Note that I have never owned a Skidsteer and I am looking for sound advice. Would an 863 be too large of a machine for Home use only? I have line on one for a really good price. Just do not want to buy one that is too large or too small.
An 863 would be rather big for most "home use" applications, but I don't know that you would consider it too big unless your scope of work required a small machine for compact spaces. It depends on what you're going to be doing with it.
My current task list includes removing top soil to widen and extend my drive ,then backfilling with base and 304, removing about 18" deep 30' X 10' area of topsoil at one end of the shop then back filling with fill, general drive upkeep, building a small horse barn in the future, cutting trials in the Woods for quads, snow plowing. Maybe even dig a pond. IA skidsteer is not the best for digging and is slow however I am not on clock with it. Its just hard to pass the machine up for $8000.00 delivered to my door.
In that case, I'd say I would rather have something the size of an 863 as opposed to smaller.