if yer still looking for opinions here's mine..i'll try and spin this in a little different light....
project 101.....all projects can be broken down to scope, budget, time (and well, talent..).
limiting factors......of the above, which do you have the least of? the most of? which can you sacrifice the most? what skill levels relative to the project do you bring to the table? considering these things, detailed planning will dictate the path you take.
i had a defined scope in mind and tight schedule, which usually means high $$ to accomplish. recognizing i had limited skills on heavy equipment, i bid out my pond job and was blown away by the $$. $30k to over $50k to renovate an existing approx. 1 acre pond, but i didnt have to lift a finger except to write checks. so that blew the budget. next option, tweak the scope and schedule and rent for less. fortunately i have one particular friend who really wanted to help and nudged me into renting. because of my business, fortunately here again i was able to set up an account to rent from the big boys (holt of CA) who i realized could back up the maintenance and any issues w/ their equipment.
once the account was set up, a CAT 320C w/ 4 ft bucket and thumb, and a new CAT D4 were delivered to my property and we went to work.....my buddy on the track hoe and me on the dozer (after several hrs of training). i also hired a local dozer operator part time on the project who gave me a deal, he had little pond building experience but i had used him years before and knew i could work w/ him....this ended up being very fortunate for my situation because he could fix my mess as i had no finishing/grading skills on a dozer. so 1/2 day into the project the hydraulic ram on the track hoe died spewing hydraulic oil everywhere. this ended up being an $8500 repair fixed by holt w/ no questions asked and no charge to me. we were back up and running the next morning. the equipment costs went about $12k for 2.5 weeks of time on which 160 hrs was put on the track hoe. i dont think holt made much on the deal, but they are large enough to absorb such problems.
perhpas yer scope is broad, yer schedule is undefined, and you have lots of money. perhaps you are mechanically inclined and a good operator. than the story i just told means little to you. go buy the equipment and have a blast.
either way good luck and keep us posted on yer journey.
