Hi,
I am trying to analyze options for purchasing a new or used mini-excavator and mower head (e.g. US Mower or RockHound) to work on my own land - about 20 acres and possibly to start a side-business to help offset the payments down the road and see how I can best make a go of this.
I have already decided that I want to go this route versus hiring someone else to do it because of several reasons - capital investment, future income options, learning experience, cause it looks like a lot of fun compared to what I am doing now. I was weighing options between a skid-steer and a mini-ex and I know it would be best if I had both but I need to start some where and the application of the mini-ex combined with a mower seems like it would help me the most on my own land to start off with.
The problem is that I have looked at so many minis and cutting head options that I have frankly entered analysis-paralysis :Banghead so I figured I would ask here and see if I can get someone with more experience to help guide me. I am in metro-Atlanta and would like to keep total expenses down under $30K as I do not expect to receive any income from this for quite a while as I get some experience under my belt.
I was thinking about using a mini with mower to take down the brush on the land I have - if I could take out up to 4 or 5 inches that would be ideal that seems to take me over my $30,000 goal to get a mini and head with enough hydraulic power to do 4 or 5 inches. I also need to take down some larger trees in the 10 inch range and dig up stumps for what I can't push over and need to chainsaw out of the way. There are a number of large stumps on the land already. Its been suggested that I could dig up a hole and bury the stumps easier with the mini-ex.
Anyway - I'm just trying to do as much research as I can right now before I commit to anything and try to avoid a costly mistake - so any advice on what brand/model excavator and mower has worked for you that I could get in to for under $30K total would be appreciated. If I cannot tow it on a If you are in the Atlanta-metro area - any recommendations on dealers and who is good to work with would be helpful.
I am trying to analyze options for purchasing a new or used mini-excavator and mower head (e.g. US Mower or RockHound) to work on my own land - about 20 acres and possibly to start a side-business to help offset the payments down the road and see how I can best make a go of this.
I have already decided that I want to go this route versus hiring someone else to do it because of several reasons - capital investment, future income options, learning experience, cause it looks like a lot of fun compared to what I am doing now. I was weighing options between a skid-steer and a mini-ex and I know it would be best if I had both but I need to start some where and the application of the mini-ex combined with a mower seems like it would help me the most on my own land to start off with.
The problem is that I have looked at so many minis and cutting head options that I have frankly entered analysis-paralysis :Banghead so I figured I would ask here and see if I can get someone with more experience to help guide me. I am in metro-Atlanta and would like to keep total expenses down under $30K as I do not expect to receive any income from this for quite a while as I get some experience under my belt.
I was thinking about using a mini with mower to take down the brush on the land I have - if I could take out up to 4 or 5 inches that would be ideal that seems to take me over my $30,000 goal to get a mini and head with enough hydraulic power to do 4 or 5 inches. I also need to take down some larger trees in the 10 inch range and dig up stumps for what I can't push over and need to chainsaw out of the way. There are a number of large stumps on the land already. Its been suggested that I could dig up a hole and bury the stumps easier with the mini-ex.
Anyway - I'm just trying to do as much research as I can right now before I commit to anything and try to avoid a costly mistake - so any advice on what brand/model excavator and mower has worked for you that I could get in to for under $30K total would be appreciated. If I cannot tow it on a If you are in the Atlanta-metro area - any recommendations on dealers and who is good to work with would be helpful.