Mini excavator?

[Night goat]

Just found out that we are going to be building a ski cabin soon, and the property is a disastrous mess. Old rotten structures, an old camper, stumps, uneven ground... Seems like the job for a mini excavator


However, even though I'm a mechanic, I work on boats, not equipment, so, I know next to nothing about these machines

Can't afford new, and renting might be inefficient, as, it's a "one Saturday at a time" project

What do these things even start to go for? I know the brands, yanmar, link belt, Deere, kobleco, kubota, etc, but you might as well be talking lawn mowers to an apartment dweller, as I just don't know much.

How do I get started, what do they go for, is there a better machine for less? Needs to be semi all-terrain, as it is a lot in the mountains....

[Timberstalker]

There are so many options on Mini's nowadays.  You can find a beater for $7,500 or a newer one for $35,000.

You may look at a backhoe, as more of a utility piece, for what you describe.

Take a look at Craigslist - for a start.

[lewy]

Mini with a thumb is a handy rig, look at a 35 size machine.

[Night goat]

Mini with a thumb is a handy rig, look at a 35 size machine.

.

How doez the sizing work? Is it a standard set of numbers across the line, like a 1/2,3/4,1ton truck? Or?

[Boss .300 winmag]

You can get a backhoe with thumb as well, or add one if it doesn't have it. That's my next attachment for my hoe. 

[tlbradford]

Without photos I can't be sure, but it sounds like a job that requires something larger than a mini, so I agree with Timber on the backhoe.  If it were me, and you have access to the site for a semi and dump truck, I would hire someone to get all the crap out of there in one trip.  Then rent big enough pieces to get your job done on a weekend.  Dozer for leveling, backhoe for trenching with a compactor attachment.  If you just have to own a piece of equipment, I would be looking at something like a Cat 420D.  Super versatile, great secondary market, lots of attachments.

[Buckmark]

Without photos I can't be sure, but it sounds like a job that requires something larger than a mini, so I agree with Timber on the backhoe.  If it were me, and you have access to the site for a semi and dump truck, I would hire someone to get all the crap out of there in one trip.  Then rent big enough pieces to get your job done on a weekend.  Dozer for leveling, backhoe for trenching with a compactor attachment.  If you just have to own a piece of equipment, I would be looking at something like a Cat 420D.  Super versatile, great secondary market, lots of attachments.

Hiring someone with the equipment and the experience they should be able to have all crap gone and even some site prep if needed done in a day or two then depending on what you need to do renting might be the way to go unless like stated you want to own a piece of equipment.
What is your budget?

[Bofire]

that is a hot market, watched by everyone, you'll get what you pay for. the numbers are "sort" of the same for size but not exactly. You can spend anything up to about $100,000 on a mini. There is a lot to know about resale and features on minis. Basics like pump size effect what you can do with them, what attachments they can run, and run well. Zero clearance?  Rubber trac or metal? high wide carriage or normal? which buckets? processor? compactor? demo tools?
Had a demo Cat machine on a site, 2 days, did not like it, the "on sale killer deal" was $72,000.00, it was a mid 3000 machine.
Carl

[trophyhunt]

Without photos I can't be sure, but it sounds like a job that requires something larger than a mini, so I agree with Timber on the backhoe.  If it were me, and you have access to the site for a semi and dump truck, I would hire someone to get all the crap out of there in one trip.  Then rent big enough pieces to get your job done on a weekend.  Dozer for leveling, backhoe for trenching with a compactor attachment.  If you just have to own a piece of equipment, I would be looking at something like a Cat 420D.  Super versatile, great secondary market, lots of attachments.

Hiring someone with the equipment and the experience they should be able to have all crap gone and even some site prep if needed done in a day or two then depending on what you need to do renting might be the way to go unless like stated you want to own a piece of equipment.
What is your budget?

you'll save yourself a lot of time by letting the pros do it.  I personally would rent an excavator (120 size) with a thumb and burn everything that's not metal!!

[Night goat]

Without photos I can't be sure, but it sounds like a job that requires something larger than a mini, so I agree with Timber on the backhoe.  If it were me, and you have access to the site for a semi and dump truck, I would hire someone to get all the crap out of there in one trip.  Then rent big enough pieces to get your job done on a weekend.  Dozer for leveling, backhoe for trenching with a compactor attachment.  If you just have to own a piece of equipment, I would be looking at something like a Cat 420D.  Super versatile, great secondary market, lots of attachments.

Hiring someone with the equipment and the experience they should be able to have all crap gone and even some site prep if needed done in a day or two then depending on what you need to do renting might be the way to go unless like stated you want to own a piece of equipment.
What is your budget?

I was thinking like 2500$-3000$ for a clunker I could use, tune up and resell after the project...

Might be way out of my price range with they way y'all's are talking

[Special T]

My brother is a heavy equipment mechanic. Pin wear is a good indication of how wore out a machine is. It is also an indication of how well maintained. Machines that are regularly greased are usually maintained.

Quick test is to fire up the machine push down on the boom to lift the front of the trax up. Rotate left and right wiggling the machine the slop is both visual and a feeling.  Make sure to do this on a near new machine as well so you can compare.

Make sure you purchase a Mini with a dozer blade you would be amazed at how effective they are.


Why a Mini? If this is a one location price of equipment you should go as big as you can. An older bigger machine is better than a smaller new machine for single location projects. I know a couple of people who purchased old Jalopy full size excavators  because they had 2-3 decent sized jobs to do on weekends much like your situation. The cost of the machine was comparable to renting or close to hiring it done. When done with the job they had a "Free" piece of  equipment, or sold it at the end of the job.

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[UBA]

Make sure the thumb is hydraulic and not just pinned. Makes llife lots easier

[Mudman]

Without photos I can't be sure, but it sounds like a job that requires something larger than a mini, so I agree with Timber on the backhoe.  If it were me, and you have access to the site for a semi and dump truck, I would hire someone to get all the crap out of there in one trip.  Then rent big enough pieces to get your job done on a weekend.  Dozer for leveling, backhoe for trenching with a compactor attachment.  If you just have to own a piece of equipment, I would be looking at something like a Cat 420D.  Super versatile, great secondary market, lots of attachments.

Hiring someone with the equipment and the experience they should be able to have all crap gone and even some site prep if needed done in a day or two then depending on what you need to do renting might be the way to go unless like stated you want to own a piece of equipment.
What is your budget?

I was thinking like 2500$-3000$ for a clunker I could use, tune up and resell after the project...

Might be way out of my price range with they way y'all's are talking

Sorry but that's not going to happen.  Add a 0 to that #.  Getting a mini that's too small will also be a huge mistake.  I would expect 20k$ at least for what you need.  Where is this at?  We can bring a good mini or a larger Linkbelt out and get it done for a fair price if you like?

[Special T]

Didn't see the price range till now. That kind of $ may get you an older Ford with a 3 point hitch for a  box scraper and feild mower but that's it.

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[Happy Gilmore]

Blade and thumb are a must. No less than a 10,000lb machine for demo and clean up. Little machines can't put anything into a dumpster. They don't have the weight to lift much or the reach.