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Mini excavators

6 posts
  1. Douglas Eggert
    Douglas Eggert avatar
    1 posts
    7/1/2018 9:07 AM
    I've sorta ran into an opportunity to acquire a mini excavator.... So what size do you folks have? And what is it mainly used for?

    This is mostly geared at irrigation repairs and drainage issues....



  2. Kyle Fick
    Kyle Fick avatar
    4 posts
    7/1/2018 10:07 AM
    We bought a Caterpiller 301.8 C. We use ours for a lot of things. Irrigation, tee box construction, bunker re-construction, any retaining wall project, digging up busted asphalt, drainage rather than trenching, you name it. It's smallish, but light enough to track across a fairway without leaving a long term mark. We usually stationary it on plywood when we get to the location we are headed.

    Perhaps one of the single greatest investments we have made. I can't imagine the amount of man hours it's saved us over the past few years. If I had the staff and time, it'd never sit idle, but like most, we run thin so it makes long projects shorter when we can do them.

    Sometimes I wish we had a little larger unit, but it'd also be unrealistic for many applications. I like being able to fit through a 3' opening if needed. It was a joint acquisition with our maintenance department for other properties and we share it back and forth.



  3. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    7/3/2018 9:07 AM
    Biggest one you can find with rubber tracks and an 8" bucket.

    Reason being is you'll eventually want the extra HP down the road, but will still need it for the small jobs.



  4. James Smith
    James Smith avatar
    112 posts
    7/6/2018 7:07 AM
    Andy Jorgensen said: Biggest one you can find with rubber tracks and an 8" bucket.

    Reason being is you'll eventually want the extra HP down the road, but will still need it for the small jobs.


    This is correct. Especially if you want to do in house bunker renovations!



  5. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    7/6/2018 9:07 AM
    James Smith said:
    Andy Jorgensen said: Biggest one you can find with rubber tracks and an 8" bucket.

    Reason being is you'll eventually want the extra HP down the road, but will still need it for the small jobs.


    This is correct. Especially if you want to do in house bunker renovations!



    That being said, we have a Deere 85D. Bought it more for a mulching head attachment, but have an 18" bucket that works great for all kinds of stuff. Too big for drainage work, but great for bunker reno's, green reno's, irrigation install, etc...the extra HP is great.



  6. Gordon Seliga
    Gordon Seliga avatar
    4 posts
    7/11/2018 9:07 AM
    We are currently looking to purchase an excavator. Right now we are looking at the 8-10,000 pound machines. Cat 304, Kubota KX040 and the Bobcat E42. Big enough to load a small dump truck and to work on bunkers but versatile enough to use for general golf course stuff as well.



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