Recommendations Please for Caterpillar Excavator - Small Woodlot

Guys: Am going to expand a Christmas Tree Plantation on property that is wooded but has small boulders on it. Total work area is about 2.5 acres. The biggest boulders are about 3'across by 2 'depth and can easily fit into a 1 or 1.5 yard loader bucket.

I have developed trails for access with a tracked dozer. The cross section of the trails range between a minimum of 12'to about 25'wide.

Can you offer suggestions on a Cat Excavator that would do the trick to excavate the boulders. I really like the 225 and 325 machines but they are a little too big for the woodlot and would likely damage some of the trees I would prefer to preserve. Two caveats on the Excavator- I would prefer a steel track set up as opposed to a rubber track and am looking for something that is not brand new but can be maintained by myself.

I was looking at an old Insley HC-560 sized machine, but am concerned they are too old and parts may be difficult to find.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Thank -you!

Sounds like a 215 B,215C or 215D would do the job . They work well for me on similar Nj rocks in cramped spaces. Series D is the best, but hard to find. Best is the B or C series and they are more easily found in the PA/ NY area. Parts availability is fine. Bill

[quote="RPeck"]Guys: Am going to expand a Christmas Tree Plantation on property that is wooded but has small boulders on it. Total work area is about 2.5 acres. The biggest boulders are about 3'across by 2 'depth and can easily fit into a 1 or 1.5 yard loader bucket.

I have developed trails for access with a tracked dozer. The cross section of the trails range between a minimum of 12'to about 25'wide.

Can you offer suggestions on a Cat Excavator that would do the trick to excavate the boulders. I really like the 225 and 325 machines but they are a little too big for the woodlot and would likely damage some of the trees I would prefer to preserve. Two caveats on the Excavator- I would prefer a steel track set up as opposed to a rubber track and am looking for something that is not brand new but can be maintained by myself.

I was looking at an old Insley HC-560 sized machine, but am concerned they are too old and parts may be difficult to find.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Thank -you![/quote]

If I remember right some 308's have steel tracks. I think they weigh around 18k#. The 315 is a fair bit bigger but would work too. They are probably weighing around 25k#. These are later model machines since they have the 3 series designation. Cat website has useful dimensions and charts too