Matthew Storrs

If your towing a fairly heavy trailer and try to turn gradually by applying more pressure to one track than the other, I found the dominant track tended to spin out a bit. Don't get me wrong, they are more than capable of towing a decent load behind but don't expect it to be quite as smooth and flowing as it would be behind a tractor. A single axle trailer would be considerably better than a double axle mind you.

Anything is possible with a digger- you just need to be creative:laugh1:

3 tonner will easily lift half a ton of logs- I picked up a full dumpy bag 850kg of gravel with mine today and it didn't seem to struggle. Reference towing a trailer- on the back of this thread I bolted a tow ball to the dozer blade last week. I have been towing an I for flatbed with a bundle of fencing stakes accross fields no problem, turning whilst towing isn't great so its best to travel in a series of straight lines, turn on the spot then head off on the new line. I have this idea of towing an I for 8x5 tipper which I could load with soil/stones/timber and then use the auxiliary hydraulics on the digger arm to tip it. Needs a bit of thinking over but could be a handy setup for some jobs.

I agree it'd be nice to just load everything onto a truck without having to worry (if you do!) about every kilogram to stay legal. However aside from not having a 7.5tonner license I use the landrover and trailer route for simple reason that I usually (being a fencing contractor) require the 4x4 ability of the landrover once the digger has been unloaded. The landrover (hi-cap) can ferry attachments across fields with all my tools and rolls of wire etc. I think, although wouldn't like to be weighed, that I am legal with my Takeuchi tb125 (2.8t) on the smallest stripped down 3500kg flatbed that Ifor do with around 400-500kg worth of buckets and attachments actually in the bed of the landy- this provides IMO critical ballast in the landy which prevents it being bossed down hills or maintains traction when going up steep hills The setup isn't ideal, but it works and must be the cheapest way to move the digger around, even if the clutch and transmission requires rebuilding from time to time- fortunately not happened yet!

And that's the key, attachments are reletively cheap and the more you have the more work you'll get for your machine. Unless your a ground works company or builder then you have to do a hell of a lot of just digging with a bucket to make the machine worhwhile over hiring. But throw in a select few decent attachments and it opens up the machine to all sorts of possibilities.

The trouble is any machine with any real clout becomes a pain in the backside to transport. Sub 3 tonners are great for their size but unless your in a garden or some other confined space then it usually comes down to the bigger the better. That said, the operator makes the machine- a 1.5 ton with a skilled operator is far more capable than a 3.5ton with someone who hasn't a clue.

I used to have a Takeuchi TB016 (1.7ton) and I was always well impressed with the power for a small machine. However the 2.8t Takeuchi I have replaced it with is a different kettle of fish, stability is so much improved, and I move rocks with it that you wouldn't believe. Its great on multi day or week jobs where you can leave it on site but I do miss my old 1.7t digger for the day/half day jobs as its so easy to tow around. I used to tow it on a trailer with all the fencing attachments and up to 200 meters of stock fencing materials plus tools and still be comfortably under the weight limit. If I was you id look at the sort of jobs you and base the size on that, if its just going to be used for tittervating around gardens then sub 2 tonne will do most you ask of it and be conveniant too. If you do more countryside based-go as big as you can realistically.

What sort of money are the Avants? Iv often thought about fitting a hedge trimmer/cutter bar to my digger Hedge Trimmers - hedge trimmer attachments, excavator mounted hedge trimmers, hydraulic hedge trimmer attachments

3t digger is too heavy for a landrover, 2.8t can just be moved legally with the right trailer combination and the buckets in the landrover, if I was buying again (which I haven t ruled out!) I think I would look at the kubota kx61-3 which weighs 2.6t and packs a worthwhile punch yet allows it to be towed easier and allows leeway for buckets and mud in the tracks. Another thing is you will probably get asked to do far more jobs if you have a digger than a compact tractor/loader. I'm always getting asked to do a bit of clearance or drainage or whatever with mine, particularly regrading/resurfacing tracks and public footpaths. 1.5t mini diggers are good too if you get the right machine. But really their appeal comes down to the fact that they are so easy to transport. (Although ideal for small gateways etc too)

I'm also in the 3 ton digger camp- the sheer versatility of them makes it a no-brainer, I pretty much run my whole business off mine, I use it with a grapple, a post driver and a hydraulic auger attachments and I get a lot of jobs that a lot of people don't want to do because they don't have the right kit or hiring it would price them out. I do stone walling/fencing/ scrub clearance/ditching all with just one machine, and it does them well too. You've just have to be a bit clever about it on domestic lawns ie put boards down, avoid spinning on the spot etc. Also what are you going to be towing it with? Mine weighs 2.8t and I have up to 500kg of attachments in the back of the landrover!

Had a few snakes in the past, a corn snake (lovely little guy) a boa constrictor which used to watch TV with me and the most beautiful snake I had was a jungle carpet python,, when it had shed its skin it was the most vibrant black and yellow- she was a bit fiesty tho! Never had any lizards, I'm sure your boy will have a lot of fun with that cresty, its great fun setting up their tanks and watching them utilize it.

Of course the beauty of a compact tractor is you can pull one to site on a trailer with a few attachments too. What's the biggest 'compact' tractor? Anything up to 50hp I suppose?

Nice one, well done! Are you keeping the Landy too?

Are you definiatly decided on a compact tractor as opposed to a small 'proper' sized tractor, might give you more scope for attachments further down the line and you will get more tractor for your money. 7k will get you a fairly decent case/same/zetor.

You got a new pickup Beau? Which did you go for?

Tirfor should do that fine- you could always back it It up with your RB too.

Best idea ever:thumbup1: definitely try that one next time!

Do they not clip the wings?

Shame for the hen, but really not your problem either, if you choose to have hens then its entirely the owners resposibilty to prevent them straying, or accept the consequences. Sounds like it'd be kinder to put it out of its misery sooner rather than later.

Yes that was the other problem I had- particularly with 7ft strainers I found it a bit of a faff getting the digger in the right position as the working range was very small. I think the one I had had the 100kg weight on it, which could knock most posts up to 5-6inch diameter, it could do bigger but depended on how good the soil was. I used to pre drill any large strainers with a hydraulic 4inch auger beforehand- the strainers then drove pretty quick and straight after that.

I had a pro tech p10 like wainys, I just couldn't get on with it, with the leg up it was wobbly and very bouncy. With the leg down it was really a two man job to make sure the mast was verticallly parrelel with the post. I also found it too heavy on a 1.5digger on slopes. I don't mean to keep prattling on about my one I converted but I find it totally stable and easy to use, and there is no bouncing as the weight of the driver is supported by the post. Mini Excavator Post Driver These are the best manufactured post drivers to go on diggers IMO

Sounds like your probably better off sticking with the smaller digger.I must admit being able to take a digger and tipping trailer to a job in one go plus any attachments other small machines would be a real winner at times. I used to get my takeuchi tb016 (with grab) and a 6" tracked timberwolf on a 10ft I for flatbed and take that to the job in one go. It was bang on 3500kg but saved a lot of hassle at times.

280k is good going for any 2.5liter engine, I'm sure it comes down to maintenance like anything else. Farmers like land rovers because they are basically built for farm work, I know a few farmers who have land rovers for farm use and a posh jap pickup for road use- horses for courses.

I have one I converted from a tractor mounted one, basically a 6ft mast with a post cap, the post cap only travels 6 inches up the mast before a set of chains anchoring the cap to the bottom of the mast go tight- this gives me the ability to press down on the post with the digger at the same time as hammering which makes it more effective. Look up the vector mini digger post driver - mine is very similar. If I had to choose between my digger or tractor one I think I'd go with the digger for sheer versatily, it also uses considerably less diesel, is quicker at knocking in intermediate stakes (slower on strainers tho) and has the ability to track over boggy ground which I do alot of. There is a certain technique to be mastered but once you have the knack you'll be unstoppable. Vector say there one will fit a 3 ton digger fine, it is 415kg with a 200kg weight so you'll have to be carefully on steep ground- or you could get a smaller weight put on it or even counterweight the digger if stability is an issue.

Been down that road myself, I had a 1.6t takeuchi, I thought I'd buy a brand new tb219 at the last moment I pulled out and went for the 2.8ton takeuchi tb125, yes its 3.5ton without mud in the tracks on a trailer and can be a bit of a drag to move around but when I think back to most of the jobs I have done with it since having it I would really struggle with a smaller machine now.