Backhoe Or 5 Extra HP?

[Hdoilcan]

I can either put my money towards a backhoe or go from a 35hp to 40hp. I will only be plowing my driveway and doing a little fire wood, fel work and property maintenance. Both 35hp and 40hp will be in the same frame size. I don't have a ton of things to do right now with the backhoe but I thought it might be nice to have on hand. I have a bad back so I was thinking the backhoe would be nice for whatever I could use it for instead on using my back....... I think my days of using a shovel for anything is over.
It's $1,600 difference between the 35hp and the 40hp. With rebates the back hoe would be $5,400. So if I went with the 35hp I'd only have to come up with an additional $3,800 for the backhoe.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I think 35 HP should be fine for driveway work and getting firewood etc.

As to getting a backhoe, I think that's a matter of your financial situation. For the occasional project you can probably rent a hoe or mini excavator for less than buying one.

But there is the convenience factor for having it available any time.

I bought a hoe for my Kubota B2620.

 

[NC419N]

Backhoe

 

[Tompet]

For what you described, my vote is for the BH. Your list of chores doesn't seem to indicate 5hp would make much difference. Like you wrote, what is the price of saving your back? A BH may not be for everyone, but they do add to the versatility of your machine and the type of work that can be accomplished and when you want it done. You will enjoy having it.

Btw, you didn't write what brand/model you are going with as your avatar states you sold your Kubota.

 

[drizler]

My backhoe can work wonders with 36 HP.. The hoe is 1000 and with tractor right around 5K. Loaded tires would help but then the Ag tires would tear things up on the lawn a lot more. Still 36 and 5K works extremely well up to stumps that are 10" and as always wet soil is helpful. After that size though you have to resort to picking around more than using brute force.

 

[moriboy]

I had an L3240 that was so underpowered, I ended up trading it in on a bigger machine a year later, and lost my butt..
My vote is get a tractor with plenty horsepower, and get the backhoe later. That will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have the Kubota B26 (26 engine HP) and it is plenty strong for pushing, pulling and back hoe use. Granted it is considered commercial grade and may have more umpfh than a regular CUT due to the extra weight but the engine is plenty for my chores. I do have the P7010 for the extra heavy stuff if needed but rarely do I need that except when I am moving tons of material long distances. The triple capacity bucket is great for that but the B26 is great for finesse work.
If you have the need for a backhoe, get one. I would also suggest getting a hydraulic thumb rather than manual as it makes so much easier working to pick up items from large to small without leaving the tractor. I have put over 300 hours on mine in 3 years, not all of it doing my chores but also assisting my neighbors when asked. I would never be without my B26. If I had to go back to one tractor the LS P7010 would be the one to go.

 

[TJP89]

Backhoe, if it's the same frame size.

What tractors are you considering?

 

[DaveNJ]

I'm going for a backhoe. Frequent rental costs for a few hours work at a time and transportation are frustrating. Borrowing often resulted in replacing hoses and repairs I had to make on someone else's machine. It also makes sense when working with a smaller tractor. You can't rip out a bank with a 25 hp tractor loader like a cat D8. Given time you can pick it apart with a hoe and push the pieces away. But mainly, at 61, my days of digging and moving things by hand are beginning to get rough.

 

[4570Man]

My tractor is 32 hp in the largest frame available for 32 hp. I would like about 40 hp in the same frame size, but I sure wouldn't trade my backhoe for 8 horses. The extra 8hp would let me work a little faster, but wouldn't do anything I can't do now. Losing the backhoe would take away half the usefulness of my tractor.

 

[TSO]

I can either put my money towards a backhoe or go from a 35hp to 40hp. I will only be plowing my driveway and doing a little fire wood, fel work and property maintenance. Both 35hp and 40hp will be in the same frame size. I don't have a ton of things to do right now with the backhoe but I thought it might be nice to have on hand. I have a bad back so I was thinking the backhoe would be nice for whatever I could use it for instead on using my back....... I think my days of using a shovel for anything is over.
It's $1,600 difference between the 35hp and the 40hp. With rebates the back hoe would be $5,400. So if I went with the 35hp I'd only have to come up with an additional $3,800 for the backhoe.

Don't forget...your L3540 was actually 37 HP gross, 35 net. Most tractor Mfgs label their machines by GROSS HP, i.e. my Massey 1648 was only 45 net, my 1652 is just under 50 net. Kubota labels their models typically by net HP. My buddy just bought an L5240... It's 52 net, 54+ GROSS.

Just keep that in mind when you're shopping.

 

[TheGoose]

I can either put my money towards a backhoe or go from a 35hp to 40hp. I will only be plowing my driveway and doing a little fire wood, fel work and property maintenance. Both 35hp and 40hp will be in the same frame size. I don't have a ton of things to do right now with the backhoe but I thought it might be nice to have on hand. I have a bad back so I was thinking the backhoe would be nice for whatever I could use it for instead on using my back....... I think my days of using a shovel for anything is over.
It's $1,600 difference between the 35hp and the 40hp. With rebates the back hoe would be $5,400. So if I went with the 35hp I'd only have to come up with an additional $3,800 for the backhoe.

Where can you get a backhoe for $5400? Sign me up. Kubota L3400.

 

[boggen]

mixed feelings...

3pt hitch backhoe with subframe can be nice. but for me... i need a seat that i can pull a lever and do a 180 turn and activate backhoe.... vs jumping off tractor seat, then to backhoe seat, and back and forth "meh". convince factor of just having something to hook up and go. vs saving up some projects and going out and renting a machine... *shrugs*

while i generally push folks for a backhoe with a statemet of... FEL (front end loaders) and backhoe's tend to be high dollar items and you are more likely get a discount when purchasing both with tractor at same time, even for used units. it just depends on usage.

fence lines, digging out basements, digging around basements, trenching work, culverts under gravel/dirt roads/driveway, simply digging into some harder compacted dirt with backhoe to make me a pile, then running FEL into the software pile of dirt. maybe even getting a bucket full of dirt on the backhoe when moving dirt. that pulling lever for 180 turn and operate backhoe just shines.

i have 76 or so acres. and any were from 3/4 mile to a couple miles weaving around property. so "time is a factor" moving dirt and like.

for smaller acreage... distance is not really an issue. and few projects that may come up. taking a little bit of extra time swapping seats might be just fine and well acceptable. vs trying to hand dig with a shovel.

having like a tracked mini-ex (mini excavator) can be much nicer, more so in those tight spaces. up near buildings, and not much room to manuver around. being able to dump dirt in better locations, etc... renting one might be better.

renting can get costly, not just the rental charge, but time and just plain fuel going and getting it, and then hauling it back. it begins to add up quickly.

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getting a 3pt hitch backhoe with subframe later... don't know. right now is more likely time to get it with larger discount happening, for you. hey i find lots of uses for the backhoe! and can be easier that jacking around with cherry pickers / engine lifts

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5HP difference.... not really that much difference. my concern would be more of dirt / gravel driveway/road ways. and needing to make extra passes. due to box blade, rear blade, etc... is not wide enough to cover 1/2 or more of the drive at a time. smaller tractors work. but... 5HP.... meh... not sure if you could ever tell the difference or less you had both tractors side by side doing the same job at the same time. the tractor is not "commercial work" so time is not money.

weight is king vs HP. weight = better traction.

having correct implements to get job done = overall better time saver. ((example TNT (top and tilt) for 3pt hitch)) vs jacking around trying to get job with something never really suited for the job and spending 2 to 5 times longer getting job done.

 

[jrclark]

You can always sell the backhoe. It would be harder to get rid of the extra 5hp.

I use my 35hp machine for everything the OP mentioned. The one thing I truly need now is a backhoe. Kind of torn between buying an older machine with a hoe or a backhoe attachment. Has to be a small machine to navigate through my woods, that's why I'm leaning towards the 3pt backhoe.

 

[4570Man]

weight is king vs HP. weight = better traction.

Totally agree. My 32 hp tractor weighs over 8,000 pounds, and I would chain it up to most 40 hp tractors. A tractor pull tractor usually boast over 1,000 hp, but a 200hp or less ag tractor can drag them all over the field.

 

[Hdoilcan]

I was waiting for Kioti CK3510 to come out b4 making a decision between the Kioti and the LS XR3037 cab. It was going to be a cab model if I went with LS or a backhoe if I went with Kioti proving I liked the new model...... I was thinking the CK35 at first but the fel capacity just wasn't there. I really was liking the cab but after thinking ALOT...... I figured I really don't need a cab for what I do. In the summer I prefer an open station as I'm doing yard maintenance , loader work etc getting on and off the tractor multi time etc. not really in the tractor for real long periods of time (going by when I had my Kubota L3540 cab). In the winter I plow the driveway witch take a half hour...... Forty five minutes if I'm playing a little. For that amout of time I don't mind the cold. I'm weighing that out vs how much I'd prefer an open station in the summer. I guess it's a give and take. Then I was thinking well mabe I really don't need the backhoe and save some cash...... But for $5,400 (any bucket size I want with it) after a $1,500 rebate IF I purchase it at the time of tractor purchase..... It's hard to turn down. I was recently planning to buy the 40hp that's $1,600 more than the 35hp but after thinking about it and asking on here I'm looking at it this way...... If im not gonna really see a difference for what I'm going to use it for why not think of it as taking the $1,600 off the $5,400 ( it's all a mind game lol) and pay an extra $3,800 for the backhoe. I understand I'm actually paying $5,400 for it.
After playing on an LS XR3037 for about an hour and a half it just didn't feel as s good as the Kioti. It was nice but the hydraulics on the Kioti seem a lot faster, I liked the movement on the Kioti a little better also..... It was a little smaller too. I guess both were nice but over all I just liked the Kioti better.
Kioti with the same options as the LS and the backhoe was about $100 less than the LS with the cab (radio and rear wiper included) but with the Kioti I also will receive everything for the first 50 hr service........ AND let's not forget 3 hats and 3 shirts
Both tractors were about 2.5 to 3 hrs away and includes delivery.

Forgot to mention the new CK's have a one handle SSQA bucket like the larger models

 

[LD1]

You didn't mention anything involving the pto. So the extra HP is really only going to be useful if you tow heavy things in higher gears. Since you didn't mention that either, the added hp is not of much benefit for digging in the dirt and grading a driveway

 

[TJP89]

You can always sell the backhoe. It would be harder to get rid of the extra 5hp.

I use my 35hp machine for everything the OP mentioned. The one thing I truly need now is a backhoe. Kind of torn between buying an older machine with a hoe or a backhoe attachment. Has to be a small machine to navigate through my woods, that's why I'm leaning towards the 3pt backhoe.

FYI, pretty sure Kioti specifically says not to use a 3PTH backhoe, at least for the CK series.

 

[TJP89]

I was waiting for Kioti CK3510 to come out b4 making a decision between the Kioti and the LS XR3037 cab. It was going to be a cab model if I went with LS or a backhoe if I went with Kioti proving I liked the new model...... I was thinking the CK35 at first but the fel capacity just wasn't there. I really was liking the cab but after thinking ALOT...... I figured I really don't need a cab for what I do. In the summer I prefer an open station as I'm doing yard maintenance , loader work etc getting on and off the tractor multi time etc. not really in the tractor for real long periods of time (going by when I had my Kubota L3540 cab). In the winter I plow the driveway witch take a half hour...... Forty five minutes if I'm playing a little. For that amout of time I don't mind the cold. I'm weighing that out vs how much I'd prefer an open station in the summer. I guess it's a give and take. Then I was thinking well mabe I really don't need the backhoe and save some cash...... But for $5,400 (any bucket size I want with it) after a $1,500 rebate IF I purchase it at the time of tractor purchase..... It's hard to turn down. I was recently planning to buy the 40hp that's $1,600 more than the 35hp but after thinking about it and asking on here I'm looking at it this way...... If im not gonna really see a difference for what I'm going to use it for why not think of it as taking the $1,600 off the $5,400 ( it's all a mind game lol) and pay an extra $3,800 for the backhoe. I understand I'm actually paying $5,400 for it.
After playing on an LS XR3037 for about an hour and a half it just didn't feel as s good as the Kioti. It was nice but the hydraulics on the Kioti seem a lot faster, I liked the movement on the Kioti a little better also..... It was a little smaller too. I guess both were nice but over all I just liked the Kioti better.
Kioti with the same options as the LS and the backhoe was about $100 less than the LS with the cab (radio and rear wiper included) but with the Kioti I also will receive everything for the first 50 hr service........ AND let's not forget 3 hats and 3 shirts
Both tractors were about 2.5 to 3 hrs away and includes delivery.

Forgot to mention the new CK's have a one handle SSQA bucket like the larger models

I'd go with the backhoe.

 

[Turbys_1700]

If you want the backhoe get it. Most folks that get them use them for a few projects and then the thing sits. In my opinion you can never justify them unless you are undertaking a project that will require lots of hours completing. We have an old farm hoe here and I use it a few times a year but most of the time it just sits in the shed. That's OK by me. Dad bought it years ago and dug some basements and did a few jobs for local builders. He had some rental property at the time and we used it to repair water and sewer lines. The market value of it is not much but it is worth more than that to me just to have available.