[start2finish]

Well I have to finish my decision this weekend, I promised the salesman an answer Monday. We have shopped around and have it priced.

11900 lb rubber track excavator
20.5 ft reach
111120 bucket breakout
angle backfill blade

I am 90% on this purchase and probably will go ahead next week and take delivery
I am sure of a few things if we buy it, hydraulic thumb is a must
and we are buying 2 buckets, and quick coupler is free with 2 bucket purchase

considering a 12 inch trenching bucket for drain lines and stumping

not sure on 24 inch or 30 inch trenching bucket for burying tanks, digging retaining wall footers(extra 6 inches isn't going to kill me on stone cost), as well as general digging,

what are some thoughts on bucket size,

[start2finish]

Bump, come on guys..............

[start2finish]

I am surprised by not getting any input on this. Is everyone on vacation or Turkey hunting??

[capt_met]

i have the 24" and 13" buckets. that has worked well for me. almost wish i didn't have the 13. it really gets and stays packed with the clay. i would like to have a grading bucket as well that would finish the package for me.
good luck with your new machine

[start2finish]

we selected a 18'' as well as a 30'' bucket
and a hydraulic thumb and quick coupler for the buckets.

we have a demo machine with a 36'' bucket on it, the machine does surprisingly well with the big bucket, but the 30 will be more useful for more jobs. and the 18'' is for footings. Not our wall footings, but on construction sites, some of our contractor customers have expressed interest in having us dig their footers, we are looking into it and we will use the smaller bucket for stumping.