New guy no clue

[Buffallobull]

I’ve learned a bunch from forums over the years. Hope to get the same from this one. I’m about to retire and just bought 100+ acres on the side of a hill. I want to terrace it and build roads and house pads, septic fields….etc. what size, how old? No idea what I need. Like to keep the purchase price under 25k. I’m good with repairs and can fix just about anything. Don’t mind buying used and fixing it up.

 

[Shimmy1]

 

[Simon C]

The size of your property is fairly large. Small gear takes a long time and brakes down like big gear.
$25000 is a worn out whatever in this day and age. Do you want to be fixing up the property, or working forever on something on its last legs. Maybe a little to think about. It is your money, your choice on your property.
Simon C

 

[skyking1]

Roads and house pads as in many? Are you developing it and dividing it up?
It makes a difference.

 

[CM1995]

View attachment 333522

Welcome to the Forums Bb! Glad to have you.

Shimmy's smart assed post is not the way we welcome new members here on HEF so don't let that discourage you.

Tells us more about yourself, your background and exactly what you want to do. HEF is here for folks to exchange information from the very knowledgable to the newbies.

 

[BobaUA]

Track loader. Preferably with rear positioned engine.

 

[Buffallobull]

Thanks for the quick replies, there is wisdom even in the more complicated replies. I have thick skin no problem. 35 years military retiring, not planning on developing or dividing it up. Initial plan is to build a small place garage and live in it until I can build the forever house. Probably build 3 small houses for the kids for when they come visit, Airbnb them maybe. Lots of stone on the property also going to learn stone masonry. I’m in no rush, got the rest of my existence to figure it out.

 

[Buffallobull]

I have ran equipment, owned a JCB 1400b backhoe many years ago. Built a driveway and a pond. Wished I had an excavator back then. So hoping to learn and set realistic expectations on cost compared to age and hours and equipment size. I’m sure there is too big for what I need and too small for the job. Maybe make terraces and plant grapes… raise goats??? Who knows.

 

[skyking1]

Tell us about the location a bit. Lots of stone is great, do you have some soil to go with it?
Terracing and working side hills is fairly technical work. Not saying you can't learn it, but there is a lot of room for error and drama there.
Some pictures would be nice too.
I'd look for something with decent undercarriage, or have a budget to allow for replacement.
People like to badmouth ITR, but for a farm machine, a set of new ITR complete tracks would last a lifetime of farming wall building fun.
I put new tracks, sprockets, and a few rollers on the 120 for 6500 a few years ago.

 

[Acoals]

The best way to do the job is a big excavator and dozer. A big excavator and dozer for just one project is not going to be very cost effective, and you certainly won't do it for $25,000.

A heavy CTL and a big mini will go a long ways, it is what I would go for under the circumstances, but you won't get anything worthwhile in that department for 25k either.

Your best bet is probably a backhoe, possibly renting a big hoe to deal with heavy digging, especially if there is a lot of rock.

As CM indicated, there is kind of a lot more to this than simply "what machine is best".

Do you have any experience operating equipment?

 

[HarleyHappy]

Awesome, good for you and make sure you have fun.
Unfortunately, at the price point you have given us, you probably won’t have much to work with.
A 25k excavator is probably going to be pretty worn out and you will get dirty.
Fortunately, you have us here to help, when stuff doesn’t work.
Couple of questions.
Do you have Heavy Equipment experience, what about mechanical abilities?
How steep is this land?
Are you going to be cleaning some of it yourself, or will you have someone experienced with slopes helping?
Most importantly, don’t get killed and have fun do it.

 

[skyking1]

about size:
Really, there is no "too big" until you get bound up trying to build a really narrow flat spot with a wall below/above it. Bigger is your friend.

 

[Buffallobull]

 

[Buffallobull]

 

[Buffallobull]

 

[Acoals]

Nevermind the backhoe there . . .

 

[Simon C]

If you are not in a big rush, a large skid steer or compact track machine with a grapple can move a lot of trees with the grapple. The size of stumps on your property may take some power to remove, just depends on how many. Hiring a 200 size machine can pull a lot of stumps in one day.
There is always the option of a rental excavator like a Deere 60 G size. They can dig quite a lot in a day, but are definitely not 200 size machine.
Skid steers are nice to maintain roads and unload items from trucks.
A track loader is very valuable also, but to find a good one that is not ready for a $40000 grenading problem, that will be the challenge.
Money don't go far these days.
Simon C

 

[Shimmy1]

I think you better up your budget.

$25k is going to get you into big trouble, and an even bigger mess. Not trying to dissuade you, just being realistic. I have two excavators, two dozers, a track skidder, and 35 years heavy equipment experience.

I'm not sure I have the skills to tackle that site and terrain. Best of luck.

 

[Buffallobull]

The property was logged about 12 years ago. So no huge timber but lots of stumps in there…mixed with rocks. Mansize stones. Yeah I was considering hiring someone that might also educate me a bit… most folks don’t want to waste their time though. Understandable.

 

[skyking1]

Seriously I would be game to help out, but I am working pretty hard getting my place done. I enjoy this kind of thing, when I can pick the weather etc.
If you are really wanting some help, send me a Personal Message. Maybe it can work.