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Back Hoe vs Ditch Witch + $- a marital debate is flaming
QUESTION:The cited article asks for a comparision of DIY ditch witch vs. hiring a
backhoe at $30 an hour.
Well, I've done it both ways myself. I expected that the backhoe would just
zip along, but the way it turned out, it was really quite slow, and left
me with a considerable amount of shovel work covering the trench.
(If you're getting an inspection, chances are that the how is long gone.)
The ditch witch, on the other hand, zipped right along, and left me with
much less cleanup to do.
However, there are other issues. Ditch witches come in various forms.
I've used a self-propelled manually-guided unit and a crawler-mounted
unit. The only time I would ever use the former again would be on a deal-level
site with good soil and no corners. Otherwise, the crawler-mounted unit
is the way to go. Especially if your time is worth anything.
In my part of the country, the self-propelled ditch witch rents for about $175 a
day, while the crawler is $250. The crawler also needs a full-size truck
to move it, so that was another $50, for me. Backhoes start at $50 around here.
ANSWER: if that's all it takes the back hoe can break up and back fill as good as
the ditch witch. Also check on renting a termite..It is a very small
backhoe and rents here for 145$ a day comes with trailer to move it, but
then so does ditch witch. Must be different there. Used termite myself and
had so much fun with it am going to dig a storm shelter too... PS renting
equiptment over weekend is the cheapest time as contractors take weekends
off rental store closes sunday and get to use the machine for the whole
weekend usually for cost of one day. Ps if this would break up marriage
really, quite now and save headaches later, the partnership is already too
weak for what lies ahead.....I hope you were just kidding
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