket, and new tires, and 3670hrs for $36000. But they weigh to much for my trailer. I need the net load to be less than 15500lbs these 580s go up to 17500lbs. I also intend to get a skid steer down the road. So like the old farmer said, I can get by with the one tractor but it sure is easier with more.