November 1, 2023

Skid Loader & Mini-Excavator vs Backhoe Loader

Backhoe, backhoe loader, Backhoe Loaders, CASE, CASE Construction Equipment, case skid steer loaders, Compact Track Loader, construction equipment, Mini Excavator, skid loader, Skid Steer Loader

Contractors Machinery

Skid Loader & Mini Excavator vs Backhoe Loader – Which is Right for You?

If you’ve got a big job to do, choosing the right equipment is critical. The Skid Loader/Mini-Excavator Combo vs. the Backhoe Loader has been a major change in the construction industry over the last 10 years. They both have advantages and are designed to for a multitude of tasks. Make sure you use the correct one; it will save hours…if not days…of frustration!

Backhoe Loader – Larger, with great excavation capability

CASE Backhoe Loader

Versatility is a primary advantage of the backhoe loader. Not only is it capable of driving across large jobsites and the road at speeds exceeding 20 mph the backhoe side of the machine is a powerful, deep digging excavator. The backhoe provides greater reach and digging depth than most mini excavators. Digging 15’ trenches, basements, foundations…? The backhoe loader is capable of these tasks.

The backhoe loader is not only for the use of excavation, however. The front of the machine contains a loader designed for loading, transporting, and dumping construction materials. Overall, it has greater capacity to handle heavy loads than the skid loader.

Although there are some distinct advantages to choosing the backhoe, one disadvantage is its size. It was created for major lifting and excavation; if the site demands navigating tight spaces, the skid loader/mini excavator may be the better choice.

Compact Track Loader/Skid-Steer Loaders & Mini Excavator – Smaller, with greater maneuverability

CASE Compact Track Loader or Skid Steer Loader

Obviously, with two pieces of equipment owners can have multiple jobs taking place at the same time with two operators. The CTL and Mini-Excavator markets are the largest unit volume markets in the construction equipment industry.

Referred to as Compact Track Loaders or skid-steer loaders, the skid loader has a unique design. The frame is rigid and contains either wheels or tracks. These simply skid on one side while the other side is locked in place, allowing the driver to turn to the right or the left with great agility.

A smaller machine than the backhoe, the skid loader has the capabilities to also lift and perform most loader excavation jobs. This machine contains a quick-attach system for the ease of adding buckets, trenchers, grapples, forks, sweepers. It’s a versatile machine, excellent for smaller excavation and lighter loading jobs. Coupled with a mini excavator for trenching work this is a hard combo to beat.

CMI-Case prides itself in providing the perfect machine for every job! If you have any additional questions about which is best for you, see a CMI dealer today and rest assured you will make the best choice for the construction task at hand.

Contractors Heavy Equipment

April 8, 2022

What’s What in the World of Construction Equipment

Backhoe, Backhoe Loaders, Bulldozer, CASE, CASE Construction Equipment, case skid steer loaders, Compact Track Loader, compact utility loaders, Compact Wheel Loader, Compactor, construction equipment, Contractor's Machinery, Crawler Dozers, Excavators, heavy duty construction, heavy duty equipment, Heavy Equipment, Wheel Loader

Emily Bieger

It’s spring, and you can hear the engines starting to rev! Construction equipment is in high demand, as building continues to soar throughout the nation! Before you make the substantial investment in heavy machinery, make sure you have the right equipment for your job.

Excavators: Used for digging, demolition, handling materials, trenching, earthmoving…the excavator uses a boom, dipper, bucket, and attachments for a broad range of uses. Excavators come in a range of sizes, 4,000 lbs. to 158,000 lbs. Mini-Excavators are second only to CTL’s as the most popular Case machine in East Tennessee.

Backhoe/Loaders: The Swiss Army Knife of construction equipment and CASE’s flagship product. Utilized for excavation, material handling, demolition, and landscaping, the backhoe has both a front-facing loader bucket or blade and a rear-facing backhoe with bucket.

Bulldozers: Utilized to clear, dig, and level land. The dozer has metal tracks and a 4 or 6-Way blade that pushes earth, sand, brush, and debris.

Wheel Loaders: Utilized for material handling on concrete, asphalt, gravel, or dirt with a large front-end loader bucket. Wheel Loaders articulate in the middle and offer higher speeds for large jobsite material handling.

Compact Track Loaders: CTL’s are the most sold type of construction equipment on the market today. Extremely versatile rubber track machines utilized on nearly every construction project in East TN. Multitude of attachments are available for every task including buckets, trenchers, mulching heads, forks, brush cutters hammers, dozer blades and more. Although they look like skid steers, they generally have more horsepower and can carry heavier loads.

Skid Steers: Like the CTL but wheeled for use on concrete and asphalt, these also are available with multitude of attachments. The consensus is that tires hold up longer and are far smoother riding on hard surfaces.

Blake Wilson, general manager at Contractor’s Machinery Inc. (CMI), says the most important factor to consider when buying heavy equipment is the type of work you are planning to pursue and what you are looking for from your equipment dealer. Since 1971 CMI has been keeping contractors working in East Tennessee.

Before you make any large machinery purchases, be sure to visit our CASE Equipment page. Review the extensive list of equipment available and talk to a CMI-Case representative! CMI wants this decision to be the very best for you and your business!

Landscaping Equipment

April 29, 2021

Top Landscaping Trends for 2021

case skid steer loaders, Compact Track Loader, landscape, landscape construction, landscape equipment, landscape industry, landscaping business, landscaping trends, Toro Dingo compact utility loaders, Toro Dingo TXL 2000

Emily Bieger

Customers don’t want “WOW!” these days as much as they want, “Ahhhhh.” Think less Disney floral gardens and more Natural Tranquility Spa

Staying current with the trends is key to the landscaping business, and we want to supply you with all the keys to success. Here we have compiled some of the top trends in landscaping for the upcoming year and Toro/CASE supplies all the right machines to get it done in 2021!

The endless days of sculpting and weeding are long gone in the landscaping industry. The homeowner wants to be able to open his backdoor and say, “ahhhhhh,” like he has stepped into a weeklong vacation. Today’s customer wants eco-friendly, natural, and low-maintenance…and this means the right Toro/CASE excavation tools to get the job done!

Five landscaping trends that achieve the “ahhhh” factor:

Eco-friendly – There is respect for our natural environment today more than ever before.Customers want garden plants to blend together to form unique transitions in textures and color. Although the landscape can often take tremendous landscaping labor, the end result should incorporate native grasses, plants and shrubs to produce a serene environment that no one would ever suspect didn’t happen naturally. A great attachment for your hard-working CASE skid steer loader or CASE compact track loader is our mulcher. Mulch will reduce the amount of water that evaporates from your soil and adds in texture.
Strategically irrigated – In order for that landscape to look effortless (and BE effortless to maintain), irrigation is everything.Although sprinkler systems are still often necessary, natural water supply is much preferred.A pond or a slowly-trickling waterfall adds a perfect touch to the desired spa-like surroundings. And a carefully-planned footprint of water flow will provide not only natural beauty, but practical irrigation as well.
Rocks – They are integral in proper irrigation and very appropriate in this trend ofa la naturale! Don’t remove those big boulders…relocate them to showcase a natural transition in your landscape. Do you have huge boulders piling up because of your recent excavation? Put the Toro TXL 2000 to good use and add them to your breathtaking botanical setting!
Native plants – Texture is as critical as color (think tapestry over grandma’s afghan). Gradual transitions of shades of color and intermittent perennials are popular, as opposed to past harsh lines of separation between beds of plants.
Edible – An increased respect for our environment means land that will yield a crop! Raised gardens are ALL the rage right now, and homeowners are putting them EVERYWHERE, and they’re even popping up in some business office courtyards! A natural, mature landscape is the perfect location to place a raised vegetable garden or even a fruit bush or tree! If placed correctly, these plants should thrive and stick around for future generations.

Enjoy the “Spa” life and let Toro/CASE do the heavy work for you!

Excavation and trench safety tips and best equipment for the job

Contractors Heavy Equipment Landscaping Equipment

January 29, 2021

Excavation and Trench Safety

case full size excavators, case midi-excavators, case mini excavators, case skid steer loaders, CASE trench equipment, excavation safety, Heavy Equipment, landscape equipment, Toro trench equipment, toro walk-behind trenchers, trench safety

Contractors Machinery

Trench fatalities and injuries pose serious risk in construction, so trench safety must be a top-priority at any jobsite. Statistics from the Bureau of Labor show that an average of 25 workers are tragically killed in trench-related accidents each year, with cave-ins being responsible for 75% of these unfortunate, but preventable deaths. Trench collapses cause hundreds of worker injuries each year, all equally preventable.

With our Contractor’s Machinery, Inc. CASE and TORO trench equipment, you can avoid the dangers of collapses and other trench-related worksite incidents.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), here are some other proven and effective ways of preventing hazards during trench and excavation related work:

Slope it: Sloping and benching – Slope or bench trench walls by cutting back the wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation. With this protective system, workers can prevent a cave-in and save lives.
Shore it: Hydraulic Shoring – Shore trench walls by installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement or cave-in.
Shield it: Protective Shielding – Shield trench walls by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins.

Designing a protective system like the suggestions listed above can be complex because you must consider many factors: soil classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, changes in weather or climate, surcharge loads and other operations in the area. If you have any questions about any of our products and what equipment is best to maintain trench safety, feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to help!

Recommended CASE and TORO equipment for excavation and trench projects:

CASE SKID STEER LOADERS

CASE skid steers have powered jobsites throughout the world for more than 50 years. Always intuitive. Always easy to operate. Control options, lift geometries, size classes and horsepower ranges for every type of owner and application. From simple to fully loaded, CASE is your home for skid steer loaders.

TORO WALK-BEHIND TRENCHERS

Toro TRX walk-behind trenchers are now more efficient and powerful than ever. We’ve improved our lineup with two new models that combine the groundbreaking maneuverability the TRX walk-behind trencher is known for with even better performance and serviceability.

CASE MINI EXCAVATORS

CASE mini excavators are the most operator-friendly with a lineup of seven Tier 4 Final models that range from 1.7 to 7 metric tons.

CASE MIDI-EXCAVATORS

The optimized system on these smaller but mighty midi excavators produces 9% more hydraulic power and 3% more breakout force than previous generations. Better digging power and superior responsiveness.

CASE FULL SIZE EXCAVATORS

Powered by a Tier 4 Final engine, CASE full size excavators provide up to 8% better fuel efficiency. A rugged new arm design and the new electronically controlled hydraulic pump help increase cycle times by as much as 12% and deliver up to 6% greater breakout force. Even the undercarriage is tougher, and the redesigned cab offers adjustable comfort like never before. Whether your business is pipeline construction, aggregate production or road building, the CASE D Series Excavator sets a new standard for performance and profitability.

Material Handler and Larger sizes available up to 178,000 lb.

Digging one of these for your next project? Request a free quote.

	Knoxville 865-982-6452	Tri-Cities 423-975-9111

	Parts & Service M-F 7am-5pm	M-F 8am-5pm

	Sales blake@cmicase.com Service eric@cmicase.com

Skid Loader & Mini Excavator vs Backhoe Loader – Which is Right for You?

Backhoe Loader – Larger, with great excavation capability

Compact Track Loader/Skid-Steer Loaders & Mini Excavator – Smaller, with greater maneuverability

Customers don’t want “WOW!” these days as much as they want, “Ahhhhh.” Think less Disney floral gardens and more Natural Tranquility Spa

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