Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 07:06:40 AM

Title: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 07:06:40 AM
Well, after 10+ years of living in our house, I finally want to dig out the pond some more.

Does any have a recommendation on where I can rent one for a descent price?  Looking at a full weekend I think.

Or anyone have access to one?
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Regalblue on March 04, 2013, 09:02:50 AM
I'm sitting in one right now.... They won't rent it out though.

If you don't know how to dig,  I can come help. ;)
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 09:06:06 AM
I'm sitting in one right now.... They won't rent it out though.

If you don't know how to dig,  I can come help. ;)

Never used one before... so, I may take you up on that offer.

Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Regalblue on March 04, 2013, 09:07:22 AM
Just try to get a two stick. The four sticks take more concentration. 
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Ron on March 04, 2013, 11:33:33 AM
Please post up your experiences with rental/operation/cost if you get one.
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Steve on March 04, 2013, 12:51:26 PM
Ken I would look at some of the local larger landscape companies if you have some local. Some of the larger ones usually have the small little backhoe's (the ones that are about the size of a bobcat but only with a backhoe shovel on it). And I bet you could probably end up paying less by just having them come out and dig for an hour or two rather than having to rent one and take a day or two renting, getting the feel for it, and transporting it.

Might end up being cheaper overall?
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 12:56:56 PM
I need a real backhoe, not the little hobby one.
 8)

I need one that has an arm reach of at least 12'.
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Regalblue on March 04, 2013, 01:08:56 PM
John Deere 310D ;)
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Steve on March 04, 2013, 01:31:38 PM
I need a real backhoe, not the little hobby one.
 8)

I need one that has an arm reach of at least 12'.


Sounds like you're building a lake then not a pond ;D LOL
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: mightieskeeper on March 04, 2013, 02:18:15 PM
Ken what you need is a full size drag.  A drag can dig a lot deeper and digs vertical not at an angle.  You could go 50' deep on your pond.  That would be an awesome pond.:)
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Regalblue on March 04, 2013, 02:25:04 PM
Here you go Ken......
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/Regalblue/20130304_142304.jpg)
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 02:29:59 PM
John Deere 310D ;)

Here you go Ken......
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/Regalblue/20130304_142304.jpg)




When are you coming over?
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 02:33:05 PM
Ken what you need is a full size drag.  A drag can dig a lot deeper and digs vertical not at an angle.  You could go 50' deep on your pond.  That would be an awesome pond.:)

But, I dont want it too vertical from what I am told... it will end up caving in.

Because my pond is completely water table based, it changes depths a LOT from spring to end of summer.  I am talking a difference of many feet.

It has been 20 feet deep, maybe a little more... and also as shallow as 4 feet when we had those near drought conditions.  Luckily it has never dried up.






An excavator would word too!
 8)
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Regalblue on March 04, 2013, 02:52:30 PM
John Deere 310D ;)

Here you go Ken......
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/Regalblue/20130304_142304.jpg)




When are you coming over?

Lol... Yeah I don't think anybody but you would be happy with the outcome from my bringing this beast over.
Hell,  I don't think I'd get halfway to you before getting pulled over. :P
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 02:55:48 PM
Where is your sense of adventure!
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Regalblue on March 04, 2013, 02:57:38 PM
Where is your sense of adventure!

Lol it'll be in jail with me.
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: mightieskeeper on March 04, 2013, 03:18:25 PM
Blair can you drive it up 23 to me! Lol.  We can bury things in the yard.
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Regalblue on March 04, 2013, 03:41:20 PM
Blair can you drive it up 23 to me! Lol.  We can bury things in the yard.
I bury enough "things"....
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 05:54:11 PM
Blair can you drive it up 23 to me! Lol.  We can bury things in the yard.
I bury enough "things"....

I dont want you to bury anything... UNBURY is all I need.

Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: Steve on March 04, 2013, 06:28:02 PM
So how big is the pond Ken? You already have it and are thinking of making it bigger? Sounds pretty cool lets hear more.
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: RichE on March 04, 2013, 08:11:56 PM
ok Kids, a backhoe is not what you want for this type of job.

You need to rent a excavator and if you rent it I will dig for you. I have experience using them and they are not hard to use but can scare the day lights out of you.

No one is going to rent one except a rental company and there is one on 22 mile rd in shelby twp, they will deliver and pick up, IIRC it would run around $500 for a weekend inc delivery

If you supply the Ice tea with lemon and lunch I will dig till I run out of fuel or daylight and even then there are flashlights

If you want I can look up what you are going to need

Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 10:52:07 PM
So how big is the pond Ken? You already have it and are thinking of making it bigger? Sounds pretty cool lets hear more.

I am horrible at this, but it is about 40'x20'?

I want at a minimum to just rejuvenate the pond.  Reshape the sides, get some crap weeds out and dig out the muck that has built up at the bottom. 

Ideally I want to make it more kidney shape also... which would also make it a little bigger.  Any depth gained would be a plus.
Title: Re: Backhoe rental?
Post by: four_by_ken on March 04, 2013, 10:54:57 PM
ok Kids, a backhoe is not what you want for this type of job.

You need to rent a excavator and if you rent it I will dig for you. I have experience using them and they are not hard to use but can scare the day lights out of you.

No one is going to rent one except a rental company and there is one on 22 mile rd in shelby twp, they will deliver and pick up, IIRC it would run around $500 for a weekend inc delivery

If you supply the Ice tea with lemon and lunch I will dig till I run out of fuel or daylight and even then there are flashlights

If you want I can look up what you are going to need

Excavators are even harder to find to "barrow" and even more expensive to rent.  But they do work the best.  That's what all the "pond companies" use.

But if one really is $500... I better start saving returnables!