Question for all backhoe owners

[sw18x]

It's my first time owning a backhoe (Kubota B2650). I've got several yard projects in addition to some heavier work in the woods. The yard projects include digging up some old shrubs in the front garden, a couple medium sized stumps for removal, boxing out an area in a fenced playground for stone. So I got thinking, and realized that for each of the yard projects, just dumping the dirt in a pile on the grass as I hoe is far from ideal - not only does it create a second mess to clean up later, but will likely end up trashing the grass with the FEL. I'm wondering how experienced operators out there deal with this. What do you do with your dirt when you're digging in an area like a lawn where you want it removed immediately?

The possible solutions I came up with are setting up my small trailer and loading that, except then I'd have to remove the backhoe to pull the trailer with the 3 point hitch. If I had a hitch mounted on the BH I could then drag the trailer to the field and tip it up with the FEL to dump it. Or, I was thinking of buying a cheap used bedliner, dump my spoil into that as I dig, drag it away when I'm done, and use the FEL to tip out the load. Of course, I could try talking my wife into letting me buy a Gator with a dump bed but coming on the heels of a new 2650 I doubt that will happen.

 

[EddieWalker]

Either putting the dirt into something like you said, a trailer, or in my case, I have a small 6 yard dump truck. If I'm putting the dirt back where it came from and I want to protect the grass, I use sheets of plywood. Why can't you hook up a trailer to a pickup truck?

 

[sw18x]

My truck happens to be a 2002 excursion since I sold my Chevy last year so that won't work for me. Youre right though, a little s10 or ford ranger yard truck would be nice for small jobs, could scrape the spoil out with the bucket. But after buying the tractor...and the backhoe...and the box blade...and the finish mower...I've pretty much used up all my credit with my wife for about the next 20 years or so.

 

[hosspuller]

A fellow backhoe owner uses old fuel tanks. The ones shaped like a pocket flask holding 500 gallons. He cuts them in half forming two trays. Chains at each corner allow lifting or dragging. Lift two chains and the tray dumps. Don't have to scrape the spoil out. :thumbsup:

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

My truck happens to be a 2002 excursion . . . .

Why can't you pull your small trailer with your Excursion?

Do you have a garden tractor or even a zero turn mower? You could buy a little garden buggy and fill it up and haul it off with the garden tractor. Granted, it would be a slow process as the garden buggy would only hold a few buckets full of dirt, but it's one way of doing it.

 

[Kioti Lee]

Can you put a ball on your bucket and pull trailer using bucket of FEL

 

[joefromga]

Go to a brick supply. Ask to buy a sandbag that they usually deliver sand in. They hold a yard and have straps that your can then carry your dirt around the yard in.

Very strong. .

 

[DT86]

An Excursion is a 3/4 truck! You could pull plenty big enough trailer.

For much cheaper I do like the idea of the bag though. If I'm not mistaken they are commonly called "ton bags" and are very inexpensive, like less than $50.

 

[Snobdds]

Weld a receiver hitch on the fel and push the trailer where you need it. Then just raise the bucket up and you have a hydraulic dump trailer.

I've done this a few times and I'm still amazed how well it works.

 

[paulfun9]

You have a trailer. So put a ball on the loader and use it to pull the trailer as mentioned you can even use it to dump a good bit out of the trailer depending on how its built.

I normally use a dump truck but for some jobs where the truck cant go I use a smaller dump trailer hooked to an other tractor or a pick up truck.

 

[newbury]

You can buy a clamp on hitch at Titan attachments and elsewhere. Works on the FEL, might be able to use it on the hoe bucket. $71

 

[mguitas]

You can buy a clamp on hitch at Titan attachments and elsewhere. Works on the FEL, might be able to use it on the hoe bucket. $71

maybe the fel , but I wouldn't use the backhoe for towing. Not a good ideal.

 

[jenkinsph]

Either putting the dirt into something like you said, a trailer, or in my case, I have a small 6 yard dump truck. If I'm putting the dirt back where it came from and I want to protect the grass, I use sheets of plywood. Why can't you hook up a trailer to a pickup truck?

For a small backhoe with limited reach the plywood gets my vote. Moving heavy trailers around on the grass will tear up the lawn worse than using the loader to refill the hole or ditch. If you put the plywood down in the right place you will be able to refill the hole with limited machinery travel which equates to less disturbance.

 

[sw18x]

Thanks for the ideas. My Excursion will pull the trailer, but can't maneuver in tighter places, including some of the places I will probably dump. Also, there's currently no jack on the trailer I use so no way to drop the trailer with a full load. The hitch on the bucket is what I'm leaning towards but don't want to weld anything on at this point, a clamp on would work nicely. The fuel tanks are an awesome idea, similar to the bedliner thing. I've also heard conflicting opinions on using the BH to tow, I'll stay away from that it I can.

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks for the ideas. My Excursion will pull the trailer, but can't maneuver in tighter places, including some of the places I will probably dump. Also, there's currently no jack on the trailer I use so no way to drop the trailer with a full load. The hitch on the bucket is what I'm leaning towards but don't want to weld anything on at this point, a clamp on would work nicely. The fuel tanks are an awesome idea, similar to the bedliner thing. I've also heard conflicting opinions on using the BH to tow, I'll stay away from that it I can.

Have you tried loading a trailer with your backhoe yet? With only one machine keeping up with the trailer and hauling then returning to dig is highly inefficient. Using the plywood is much easier, if you need to move the dirt to another place in the yard then use the fel to scoop up the dirt off the plywood and transport it.


Once you have enough seat time you should be able to scoop up the dirt off the grass without damage then rake the remaining dirt into the hole. That is what I do 90% of the time and it is easier than jockeying a trailer around. I have a 7 ton dump trailer and heavy truck to pull it with and have a tractor I could pull it with along with the separate backhoe. Even with this combination it is far easier to use the fel for transport if on site. If you need to transport off site then the trailer or dump truck is needed.

 

[Foxl3830]

Yes I agree with last post a sheet or two of ply wood and eventually you'll be able to use front end loader and be able to move dirt or what ever right off grass with not much damage I have a level indicator on my FEL really helps I don't even really look at bucket I watch the indicator and the bucket I also use the float on my Loader not gouge the ground. I was helping my father set up his seasonal spot at a camp ground and there was a load of gravel there and the maintenance guy was trying to use a L3400 Kubota and was really inexperienced I help him an eventually he let me finish moving the gravel for him (yes seat time ) the Tractor they had no indicator on the FEL took me a couple tries at the pile and gotter done with out tearing up the grass it just takes some seat time (practice) like I told the young man up there find a spot where you don't have a audience and practice with the machine they have stock piles of top soil just move them and put back to get the feel for it its all good have fun if you do tear the yard up guess what you can fix it more seat time !! Hope this helped

 

[Apsterbobed]

A few years ago we did some work at a school shortly before graduation. They needed power and network connections at the graduation podium witch was located in front of a monument in the lawn. The earthworkers cut and rolled the sod, then rolled out heavy plastic sheeting down each side of the trench. Next they laid plywood down both sides of the trench 8' wide path down one side and 4' down the other. At this point they told us that if they could drive on the grass they would just put the spoils on the plywood, but the school said no equipment on the grass. So the spoils went into powered wheelbarrow and was hauled off. After they back filled and removed the plywood and plastic the grass was replaced and watered. The next day they ran a mower over the area and it looked like we had never been there.

 

[rswyan]

$130 to $150 at Tractor Supply will get you a small dump cart/wagon with around a 1400 - 1500 capacity.

Since it doesn't sound like you are doing extensive excavating, that might fit the bill for your needs.

You just need a way to pull it.

A (smaller, old) lawn tractor which could be had for fairly cheap would fit the bill.

If your wife is into doing gardening/landscaping type things, this combo will likely become "hers" ... which ain't necessarily a bad thing ...

 

[nikerret]

I plan on getting some heavy duty tarps to put down. Pile on those. After I use the tractor to get most of it off the tarp, I should be able to lift the tarp to dump the rest in. Theory. I haven't tried it, yet.

 

[bindian]

I mucked out a huge Koi pond years ago. I dumped the spoils on the lawn. Owner was okay with it. When I was through, I picked most of it up with the bucket. What I could get into the bucket, I put the bucket slightly above level with the ground and pushed the remains over to his mulch pile. What was left in the grass disappeared at the next rain. But you gotta know your tractor to do this without ripping up Mama's lawn!

As to the plywood, your rip into it if you are not paying attention. The sand bag idea sounds good. Then, if your loader is tough enough, you can carry it away. You can get Sodium Bentonite Clay in bags of 3,000 pounds with a bottom chute for spreading.
hugs, Brandi