Appreciation post: picked a smaller cutterhead dredge over a big one for a tight creek job

Had to choose between our big 14-inch Ellicott and a compact 8-inch Mud Cat for cleaning out a narrow channel near the old mill pond. Went with the smaller rig because of the sharp bends and low bridges, and it saved me three days of rework on the bank slopes. Anyone else ever downsize equipment and have it work out better than you expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

max2238d ago

That part about the sharp bends and low bridges is exactly why I swapped a full-size excavator for a mini on a creek cleanup last year. The smaller machine squeezed right through and didn't tear up the banks like the big one would have.

jamesf298d ago

That's a solid lesson right there. A mini can get into spots where a full-size just flat out can't go without causing trouble. Did you size up on the thumb or bucket at all to make up for the smaller machine?

max2238d ago

...and on top of that, the mini didn't leave those deep ruts in the mud that just make everything worse. I had a job last fall clearing out a culvert that had a real tight turn right before it. Full size would have had to come in from the other side or climb over a berm, but my little machine just walked right in and scooped the whole mess out in like an hour. Plus you don't have to worry about ripping up the homeowner's yard or blocking the whole road just to get set up. Sometimes bigger just means more headaches.