I have a Deere 60G, it’s a 14,500 lb machine that many in my business would see as too small but I like it a lot. Does a lot of work and gets around well.I've come to the conclusion I need to dig some small vernal ponds around the woods to provide water for the deer. Still seeing nothing and I've been through this before when it gets suddenly dry like this fall. Have three options, hire it out, rent an excavator and learn how to use it, buy an excavator and learn how to use it.
Anybody operate a small one, is it hard to learn?
Most of the smaller modern ones will have a pattern changer so you can switch between backhoe (or farmer) and excavator (or professional) controls. So if you’ve ever ran a backhoe you can jump right on.
Either way, you can probably jump right on.
I had demoed a Cat, Bobcat, and Deere excavators before I bought the Deere and I though it dug best but have had 2 Deere backhoes and 2 Cat and much prefer the Cat, for what it’s worth.