[Hamons]

Breaking this thread apart to ease in readability. Original thread can be found here GTX will Guide MY hands!

What equipment should i look at for #1 digging the pond and #2 placing the rocks. Any machinery needed would be rental. Ideal would be one machine to do both tasks. Might need two seperate machines.

Digging the pond.

**** can do this by hand if needed.
**** pond will be approximately 8 sq feet and will be removing approximatly 8 yards of dirt.
**** ground will be somewhat frozen --so upper 6 - 10 inches will be harder to get throgh without machine work.
**** I have only dug ponds by hand - interested in experimenting in using a mini-ex or similar machine.

Placing boulders.

*** Expect largest boulder to be in the 2000 pound range.

*** Will have hillside to deal with.

Here are the options I see:

Option #1

Rent a small excavator for digging the pond and a larger skid steer for the boulder placement.

Option #2

Rent a skid steer with backhoe attachemnt

Option #3

Rent a large enough excavator to do both.


Ok guys -- set me straight -- which should I do? Although doing this on my own property -- trying to approach it as if I am doing a customers job.

[VoodooChile]

Hamons,
If the white stuff hasn't already covered the ground where you will excavate, put down straw and cover with black plastic to insulate the ground against temperature extremes, and to minimize the depth of frost. Cutting into virgin frozen ground won't be easy with the size equipment that will fit through that gate.

Sounds like a Mini-excavator will do the trick for roughing in boulders, and digging the pond. Not sure about getting a 1 ton boulder set on that hill...

The spoils would best be removed with a compact loader (Skid-ster won't fit, right?), although often times with ponds the spoils can be reused to add height to the falls...

How wide of a piece of equipment can you fit back there?

Good Luck!

[Hamons]

Since I will be taking out the gate area completely -- we can get almost any size back there -- up to 48" or so -- although I think maneuverrability will be an issue.

Had 10" of snow yesterday -- but got rid of it today with temps in the 50's.

All spoils will be disposed of on site.

[cutntrim]

Up here Bobcat mini-x rents for $200/day and Bobcat skidsteer for $150. Both would fit through your gate. Another option would be to sub the work to someone already equipped to do it, and with more experience operating the machines required. Likely you could dicker the price as they probably would not be too busy this time of year. You could do the hand-work yourself.

[Hamons]

I get both skidsteers and mini-ex's for about $200 -- a little more with all the taxes and insurance added on.

As far as subbing, since this on my own property, I am wantign to do it on my own. I have used a sub fro large boulder placement inthe past. but want to do it without a sub.

I am fairly well versed with a skidsteer. A mini-ex I have much more limited expereince with. Mostly in the sandbox as a kid and that was Tonka -- not Bobcat

Willa mini - x be able to place a s 1 ton stone? I don't think so. But -- i don't have the expereince to tell me.

I have never used backhoe attachment on a skidsteer -- do they work well. Do they have the cahones to lift a 2000# stone?

[VoodooChile]

You wouldn't necessarily have to lift the stone to place it. The mini-X could rough out the hole, the skid-ster push the boulder into the hole, and the mini-X move it around until it looks good.

I set a 1600# stone step at my new place with a Dingo that has a rated lift capacity of 550#... 1610# Stone vs. Man, Woman & Dingo

The trick would be working from the middle of the bed outwards. Have you given any thought to how the large boulders will get in the backyard?

[Hamons]

Alright -- I think I have a plan on equipment.

Plan on using a Bobcat 337 excavator witha thumb attachment.



rental will be $275. Will be able to dig pond, rough dig hillside and place boulders no problem.

[sleepy]

Thats going to be a fun unit to run!