My wife and I are building a home on a very wooded lot. We want a piece of equipment to help, specifically the foundation, septic and burying the electric. Originally we wanted a tractor with loader and backhoe. Were getting conflicting stories of what we need. Any ideas or suggestions?

The subsoil and tree roots may cause a problem for the front end loader and backhoe. This equipment may not be suitable if there is a rocky plate, very large rocks and/or large root systems on the trees. Larger equipment may be required.

I can't think of only one piece of equipment to use, many situations are needed to be addressed, just as Mark referred to.

I would look at a loader/backhoe from Kabota, or John Deere, just to get the feel of prices and possible attachments/implements.

Also consider rental of specialized equipment,such as trenchers, larger backhoes, even bringing in an excavating company when needed for larger efforts.

Good luck,

Ken

The land is all forest that used to be owned by a lumber company. The soil is easy to dig and not rocky, there are however a lot of root systems. We had hoped to avoid as much large equipment as possible to refrain from damaging these systems, as there are big hardwoods everywhere.

I don't know your local, but you need to think about your state and local building codes, give for one ( in tenn. They have to come out and do what is called PERK the ground for a septic tank system, also a licensed contractor has to put the system in and inspected before covering, but CHEC YOUR STATE AND LOCAL CODES FOR ALL PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION< EVEN THE ELECTRICAL ,etc.ect. Better now then latter. Good luck .;;;; F.B.E.

Good ideas

We have had the perk and septic designed, here it does have to be done by someone qualified. And inspected as you said. Here, codes are the same basic ones used on the east coast. You are allowed to do the work, yourself, or someone licensed, no one else. Well have someone else do the well, septic, and probably the foundation. The rest is up to us. We'll need this forum plenty!

Pdoubleu::- WE all invite you back anytime you need and one of us will try to lead you the right way, may even be several get in on the answers.:::: Have a good day and GOD Bless ::: F.B.E. P.S. You could get what is a "bobcat" Or a small tractor with blad and like a back hoe on it. To use on the terrain around where you are going to build.I would try to get as much of the roots out of the yard area that you can ,if not they will probley cause uyou a lot of trouble latter on . :::

For most of what you want to do a small hi-hoe would be the way to go. The main issue you will find is that roots are worse than rocks when it comes to digging. Most of the damage you do to the trees will be from cutting those roots when you dig. Considering what you are doing, hire an excavator to come in and do the digging. Their experience with such will pay off many fold rather than you trying to do it yourself. As for back filling then, yes a kubota or bob cat will do.

Very true

Originally(not long ago), I wouldn't have understood. Now that we've done light excavating( for the driveway), and chose the house site, I see what you mean. Just by what we've done so far, and looking at what is to come, I think experience is crucial to what we want in the end. Instead of huge trees to cut down(as few as possible), I see their enormous root structure. We did start looking at kubota, the L3400, for cuboid. Nothing major. Would this be sufficient?

Only for backfilling, it's still half the size it needs to be for digging through roots. In this situation you should be looking at some in the order of a Case 580 or better.