|
The photos really help get a rough idea of what you are dealing with, I agree with Bob, if you decide on a larger tractor, good to be aware of the expensive lawn ornament factor. However, the site looks big enough for a D-8 size machine, and for mass excavation for where your stockpiles are to be. If you buy a D-6, you'll put a lot of hours on it, and will be working it hard on that site, it would have to be in top mechanical condition all the way around. It will do the job, just take longer, benefit is that it's smaller, better in the woods at that size, might be able to fine grade a little better etc. If it were me, and the budget you have mentioned, I'd try to find a D8 or a D7 in good condition, check government auctions, keep an eye out for worthy candidates, paying for shipping a machine that checks out mechanically is worth it, even if out of the local area. There is a lot of pushing to be done there, that clay looks like it could get hard and become tough pushing. If the majority of the work you have after this job, does not necessitate the larger machine, and does not have the room for a bigger one to operate, might want to consider that as well, I'd like a larger one to for a mass excavation job like that, but a smaller one for jobs not so big, and working in the woods, lot of combinations will work here. I prefer to do jobs like this myself as well, having the skills and the years in the seat just fuels that fire and you get the job done just the way you want it. Also remember, if the conditions get soft, a D-8 is a heavy machine, but if dry and conditions are stable, that will be a help with material like that. You'll want a semi-U blade or similar, straight type, for cutting, a 8S not an 8A or a 7S for the D-7 size tractor. Whatever you get or decide on, you are better off spending money up front for one that has been properly maintained and serviced,if can be found, but in good shape at the time of sale, or find one that can be inspected properly and figure out what it will take to get it to good working order, I'd make sure to measure and confirm the condition of the undercarriage components, and really go over all the components of the tractor as best can be done, final drive - check for metal beyond normal wear, etc. etc. etc. - With your budget, you should be able to find a machine that is in decent shape and even if you have to pay a qualified mechanic to check out the particulars, it is worth it. Once you've got what you need, service it properly, check it over and take care of any problems, best done before it goes to the field, no guarantee, but a good chance of not dealing with tossing a track or, having a major component failure etc. etc. On the rental front, a large excavator and your dozer ( whatever you get ) is a great combination, the excavator can be rented for the mass excavation, you can excavate the cuts as you want them and cast the spoil to where the dozer can pick up the loose material and push it off, a lot less abuse and hours on your machine, if the site stays dry, you could easily finish shaping/grading the cut with the dozer, clean it up to your liking etc. In the end you could rent something like a Cat D4-G or similar to finish everything off, new ones are so nice to grade with, still have your workhorse that you paid a fair amount for, but without putting the hard pushing hours on it. With other projects to do, and it seems like you want the convienence of having a dozer as well, ( I'm like that too ) owning is not a bad idea, buying right is worth the time and effort. That tandem dump, if in decent shape would be even better.(sounded like a good purchase at $1000, Louisvilles are tough trucks, even with 3208 motors, they'll smoke but run ) Load the truck out with the rented excavator, eliminate the the push(s) and stockpile with the dozer where you dump off. That would have to be a 2 person operation and you'll need adequate time to do it continuously with a rental, but it will get done rapidly. It looks like if one was going to push out the cuts on this job with a dozer only, you have 2 directions to go before you get to that stockpile area, up and out of the cut, then re-align to push off to the area you marked off in the photos.
Just thinking aloud here, tossing ideas at you, looks like a nice site, it ought to really look great once you are done.
|
