Farm digger

[Adeptandy]

Long story short, long covid has just about finished the plumbing and heating business, but being a chap not to sit still I’ve worked out I can sit and work without issue, so farming is still possible
Therefore, thinking about getting a digger, tempted with a JCB JS130 @ approx £20k as a starter unit or would it be more sensible to get something 7-8t
Done quite a bit with mini diggers so used to the coordination needed to work one but discounted getting that size as anyone can easily hire one and have a bash

 

[sahara]

Very sorry to hear about your Covid situation, best of luck for your digger venture.

 

[Still Farming]

Plenty here:-

Diggers Archives

 

[Hilly]

Buy small digger if no space , plenty space big digger !! Ive a 14 ton digger its awesome they are not any dearer than 7-8 so if you have soace go big you wont regret .

 

[ladycrofter]

I think it depends on what type of work you're wanting to do. We have a 3T, ideal for clearing ditches, levelling gateways, digging drains. Also handy for dragging or moving stuff about. The landscape bucket is maybe 900mm so that can be both an advantage and disadvantage.

Mini diggers no use IMO, tiny and wobbly. A 3T is very manoeuvrable in tight places. But I think too small to make roads and that sort of thing.

Again just IMO but a 7-8 ton, you need some room to work, and pretty big jobs.

 

[ladycrofter]

@Hilly that seems true of many machines, not so much market as size increases so the price doesn't go up much. 14T is a beast, but will it go through a farm gate?

 

[Hilly]

@Hilly that seems true of many machines, not so much market as size increases so the price doesn't go up much. 14T is a beast, but will it go through a farm gate?

Yes it goes through a 10’ gate no bother.

 

[Wombat]

@Hilly that seems true of many machines, not so much market as size increases so the price doesn't go up much. 14T is a beast, but will it go through a farm gate?

said to my lad for the future if we putting anything other than double 15's in we want shooting

 

[Lincs Lass]

13tn is a handy size .
Loading crushers, wagons , ditch clearing , flail head , shears , house footings.
Had nearly 5 years on a 13tn deawoo tracked and duck.

 

[Fish]

Having a 14t, 2.5 t and a 6t 360 diggers, I would say the 5/6t is the most versatile. Ok I can’t move the 6t on a plant trailer, but when on site the 6t will run rings round the 2.5 and the 14t

 

[ladycrofter]

https://www.lantra.co.uk/
Have a look. I got a day free training through a grant, I was changing from a wheeled digger to tracked and didn't feel confident. Your reflexes are wrong for starters. Also didn't want to ask someone to let me have a go in their £30k machine . It was 100% worth it. I learned some operational things I wouldn't have figured out myself, especially working on steep ground.

In your case you could have a proper go in different size machines, with a competent person overseeing. The guy that did my training, I'm sure he could pick up an egg! Very, very skilled and gave good advice about what size would suit me on the farm.

 

[ladycrofter]

Having a 14t, 2.5 t and a 6t 360 diggers, I would say the 5/6t is the most versatile. Ok I can’t move the 6t on a plant trailer, but when on site the 6t will run rings round the 2.5 and the 14t

Good point! I think we are at the limit for towing behind a pickup (legally anyway). Yes so how you move about is a big factor.

 

[CPF]

Hire to start with you can have small machine one day and next you may need 65 T machine
See where the market takes you .
Some hire companies hire out machines without there logo on , so you can get some magnetic sign made up of your own logo on them.

 

[benny6910]

Go 8-9ton handy size for small jobs but capable of doing bigger jobs.

 

[Blue.]

Having a 14t, 2.5 t and a 6t 360 diggers, I would say the 5/6t is the most versatile. Ok I can’t move the 6t on a plant trailer, but when on site the 6t will run rings round the 2.5 and the 14t

I’ve yet to see a 6t digger out dig/reach a 14t digger…

 

[Hilly]

I think hire is a great way. The council had a guy did a big job here and hired everything , when job was over he went on a weeks holiday , an owner would have had to spend that week servicing repairing washing etc , i rememberthi king at the time what a great way to do it and always the right machine for the job and no debt .

 

[Fendt516profi]

Yes it goes through a 10’ gate the 2nd time no bother.

 

[Wurzeetoo]

It depends on your preferred work. Certainly don’t underestimate the value of a smaller digger, as you mention anyone can rent one …. But not many have the guts to have a go, and there is a huge difference between a skilled operator and a guy like me that can ( but probably shouldn’t) @nick... would be a good guy to ask

 

[L P]

One digger isn't enough, 3t and 13t is a good mix, or if you must have just one a 7.5-9t Takeuchi would be my choice. Cheaper to hire a little one than a big one if you can hire, bash the job out, off hire.

 

[Phil P]

I bought a 13t and can keep it busier than I have time to drive it but it can be a bit big for some jobs, lad up the road recently got a 7t machine and he’s out all the time doing jobs for people in the area. To be fair it doesn’t matter what size there’s always work about.