Anyone Here Opted for Buying Heavy Equipment Instead of DIY Tools?

[Alain Bayens]

I know this section is all about homemade tools, but I’m thinking about going the other way and buying some used heavy equipment, like a mini excavator or skid steer, from Boom & Bucket. Has anyone here decided to buy instead of building their own? How did the purchase process go, and were you happy with the equipment? Just wondering if it’s worth buying pre-made instead of sticking to DIY solutions.

[Elizabeth Greene]

I've read that, for large equipment like excavators that have to go as oversized loads, moving them can cost more than the equipment.

I've read similar things for large manual lathes and mills. You can get them at auction for basically scrap prices, but moving 10k pounds of kit is not cheap.

[BuffaloJohn]

While I might be able to do some of the work to make a larger piece of equipment, used stuff was made with machines I don't have nor have access to.

As for moving equipment, there are people who do that and getting the stuff to your land would be a one time deal.

Folks who work on equipment are also available to come to your site if you need them or you take things apart and take part of it to get it worked on elsewhere.

While used is sometimes a challenge, it can often be cheaper and faster - if you want to get the job done. There is still plenty of home made that can go into used...

[Alain Bayens]

Thank you for sharing!

[Frank S]

When you said skid steer or mini excavator you failed to mention which end of the class spectrum which can range from 4 to 6000lbs up to 18000lbs on the upper end.

On the lower end of the spectrum such as a Kobelco 007 excavator it can be hauled in the back of a pickup truck is able to be driven through a kitchen door can dig up to 6 feet deep has a spade for covering the ditch. this holds true for the smaller skid steers on the higher end of the mini class such as My Komatsu K191 excavator you will need a 3-axle goose neck trailer with single wheels or a tandem axle with dual wheels and a pickup like a super duty F350 a Ram of GM 3500 series 1 ton as a minimum. Some of the largest skid steers can get into the same weight range as well. My Komatsu almost doesn't fit in the mini class since it has a 30" bucket 14to 15 ft digging depth but is still fitted with a spade blade.
I don't know what you are planning to do with either, but rubber tracks would be the way to go especially for the skid steer unless you are one of those guys who likes to show off and run on either the front wheels or the rear wheels of a skid steer. Most farmers out in this area have at least 1 tracked skid steer in the middle to upper size range and regularly move them on their tandem axle single wheel with F250s goose neck trailers. Skid steers can have a multitude of attachments even backhoe type booms

Remember two things it is not the go but the WOA when hauling equipment and the axle capacity.