Buying Advice 40 hp-- which brand?

[4570Man]

My backhoe is 4wd so it’s over 16000. The tires are a lot bigger than my tractor and it doesn’t seem to bad on the ground.

 

[goeduck]

I agree those commercial backhoes are heavy - especially the 4wd ones. But that's not the whole story. It depends on how the tire loads the soil. Those big backhoes use a wide industrial R3 tread that really spreads the load out. The load gets spread out even better when the tire tire gets a little worn. I actually prefer to run half worn out tires on my backhoe for that reason. Unlike a tractor, construction machines never use a lugged Ag tire of the R1 type that are designed to cut into the soil for traction.

With the right tires, those industrial R3 tread are pretty easy on the turf even on a big heavy backhoe ---- just as long as it is 2WD.

In 4WD any tire or weight of tractor is going to tear the soil up. On my backhoe, the front wheels leave much larger divots in the soil than the rears. That's why I like to run really smooth wornout tires on the front.
rScotty

Maybe to some extend but I passed a Case 590 Super on a trailer today and the tires did not look that much wider than what I have on a tractor backhoe half the weight. That sure was a NICE backhoe but it is a backhoe, not a tractor. As long as everyone understands that :thumbsup:. No 3 point, very heavy, very capable at what it does. But not a tractor. Standard Rear tires on the Case 590 are 21x24. Wide, but not that wide.

 

[finn1]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

Especially when you want to move one foot to the right or the left.

We got a FEL with a sub frame, hoe and 60 HP tractor for about the same as a new FEL for the 60 HP MF 265 would have cost when we got the 1983 JD 310B back in 2010. It is hard to come up with solid mini excavator AND compact track loader for under a total of $10K.

This is why the $10K old backhoe is popular for people wanting to clear land, pull out stuck equipment, etc. Just do not try to put a 7.5' front bucket through an 8 foot opening at WOT.

For those of us started to thinking about retirement later in life it is hard to take money that may be needed for retirement to buy a lot of specialty machines when an old backhoe can do it all sooner or later. At 67 I realize life itself is a compromise.

There is a market place for most everything. There is a JD 110 backhoe for sale near here that would be of interest if we did not have the heavy 310B.

 

[atsah]

I got rid of my tractor and got a backhoe. The breakout force on the loader is 8500 pounds and full height lift is 6500 pounds so significantly better than a regular tractor. I don稚 know the backhoe specs but it blows a tractor backhoe out of the water. View attachment 567934

That's my next purchase, I'm on the look out all the time.

 

[YardBikeBob]

Would you consider a used tractor?

I own a 2013 LS R4041. Going on 500 hours and never been back to the dealer. I'd say I do all my own repairs, but there haven't been any other than operator errors.

This is a teir 3 tractor -- no computer and no turbo. It uses a Mitsu designed 4-cyl, 2.5 liter motor (which now is considered big). Simple, reliable, and powerful enough to spin all 4 wheels before getting stuck. Loader lift is plenty. Run the RPM needed for the job, not the silly high RPMs of new stuff.

No advise on a backhoe. I rented a JD 110 and it was 'perfect' for the task and when I need more backhoe work I'll rent it again. CUT backhoe attachments are a poor comprimise IMHO.

If you fail to believe that I have all the right answers, at least consider 2013 and older tractors before the computers took over. I believe they are much more likely to last 'forever' as there is much less computer stuff to crap out. And they will. And when they do the parts will be scarce, obsolete, and dear.

Paid $19k for mine 5 years ago and it is definately not for sale.

~Bob

 

[4570Man]

Especially when you want to move one foot to the right or the left.

We got a FEL with a sub frame, hoe and 60 HP tractor for about the same as a new FEL for the 60 HP MF 265 would have cost when we got the 1983 JD 310B back in 2010. It is hard to come up with solid mini excavator AND compact track loader for under a total of $10K.

This is why the $10K old backhoe is popular for people wanting to clear land, pull out stuck equipment, etc. Just do not try to put a 7.5' front bucket through an 8 foot opening at WOT.

For those of us started to thinking about retirement later in life it is hard to take money that may be needed for retirement to buy a lot of specialty machines when an old backhoe can do it all sooner or later. At 67 I realize life itself is a compromise.

There is a market place for most everything. There is a JD 110 backhoe for sale near here that would be of interest if we did not have the heavy 310B.

I was having a hard time finding a nice mini for what I could buy a nice backhoe for. I have access to a CTL which would have probably made a mini a better choice but I don’t have the ability to haul a mini of equal strength of my backhoe and the CTL at the same time. The time required to make another trip coming and going more than off sets the time savings with the more efficient tools. And I don’t own the CTL so it’s use isn’t guaranteed.

 

[GFirkus]

I picked a few comparable brands and models and need to get pricing next. On paper the branson 3725h looks the best. (besides nx4510 hst) I compared loader and backhoe specs. I will have to find some time to go test drive.

 

[goeduck]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

In many cases, yes. In many others where mobility is paramount, an excavator is not the best choice. A backhoe can esaisly move from one corner of the property (or next property) to the next, dig a hole and be back to the barn before an excavator can be loaded on a trailer and hitched up. For maintenance digging, I much prefer a backhoe. For serious digging, an excavator wins out.

 

[goeduck]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

In many cases, yes. In many others where mobility is paramount, an excavator is not the best choice. A backhoe can esaisly move from one corner of the property (or next property) to the next, dig a hole and be back to the barn before an excavator can be loaded on a trailer and hitched up. For maintenance digging, I much prefer a backhoe. For serious digging, an excavator wins out.

A backhoe is much less destructive to the turf when moving without a trailer as well.

 

[GFirkus]

I came across a 2003 new holland tc45 with 880 hrs, canopy, loader, backhoe, and pallet forks. Looks like great condition from pictures. Is there any known major issues with this tractor. What痴 a decent price for the tractor in the upper Midwest?

 

[MiserableOldFart]

If you goal is something you can keep for 30 years then your best bet is to go with a brand/model that's popular and going to stick around.

Our Ford 1500 is almost 37 years old and despite being Ford/New Holland it's near impossible to find any parts from existing tractors much less new parts. 8N/TE-20/etc are easy because there's a following.

If I were you I'd probably lean towards JD, Kubota or *maybe* LS since they do NH as well.

My personal vote would be MX4800, doesn't have the bells and whistles that you see with the Grand L(which will help you when it comes to repair time) and a bit more utility oriented but similar specs. I say this as someone who just did the 40HP search and landed on a L4760.

Ah, there's the rub!! ALL the manufacturers keep models around for only a very short time. They don't want any "8n" situations where there are 20+ year old tractors of theirs with so many around that third parties can make money making and selling parts! They charge an arm and a leg for parts and make sure nobody else will ever make them. They want you trading in every 4-5 years.

I don't foresee many of the current crop of CUTs around in 30-50 years simply because the manufacturers don't want you doing that, and will make you or your heirs pay through the nose to do it. If I were looking to do what the OP wants to do, I'd probably be looking for a used Deere 110 TLB, but I'm biased toward smaller machines. And I'm still blown away that they stopped making that one.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Good conversations going on here. The reason I want a ?0 hp is it seemed like some are on the low end of the larger frame size. I don稚 care to get to large as my property is all wooded. Maybe 2000lb is a little over kill for needed loader capacity. I figured that would cover anything I would ever need to lift around the house. Why do some of the 田heaper tractors have quite a bit higher ratings than the 渡ame brand ?

Different brands tend to have different "personalities." Some have more convenience features and electronic doo-dads but may be lighter on capacity (these tend to be a lot more expensive). Other brands are known for being simpler, but beefier and stronger. This is nice because it gives you choices.

 

[rScotty]

I came across a 2003 new holland tc45 with 880 hrs, canopy, loader, backhoe, and pallet forks. Looks like great condition from pictures. Is there any known major issues with this tractor. Whatç—´ a decent price for the tractor in the upper Midwest?

Well, if you own a '53 Allis and have been using it then you are the kind of guy that isn't scared off by niggling things like electrical fuse problems or safety switches shutting you down or filters plugging... A NH TC45 would be about the same overall machine as the JD3033 you've been renting, yes?

The only real knock on the TC45 I can see is they had a short model run - which is sort of offset by their being very popular and a lot of them sold. What does your local tractor dealer say about getting NH parts?

I did a search on the TBN New Holland site for TC45 and it brought up a formidable list of things. But as I got to looking at the types of problems people had with that model, they seemed fairly minor. Ask the seller where he goes for service. That might tell you a lot.

All in all, to this old timer iot seems worth a look. Especially so with those accessories. You can tell a whole lot about the way a person treats his equipment by the way he beats up a hoe or loader. Used machines are all about condition. I'd ask him why he is selling it, but hold off until you can sort of slip that into the conversation.
luck, rScotty

 

[GFirkus]

I came across a 2003 new holland tc45 with 880 hrs, canopy, loader, backhoe, and pallet forks. Looks like great condition from pictures. Is there any known major issues with this tractor. What痴 a decent price for the tractor in the upper Midwest?

Any ideas on a fair price for this?

 

[rScotty]

Any ideas on a fair price for this?

The more we know about the tractor the closer we can come to a fair price. Without knowing more, on a 15 year old tractor that I don't personally know & approaching 1000 hours I wouldn't offer more than 1/3 of the original price of the tractor and major attachments. If it was in excellent shedded condition from the original owner and with history and documents then I'd go in the region of half the original price.

My guess is the original price was around $30K. New Holland at the time was less expensive than other major brands.

And if it is in "used hard" or beat up condition I would simply pass.

You need some more information....
Things I'd ask: are you the original owner? If so, cCan you FAX/email me a copy of the original invoice? Which transmission does it have?
Do you keep records of when it was serviced or repaired? Does it come with the manuals? (owners, shop, & parts are often separate manuals)
Why are you selling it? Do you use it or is it loaned/or rented out? Is it an ex-rental? How does ithe engine sound? How does the tranny & gear pump sound? Power steering? Does it whine??
Does it go into & out of 4WD smoothly (most of them stick coming out). What shape are the tires & battery in?
Have you had any overheating problems?
What things are not working right? (there's always something even on new machines)
Remember to ask why he is selling it.

Personally I would never sell anything I wasn't comfortable buying at that price. And I expect the same courtesy from any rural person. Do you get that sense of fairplay from the seller?
And finally, if the person is not comfortable with answering any of these questions then I'd simply thank him and give it a pass.
rScotty