Heavy Equipment Cleanouts: Backhoes, Skid-Steers, and Farm Machinery Removal in 2025
Getting Rid of Heavy Equipment the Right Way
We've hauled a lot of things since 2003, but 2025 has brought us some of the biggest, heaviest jobs we've ever tackled. Farmers retiring, construction companies upgrading fleets, contractors consolidating equipment—they all have one thing in common: they need someone who can actually handle moving massive machinery without destroying property or wasting time.
That's where we come in. Let's talk about what we've been moving and why heavy equipment removal is more complicated than backing up a truck and loading up.
The Big Three: What We Move Most
Backhoes and Excavators
Backhoes are workhorses, but when they're done working, they become multi-ton headaches. We've removed everything from compact backhoes that barely fit through gate openings to full-size excavators that required coordination with specialized transport.
The challenge isn't just weight—it's logistics. Dead batteries, flat tires, hydraulic failures. Most of the backhoes we pick up haven't run in years. We bring the right equipment and the experience to move them safely, whether they roll or need to be dragged.
Skid-Steers and Loaders
Skid-steers are deceptively heavy for their size. A typical skid-steer weighs 3,000-10,000 pounds depending on the model. We've pulled these from barns, behind sheds, and from properties where they've been sitting so long the owner forgot they owned one.
In 2025 alone, we've handled dozens of skid-steer removals from:
- Construction sites phasing out older models
- Landscaping companies that went out of business
- Property owners who inherited equipment they'll never use
Farm Machinery and Tractors
This is where things get really interesting. Old tractors, combines, hay balers, and implements can weigh anywhere from a few thousand to over 20,000 pounds. We've cleared entire equipment graveyards from family farms where three generations of machinery sat rusting in the back forty.
Farm equipment removal requires understanding what we're dealing with. Some pieces have salvage value. Others are genuine scrap. We help owners figure out the difference and handle disposal the right way—recycling metal when possible, properly managing fluids and hazardous materials, and ensuring nothing ends up in a landfill that shouldn't be there.
Why Heavy Equipment Removal Is Different
You can't handle this stuff like furniture. Here's what actually goes into these jobs:
Site Assessment We scout the location first. How do we access the equipment? What's the ground condition? Are there overhead lines, tight squeezes, or weight-bearing concerns?
Proper Equipment We bring heavy-duty trailers, winches, chains, and sometimes coordinate with rigging specialists. The right tools prevent property damage and keep everyone safe.
Environmental Compliance Old equipment often contains fluids—diesel, hydraulic oil, coolant. We drain and dispose of these properly. It's not optional, and it's not something to cut corners on.
Disposal or Recycling Most heavy equipment is mostly steel, which means it has scrap value. We work with metal recyclers to ensure these machines get broken down and repurposed rather than abandoned.
What 2025 Has Taught Us
This year we've seen a real uptick in agricultural equipment removal. Family farms are consolidating, and the older generation is retiring. That means decades of accumulated machinery needs to go somewhere.
We've also handled more construction equipment than usual as companies upgrade to newer, more fuel-efficient models. The old stuff still works, but it doesn't make financial sense to keep running it.
The common thread? Nobody wants to deal with this themselves. And honestly, they shouldn't have to. Moving a 15,000-pound piece of equipment off your property requires insurance, experience, and equipment most people don't have access to.
FAQ
Do you buy the equipment or just remove it? We're a removal service, not buyers. But if your equipment has significant scrap value, we factor that into pricing. Sometimes removals cost very little because of the metal value.
How much does heavy equipment removal cost? It varies based on size, weight, location, and accessibility. A small skid-steer in an open area is different from a buried backhoe in a tight backyard. We provide quotes based on the actual situation.
Can you remove equipment that doesn't run? Absolutely. Most of what we move doesn't run. We come prepared for that.
How quickly can you handle a removal? Depends on the job complexity, but we move fast. Many jobs get scheduled within days, and we complete them in a single visit.
Ready to Clear That Equipment?
If you've got a backhoe gathering rust, a skid-steer taking up space, or farm machinery you need gone, we've handled bigger. Since 2003, we've built our reputation on tackling the jobs others won't touch.
Get an instant AI quote on our website right now. Tell us what you've got and where it's sitting, and we'll tell you exactly what it takes to make it disappear. No hassle, no runaround—just straight answers and professional service.