Hi all, I am looking to open a second compost site with a larger machine than what I use now. Currently I use a JD CT 332 which is a compact track machine. Very powerful, with a 2 yard bucket on it. I can turn a 70 ft long windrow in about an hour. I'd like to upgrade to a wheel loader with a 4 yard bucket at least OR an excavator with the bucket turned the other way around for scooping.
Imagine that each windrow of compost is about 18 ft wide, 6 ft tall and 70 ft long. There are about 8 of these windrows all next to each other, parallel. You have about 1000 cubic yards in total. When its time to turn all the windrows, you start at the last windrow and put it into a large storage pile (because its finished). You then move on to the 2nd to last windrow which goes onto the empty slot where the last windrow was. The 3rd to last windrow goes where the 2nd to last windrow was, and so on...
I could see an excavator being able to start in between a pile and an empty slot, then just scoop, swivel and dump. This seems faster than using a wheel loader. Plus easier on the ground because of less driving. However my gut tells me that a wheel loader is still the right choice.
A few concerns...
-I will have difficulty scooping the bottom of the windrow that is near the ground. I will end up scooping up dirt which overtime could ruin the grade of the site.
-For the price of a used wheel loader with a 4yd bucket (50k?), can I find an excavator with a bucket big enough to be faster than that wheel loader?
-Mud, I need to operate year round. How will a wheel loader do on soft ground? Its not clays like in the south east, i'm in new england and this ground is fill that has been compacted.
Compost can be up to 1500lbs per yard FYI.
Thanks all