Backhoe Uses for a Backhoe

[JoelD]

I can't live without it.

Here's my uses:
- Digging out small trees and stumps
- Digging out about 100 billion rocks so far (I think I'll be selling rocks on craig's list)
- Counter weight for loader and traction
- Lifting trees for cutting (with thumb)
- Building rock walls (with thumb)
- Digging trenches for retaining walls
- Digging trenches for gutter drains
- Loading stuff into and out of trailer and truck (with thumb)
- Ripping out budies retaining wall
- Pulling tractor out of mud
- Dug spot for budies shed
- If my arms were long enough I'd use it to scratch my butt and pick my nose.

When buying new or used (I purchased tlb used), you don't need to spend a fortune. Well worth the money and I bet in the end you don't loose all that much and maybe gain a little on resale, super easy to resell a TLB.

Mine is frame mount, 5-10 minutes off and 10-15 minutes on. I really like frame mount, super strong and tight against the machine.

Joel

 

[HenRut]

Great comment about subframe mount vs 3pt. Is it possible to have a subframe mount for tractor that also works with a front mount track loader (or skid steer) with same ease on and off?

 

[Mark_in_NH]

thanks HR3, guess it is like a FEL, you never knew what you would use it for until you have one, then you can't live without it.

It is clear that from some of the posts, that there are a lot of guys who do seem to use their backhoes frequently. I am sure that the larger the acreage one owns, the more uses one can find for a backhoe.
I own a mere 2.5 acres and the uses / projects I currently have for a backhoe could be easily accomplished in 1 good days work. Therefore it just doesn't make good financial sense for someone like me to own a backhoe. I will just go rent one when I am ready. $200 vs $7000 It is a pretty easy and intelligant decision to make. "my opinion only".
If you have alot of use's and needs for one and have $7000 sitting around, then absolutly, go for it. My thinking is, and this comes form from growing up on a small farm where everything was owned for a good solid need and reason. Equipment & tools was purchased and owned for work ! not as toys. Animals were purchased and raised for food! not as pets. So, that said
If a person has a need for a tool "of any kind" and will use that tool enough to justify the cost of it, then most times it makes sense to own the tool. If a person just want the tool to satisfy their dreams or testosterone and needs to dream up uses for it, or projects that they could maybe do with it someday in order to justify the expense. Then that person is not spending their money intelligantly. "Again, my opinion only"
Me ! I can easily live without one. I would prefer to use the $$ saved, to keep my mortgage paid ! Would I like to own one ? Yes !!!
I would also like to own a nice Utility Vehicle and nice cab for my NH and lots of other cool toys. Like maybe a seperate Tractor for each implement.
There, I have expressed my opinion on the matter twice now. So now I will shut up

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

It is clear that from some of the posts, that there are a lot of guys who do seem to use their backhoes frequently. I am sure that the larger the acreage one owns, the more uses one can find for a backhoe.
I own a mere 2.5 acres and the uses / projects I currently have for a backhoe could be easily accomplished in 1 good days work. Therefore it just doesn't make good financial sense for someone like me to own a backhoe. I will just go rent one when I am ready. $200 vs $7000 It is a pretty easy and intelligant decision to make. "my opinion only".
If you have alot of use's and needs for one and have $7000 sitting around, then absolutly, go for it. My thinking is, and this comes form from growing up on a small farm where everything was owned for a good solid need and reason. Equipment & tools was purchased and owned for work ! not as toys. Animals were purchased and raised for food! not as pets. So, that said
If a person has a need for a tool "of any kind" and will use that tool enough to justify the cost of it, then most times it makes sense to own the tool. If a person just want the tool to satisfy their dreams or testosterone and needs to dream up uses for it, or projects that they could maybe do with it someday in order to justify the expense. Then that person is not spending their money intelligantly. "Again, my opinion only"
Me ! I can easily live without one. I would prefer to use the $$ saved, to keep my mortgage paid ! Would I like to own one ? Yes !!!
I would also like to own a nice Utility Vehicle and nice cab for my NH and lots of other cool toys. Like maybe a seperate Tractor for each implement.
There, I have expressed my opinion on the matter twice now. So now I will shut up

I had a backhoe on my last tractor and for what I was doing used it a great deal. I am not planning on putting a BH on my next tractor as my needs will not be the same. If I get the itch to dig some holes I will rent. I did have fun with mine however!

 

[Train]

Mine is an old " really old " Case backhoe that I got for 2500 dollars. Used it mostly for putting in water lines. We're in a pretty cold region so the lines generaly go down 8 feet to avoid freezing in winter. Future projects include, a large pond, a root cellar, basement for an addition.

Here's the big advantage to having your own. You start a project and something comes up. The weather turns bad, the neighbors calls and needs a hand, your called to a family emergency, whatever. You get off the machine, take care of whatever, and go back to your digging on YOUR time.

We hired a backhoe with operator to find an old water line that was leaking and the guy hooked some lines that WERN'T leaking. Not anyones fault as it's an old place and no way to locate the lines ahead of time. But now your wasting an hour fixing that stuff while he's sitting there and the meters running. I've rented a skidsteer too, and had to hurry and get it ready for pickup because it was booked out for the next day by someone else.

Your get the idea. The best laid plans!

 

[ChuckinNH]

Other than the obvious uses of digging holes, and trenches, I found mine useful to do a few other things. They are great, especially with a thumb for moving, and turning things so that you can more easily get at them, or sometimes stacking things like smaller logs. They aren't great for moving things to another place though. Working on my trails in the woods I find I miss the little one I had when a downed section of tree is parallel with the trail, but not handy to get at, or if I have to cut into a sloped area to make the trail a bit more level. Of course I keep running into stumps in places I really wish they weren't too. Still, by adding forks to my loader,and using my box blade, and loader bucket I have been able to do just about anything I need to without the hoe. As far as moving the objects just off the trail, I guess a logging winch would be a lot cheaper, and more versitile, and have a much longer "reach" than any backhoe. I have some wet areas I would like to improve too, but then a mini-X would have much more reach, etc. and be better for the job than anything that would fit on a tractor I might have. I've thought about putting one on my B, but so far my Yankee upbringing has saved me, and I probably won't. I have done a few projects that I thought for sure I would need a backhoe for, but they went well without them. Yes, I did end up using the dreaded pointy tool with a handle on one for a few hours, but I would have needed a backhoe with more reach than the one I had to do that job too. Although I dug lots of rocks with the one I had, and some stumps I found many more that were "ice bergs" and beyond what I could move. There again, a mini-X with a rock breaker would probably work better. Here are a couple of jobs I did without it..... rocks were dug with the forks.

 

[JoelD]

There is a fine line between "toys" and absolutley, critical need only items.

For example, do you drive a used smart car, with no radio, no AC and manual windows back and forth to work as you need nothing more than that to physically transport you to and from your place of employment?

I purchased my TLB used with 151 hours on the clock for approximately half of what it would've cost new. It's definately paid for its self already. My point being backhoe does not need to equal $7K.

I am glad I had the foresight to get the TLB rather pieceing something together down the road.

My dad always told me, you need the right tool for the job and tools are never a waste of money. I get it that "never" is a strong word, but in the long run, this saying has held true.

And as long as you can afford it I don't see it as a bad thing to purchase something you may want a little more than absolutely need. Doesn't hurt to smile each time you walk over to your machine (I find backhoe makes smiles bigger).

Joel

 

[LBrown59]

Holy smokes, LB!! Is that a root you're digging up in that 1st picture.

YEP an here's the tree.

 

[LBrown59]

Great comment about subframe mount vs 3pt. Is it possible to have a subframe mount for tractor that also works with a front mount track loader (or skid steer) with same ease on and off?

People have gotten crushed to death with 3 point Back Hoes?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

People have gotten crushed to death with 3 point Back Hoes?

Just a wild guess here, but I think people have probably been crushed to death with just about any kind of backhoe there is.

 

[sizzami]

one of the handiest things I use my hoe for is moving big brush piles , I raise it up extend straight and back up to the pile then scoop it up and pin it against the mast .

 

[brandoro]

I have a 3pt BH and can take it off in about 10 minutes and on in about 15 minutes. Took a few practice runs to get down to that but it isn't bad.
Mine doesn't get used a lot but is the best thing when you need one. Some of the neighbours help me find jobs for it too, good to have a few favours out there for the times you might need a hand with something.
As for the original question, I bought mine to dig around the foundation to install weeping tile to correct a moisture problem and install insulation because you might as well while the fondation is exposed. Since then I have removed rocks, stumps, dug in a few drain lines and trenched in the electrical service for a new neighbour.

 

[AndyMA]

I've had 5 backhoes on the last 5 tractors I have had. I also have a 44,000 lb excavator. I would never be without a backhoe or excavator as I use it all the time even just to soften the ground. When I read all the posts about digging with a FEL and using tooth bar to make it dig better, all I can think is you have no idea how well the right tool (a backhoe) can dig. I now have one tractor with a backhoe and loader and one with a loader for 3 pt hitch attachments. sure does make the changeover easier.

Andy

 

[dave1949]

I've had 5 backhoes on the last 5 tractors I have had. I also have a 44,000 lb excavator. I would never be without a backhoe or excavator as I use it all the time even just to soften the ground. When I read all the posts about digging with a FEL and using tooth bar to make it dig better, all I can think is you have no idea how well the right tool (a backhoe) can dig. I now have one tractor with a backhoe and loader and one with a loader for 3 pt hitch attachments. sure does make the changeover easier.

Andy

44K excavator! - you're making me sick

Absolutely agree with you.

Also like to second or third the idea others have mentioned, CUT with a backhoe doesn't really have the scale or reach to do things well that are very far from the rear of the tractor. I have had to dig dirt, put it in a pile, then move the tractor and shift the pile another 8'-10' because I couldn't get at with the FEL.

I have also noted mine barely straddles it's own trench. I have my wheels set standard narrow to fit between various obstacles.

They are handy for close in, light work and I am glad I have one. But I don't kid myself about it being a real digging machine.

Dave.

 

[Guywire]

I bought my first tractor (new) just a year ago. I was thinking about a backhoe, but finances at the time (I'd just retired), well...

I found that the FEL didn't work worth poop in digging stumps (and I live on five acres of an old eucalyptus orchard?/plantation? with wall-to-wall trees & stumps). Recognizing that the economy was in the toilet, I figured that older, used machines would be on the market as contractors/landscapers/etc contracted and sold their old equipment. Six months ago I found a 40 yr old industrial machine (Massey Ferguson 3165 w/<1800 hrs) on the market really cheap (much less that just a bolt-on backhoe). I had to sink a couple dollars into it, but still less than the new backhoe and I now have a second tractor. If, when I'm done digging stumps, I think I no longer have a need for it I can sell it for at least most of what I have into it. With the two machines, it takes me zero minutes to prepare the backhoe.

 

[LBrown59]

When I read all the posts about digging with a FEL and using a tooth bar to make it dig better,
all I can think of is you have no idea how well the right tool (a backhoe) can dig.
Andy

Such a crude feeling ain't it?

 

[ScottAR]

I'm with Guywire. Step off JD tractor. Step on Case backhoe, start engine, Dig...

I read about spending $8K-$10K for an add on backhoe when one can buy a full size
rig for $10k-$12K and have the weight, power, reach, and speed of a full size machine.

Granted, a homestead on a few acres probably doesn't need a full size but, when
heavy work needs to be done a heavy machine is needed.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I know a guy that told me a long, long time ago, it's ok to rent or barrow a tool once. If you need it more than once, then you need that tool, buy it if you can any way afford it. I have used that bit of advice for the last 30 some years.

 

[dave1949]

One problem that makes me shy away from buying old equipment is I have no idea how to evaluate what the real condition of a machine is due to no experience. I would hate to buy something that looked okay to me and seemed to function correctly, only to find out it really needs some multi-thousand $ fix.

Dave.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

One problem that makes me shy away from buying old equipment is I have no idea how to evaluate what the real condition of a machine is due to no experience. I would hate to buy something that looked okay to me and seemed to function correctly, only to find out it really needs some multi-thousand $ fix.

Dave.

This does become a problem. If you don't know yourself and or don't know anybody that you can trust, then purchasing used equipment takes on a new perspective. I would have to say that that would limit me to a dealer that would have some sort of warranty on their used equipment.