RE: SB: Question about excavations

[jmark.vanscoter@amd.com]

Sorry for not making it clearer, but what I was trying to say is that the ability to dig is dependent on the type of soil. The Bobcat dig loose stuff very well, but it does nothing for our sticky clay mud around here.

Mark  V.S. in Austin, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: VanScoter, JMark 

Twice I have rented either a Bobcat or a big Gehl skid-steer loader. I could EASILY move piles of dirt, piles of gravel and anything that sat on the ground. I COULD NOT dig with it at all. I had the toothed bucket, tried every technique, and failed. Was later told (sarcastically) that they are called "loaders", not diggers.

For real digging, I would rent a backhoe or a tracked Bobcat mini-excavator. 

BTW, 4500# is just over 1 cu. yd of dirt. Any excavation worth talking about will be many, many cu. yds. of dirt. Loading your truck is not a very efficient way to do it.

Based on my experience, I would consider renting a Case (or equivalent) tractor backhoe. They did very well, and the bucket is large enough to move lots of dirt.

-----Original Message-----
From: Marcus Hardwick [mailto:marcus1@sonic.net]

Kirk,