New guy no clue

[reganj]

It has already been said, RENT a machine or two or more to see what suits you or maybe complete what you wish to do with rented machine and then try to find a good machine to purchase.
Hope this is helpful.

 

[skyking1]

The fun part about working on a project like that is thinking about what the water is going to do. You don't want to make a thing that ends up being " a river runs through it".
It takes a little careful planning and a calibrated eyeball or a laser, and then it does become fun.
If you've got a traversing road heading downhill, you just bring it into a little uphill bump every now and then and shed that water into some material that won't wash out. You can use logs from the trees that you're taking down as you work or big Stones, but the key to it is not to gather a bunch of water up and try and send it off at once. Send it off as you go.
If you're making terraces, then you want to think about whether you want to hold water or get rid of it. Some soils are going to hold too much and then the things you try and grow. There are not going to be happy. Other soils drain out too fast and the goal there is to try and retain the water. It is fun. I keep saying that LOL

 

[Buffallobull]

I plan on making some contacts up at Penn State find out what kind of programs are available. This is certainly a new chapter, got lots to learn! I’m stoked to get it going.

 

[Lagwagon]

I plan on making some contacts up at Penn State find out what kind of programs are available. This is certainly a new chapter, got lots to learn! I’m stoked to get it going.

Time to grab the bull by the horns, you can do it. I vote you buy a machine, learn the ins-n-outs, start on smaller projects and work your way up to the bigger ones. There will be ups and downs, frustrations and hefty repair bills but the wealth of knowledge on here will help you through. When your done you’ll have a wider skill-set and knowledge to pass on, hopefully on this forum.

 

[Andy K]

I’m in the process of reclaiming 50acres. I started with a small Case 350B dozer and a Ford 4500 backhoe about 7 years ago. They’re great little machines and better than dying on the end of a shovel
I ran the snot out of them both but they’re not production machines. Buy once & cry once.

Now I have a Hitachi Ex120-3 excavator & a Case 850B dozer. What took 50hrs to do on a backhoe is done in 2 hours. Instead of digging around a tree or cutting them down and plucking the stumps later, the whole tree comes out.

Personally, I’d stick in the 10-12 ton sized equipment unless you’re planning on going into business for yourself. The bigger the machine, the more it costs to repair and operate. Now is the best time to buy a machine. If it doesn’t start and operate like it should when it’s 20* outside…don’t buy it.

 

[MarcusZ1967]

Welcome to HEF @Buffallobull !

There are machines out there in not too bad condition.

First one we bought was a International 175C track loader. Then the JD 690B appeared. We get w i d e trails with that one.

 

[PlumberRob]

OP, go to multiple dealers and let them know you are interested in some equipment, don't mention pricing, they have no idea on your budget. See if you can get some demo's of different types of equipment(different dealer for different type of machine) and then you can see what type of machine will suit your needs the best on your property, and what you feel most comfortable operating.
After that, you can really pinpoint on a type of machine within your budget.

 

[Buffallobull]

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With an older machine can a progressive thumb be added? High flow pumps required? What year does that not become an issue?

 

[Tyler d4c]

I know that guy. Not a good pick if you want a thumb of any sort that machine has no auxilary plumbing. It would all have to be added. Couple that with the udder lack of a case dealer (nearest to you would be greensburg) probably not the best choice.
Groff who was the case dealer in Ebensburg dropped the case construction and is now a deere dealer. They closed the ebensburg store totally due to it being in foster winelands territory.

 

[Buffallobull]

Ah the plot thickens! Good info Thanks!

 

[crane operator]

I would maybe look at your project as stages, rather than the whole picture.

Bring in a contractor to look at your main driveway/ road to the RV pad. And your utilities route. Have him or multiple guys come bid it. Explain where you want to start, and where you want to end, they will be able to look at the grade and tell you what will work and what won't. You'll have options and a expert eye put on it.

They will know the utilities companies, who to get the dump trucks from which quarry, and will make you a road that will make access easy in and out, that will hold up to traffic. Excavator/ dozers ctl and whatever else they have in their toolbox.

Once you get the RV pad and road in, then you've watched the inital work, and maybe you'll have a better eye for what you want to do. Then maybe you can get one machine, and figure the rest out. Dig basements, clear trees. 4 wheeler paths, road to the big house, a path to the pond you're going to build, or the creek.

We do lots of work at different locations, and the people who cut corners on their initial main road/ driveway, end up doing it twice. Need a well? Got to get in a drill rig. Power company has to get line trucks in to bring power. Basement and buildings are going to need concrete and a pump truck. Wood deliveries, and windows and your flooring guy isn't going to want to need 4wd to get to the house. It goes on and on.

I'm all for doing things yourself. But I think building in your main road on slopes, changing grades, with trees to remove, is going to be more than you can get done with one machine. That doesn't mean you can't buy a excavator, and clear the trees for the road guy, but maybe just realize, that some things are better left to the guys that do it everyday, with more equipment.

 

[Buffallobull]

Well that’s a buzzkill! But… you probably are not wrong. I can’t imagine what all that would cost. But I’m still a few months from it first data point is establishing that first estimate. Probably make better decisions from there…. Much of it will determine how far up we put the house and what might perk test. Of course they in love with the sand mounds in PA!

 

[skyking1]

I'll have to disagree with crane op there, but this is what I do. I take an excavator because that is what I have. I'll pioneer, pull trees, and rough grade with it. I brought in a dozer at my place for one weekend, and mostly because I had a friend to sit i the seat and do a nicer job with the rock while I drove the truck on a Saturday.
Start here where I broke ground on my home build thread.
With that and the dump truck, I pushed the road in up the hill using borrow from the site.
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...ding-a-home-thread.90628/page-22#post-1250293

Same machine, big fir stumps;
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/i-am-appreciating-a-stump-grinder-more-and-more.100215/

For a machine that is not going to move from site to site, I would want bigger than the 12 ton 120. That's why I say a 200 if you can find the right one.
They just reach over and do things that a smaller machine tracks over to do. The problems with a 200:
9.5' wide. Sometimes it cramps your style.
That's it, IMO. Too wide or too bound up trying to work close to you in a narrower spot. You learn to deal with it. Reach out and work ahead at an angle.

Get two buckets. One with teeth that mesh with the thumb for good dexterity and dealing with the rock, and a big smooth edge for fine grade work and bulking.

Once you learn how to move with it, learn how to use a laser. Get a magnetic mount target and set up a grade, and you can run with it and no grade checker.

 

[Buffallobull]

I built a quarter mile driveway through a swamp with my JCB 1400b backhoe 4x4… only got it stuck once. Had to get a truck wrecker to pull it out! I did lease a tracked dresser front end loader to move tons of fill. But I’m with you that sometimes you just do with the thing you have until you figure out how to do it or you figure out it can’t be done.

 

[davo727]

I spent an afternoon trying to get some stumps out with an old 12k lb backhoe with no success and went and bought a 27K lb 110 hp excavator and had 6 big stumps out in the first 30 minutes I had ever been in an excavator. 36in bucket. 2005 Case CX130. no thumb and like the guys say it wouldnt be easy to add a hyd one. I know the Cat excav are better.

I have a bobcat T550 8500lb CTL and I love it, tree puller attachment is awesome for little stuff. 10,500 lb bobcat high flow would be better but wayyy more money.

I have an old Cat D6C and it doesnt get used much.

 

[Buffallobull]

Thanks again for all the info, I’ll keep lurking here and post if anything happens. On the flip side you know I’m in the market if anyone runs across a good deal close to Bedford PA let me know. Still have a few months before the move back East but I’m always interested in a good deal.

 

[HarleyHappy]

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With an older machine can a progressive thumb be added? High flow pumps required? What year does that not become an issue?

Basically anything can be added but Heavy Equipment is just like Harleys.
Anything added at dealer is worth money, anything added by owners are suspect and therefore worthless.
To add a thumb to a 25 year old excavator, would likely exceed the cost of said excavator.

 

[skyking1]

^^ so much this. Just wait and buy what you want, ready to go. Patience will be rewarded.

 

[Tugger2]

Sounds like a great project your embarking on. Some cab guarding on your machine might be a good idea for working in all that small timber . This is an old picture from my fabricating days back in the 80s ,gives you an idea. Front window guard at a minimum. I built this ripper for my excavator,its pretty handy for stubborn stumps hard spots.Good luck and enjoy your adventure.

 

[farmn]

When you say a lot of stone, does that include rock layers? I'm a rookie myself but so far it seems like loose rock isn't too bad. When I hit solid at my place it's a big machine with a hammer or cover it back up.