**** backhoe's are expensive

kspring61 · Dec 20, 2018

Pricing out backhoe's for my DK40SE and so far nothing south of $9K. Priced out Woods, Bush Hog and the Kioti. Problem with the Kioti is finding the subframe for the tractor. Since they don't make the DK40SE anymore it seems they are not making the subframe anymore. Looked for used but haven't found nothing at all and I would still have the subframe issue of getting one that fits. Looks like maybe renting a small excavator for when I need one might be the solution but that's not as fun as having one right there when you need it.

newbury · Dec 20, 2018

If you've got the space and funds a mini-ex might be better.
To me the backhoe when on a tractor only shines when you have to travel long distance ON the equipment. Like trail maintenance in the woods.

ovrszd · Dec 20, 2018

I bought a Ford 555A fullsized TLB for $6500. Spent an additional $2000 on needed repairs. Total cost $8500. Dig depth of 19ft.

Backhoe attachments for tractors are tremendously overpriced.

murph1 · Dec 20, 2018

I have a BH for my tractor. The only way I would buy one now would be a true TLB not a attachment.

kspring61 · Dec 20, 2018

newbury said:
If you've got the space and funds a mini-ex might be better.
To me the backhoe when on a tractor only shines when you have to travel long distance ON the equipment. Like trail maintenance in the woods.

ovrszd said:
I bought a Ford 555A fullsized TLB for $6500. Spent an additional $2000 on needed repairs. Total cost $8500. Dig depth of 19ft.

Backhoe attachments for tractors are tremendously overpriced.

murph1 said:
I have a BH for my tractor. The only way I would buy one now would be a true TLB not a attachment.

This is my thinking now is to look for a good used but old TLB that I can use when needed. I have the room to store one, now I need to find one. ovrszd, that was a good find. You got a full TLB for less than what they want and you got more machine!

Thomas · Dec 20, 2018

Always wanted backhoe but price mostly how often I would use it I rent mid size excavator for couple days...just gotta be extra care not to get struck.

ovrszd · Dec 20, 2018

I'm building a new house and shop. The old Ford has performed at least $3000 of hired backhoe work over the past 6 months.

The increasing market for 3pt hoes and min Ex's has caused the price for old TLBs to drop.

kspring61 · Dec 20, 2018

That is exactly why I am looking for one now, building a new house and figured I could really use it for footers, water lines, electric lines to shop, and removing some small trees. Plus I have a drainage that the driveway goes over that is about 5 feet deep that will need to be cleared out occasionally. Plus I need to bury some pipe for gutter run off from the shop I have there now. Oh and I will be putting in retaining walls coming off one end of the house, see the list keeps growing.

CMV · Dec 20, 2018

$9k is a lot of long weekend backhoe rentals. And that's a real construction BH, delivered to you, hauled off when done, all you do is use it and put fuel in.

Just pointing that out. I initially went the route of buying an old used backhoe. Way more trouble than it was worth - worst "good idea" I ever had

I think it's around $1600ish for me to rent one for a week which includes tax & delivery. I have to buy fuel too. About 1/3 of that to get Friday morning & have them pick up Monday morning as long as I don't put way over 8 hrs on it. - 1 day rental + delivery. Last one they brought me was a JD 310SL - cabbed, 4WD, 100HP, 8 tons, >1 yard bucket. With a little planning and good weather, can really get a LOT done with that in just a day.

I don't have to buy the thing outright, I don't have to insure it, I don't have to service it, I don't have to replace parts on it, I don't have to store it, I don't have to worry about someone stealing it, I don't have to worry about it depreciating, I don't have to feel like I "wasted" a pile of money letting it sit idle for months when no projects for it, I don't have to worry about people asking to borrow it, I don't have to worry about people asking me to do free work for them, I don't have to figure out how to get that monster to/from a shop for a major repair or service, etc.