Mini excavators

[Night goat]

Ok well thank you all so far.

Yeah I called NC machinery today and the 305 sounds like the bare minimum for sure


I like Kubota and yanmars too, I’ve worked on tons of their marine engines, kubota is about dead nuts simple as it gets at least in those regards.

So what about a tractor with a hoe? Can ya get a thumb on a back hoe so I could grab logs and old stumps? Not like, stumps still in the ground, somebody many moons ago just left a pile of stumps right where I wanna start working, they’re not in the ground rooted down, they just got put there and left so they’re all half rotted

[Robinhood]

Ok well thank you all so far.

Yeah I called NC machinery today and the 305 sounds like the bare minimum for sure


I like Kubota and yanmars too, I’ve worked on tons of their marine engines, kubota is about dead nuts simple as it gets at least in those regards.

So what about a tractor with a hoe? Can ya get a thumb on a back hoe so I could grab logs and old stumps? Not like, stumps still in the ground, somebody many moons ago just left a pile of stumps right where I wanna start working, they’re not in the ground rooted down, they just got put there and left so they’re all half rotted



I bought a Kubota B2650 years ago with a back hoe. It came with a mechanical thumb, that I converted to be hydraulic. It works well and is pretty powerful for what it is. It will hold logs tight and it picks up as much as the boom will lift. I also bought a Sany SU35 last year and I have been super happy with it so far. I have only put 120 hours on it, but so far it has worked flawlessly.

[Mark Brenckle]

You can also get a 3rd function on your tractor loader so you can get a grapple for it, that will be my next purchase for my tractor. I wouldn't be able to justify having a backhoe, just wouldn't use it enough to offset renting one for a day.
  We had a giant slash pile on our property, right under the power lines. We hired a gal and her skid steer to do some other work and she moved that pile into 9 smaller piles out in the pasture where I could burn them. Took her about half an hour.

[Rob]

Can't wait to get a grapple!

[Fastass350]

I don’t believe you’ll be towing any decent mini with a half ton pickup especially not the 305. Something to consider is your size, some guys find the cars harder to get into (if you’re going enclosed cab)  Kubota offers a 6 way blade on one or some models so that’s a plus.

[Jpmiller]

If you're using it in winter at all go enclosed cab. I hate em for work because I'm always communicating with my ground guy but especially in the winter having the heater going is amazing, and the ac in summer is nice too except it seems to fail right after the radio.

[lewy]

35 size mini is gunna be about as handy a machine as you can own......if you can run it well

[JakeLand]

35 size mini is gunna be about as handy a machine as you can own......if you can run it well

[Griiz]

I have a Kabota U35 with multiple buckets, rake and a USMower EX30 Flail Mower that I have been very happy with. I've put around 500 hours on with no issues. It's amazing what you can get done with these little machines. You are probably towing 12,000 or more pounds every time you transport it (machine +trailer and attachments and other gear), so you need a vehicle with the brakes and capability to safely haul it. Good Luck!

[highside74]

Can't wait to get a grapple!

They are amazing. I ordered a wicked grapple from Everything Attachments last year and waited 6mo for delivery. It is a game changer.

[Griiz]

Another thing to keep in mind with towing, if the Combined GVW of the stickers on the truck and trailer is over 26,000lbs and the trailer GVW sticker is over 10,000 pounds you need a Class A CDL unless you are getting a farm, RV, emergency vehicle or military exemption. It isn't really enforced but if you get in a wreck or another issue you are likely to get fined and I believe it is a $10,000 ticket. I just got my Class A CDL because of this.

[jvt]

Another thing to keep in mind with towing, if the Combined GVW of the stickers on the truck and trailer is over 26,000lbs and the trailer GVW sticker is over 10,000 pounds you need a Class A CDL unless you are getting a farm, emergency vehicle or military exemption. It isn't really enforced but if you get in a wreck or another issue you are likely to get fined and I believe it is a $10,000 ticket. I just got my Class A CDL because of this.

you may have left something out or the truck stops are not enforcing. i have a pistonbully snowcat on a 12,000 trailer for personal use and often with cops and have no extra license.

[Griiz]

Another thing to keep in mind with towing, if the Combined GVW of the stickers on the truck and trailer is over 26,000lbs and the trailer GVW sticker is over 10,000 pounds you need a Class A CDL unless you are getting a farm, RV, emergency vehicle or military exemption. It isn't really enforced but if you get in a wreck or another issue you are likely to get fined and I believe it is a $10,000 ticket. I just got my Class A CDL because of this.

you may have left something out or the truck stops are not enforcing. i have a pistonbully snowcat on a 12,000 trailer for personal use and often with cops and have no extra license.

If your in a dual rear wheel truck and trailer has a GVW sticker over 10,000 pounds I believe you need a class A CDL. As truck + trailer becomes a combination vehicle. They don't need a scale for this ticket as they just look at the weight stickers on the vehicles. Even if your truck and trailer only weigh 12,000 pounds combined, they still count it as over 26,000 pounds because the sticker weights combine to be over that. I have a friend with an excavation company who beats this by ordering his trailers built to 16,000 pound specifications and has 10,000 pound stickers put on them. That way his non CDL drivers can tow those trailers legally. If they do get scaled and are overweight for the trailer GVW sticker it is a much cheaper ticket and you can almost always beat those tickets with a bunch of loopholes.

[lewy]

Meanwhile there is a 90 year old guy driving a 45’ class A diesel pusher without one 

[HntnFsh]

And if you need a CDL then you need a medical card.