**** 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.

4570Man · Dec 20, 2018

I don’t think an old worn out full size backhoe is a good idea. They’re constant trouble.

3Ts · 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.

With a little planning and good weather, can really get a LOT done with that in just a day.

A mini-ex would be much better for my use. However! My jobs are an hour or two here, another hour there, etc. I did one job by hand with a pick and shovel - 33' of trench took 3 days, decided I needed a backhoe. I bought a subframe mounted bh and kept track of the time I used it. It's paid for itself in bypassing the rental fees a long time ago.

sea2summit · Dec 20, 2018

I would love a mini ex...I would not love to pay for one

I don’t need a backhoe all the time, but man when I need it it’s really nice to have it on hand. If I could get another machine it would probably be a skid or another tractor. Wouldn’t see me without my BH...or the hydraulic thumb:thumbsup:

4570Man · Dec 20, 2018

I think most of the people in the just rent one crowd don’t actually have a backhoe. My tractor backhoe easily paid for itself. How often do you guys use the tractor you own for a task actually worth renting a machine for?

fried1765 · Dec 20, 2018

ovrszd said:
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.

I have had my medium sized TLB (47 HP) for 32 years,...... it was 16 years old (1350 hrs) and in excellent condition, when I bought it ($10,000)

The search went on for months, until I finally asked the Ford dealer if I should just buy a used tractor/loader, and an aftermarket hoe.
He said....don't do it!
"With an after market hoe you will be buying less of everything, but will pay more".

Less reach, less breakout force, more $.

Finally found the 1350 hour TLB (1986)!
Just refurbished, and painted it, 2 years ago. It now has 1850 hours.

Only 500 hours over 32 years, but it has paid for itself MANY times over.
It is ALWAYS just a walk to the barn away!
I am 78 now, and will keep it until I croak!

TractorGuy · Dec 20, 2018

4570Man said:
I don’t think an old worn out full size backhoe is a good idea. They’re constant trouble.

This may hold true to a point on certain machines but if you get lucky it settles out and they become more reliable. I bought my NH575E off ebay and of course it showed up not as advertised. I got it cheap enough I think I am still okay and haven't had to do much to it lately. (I know I just jinxed it) I was determined to have a cab and that is what I bought. Now that i have the 4WD, AC, and heat working it is a pure joy to operate. I may even spend the two grand to get the brakes fixed someday. (those were said to be working fine by the seller, NOT!)

I don't have to do anything on a schedule since it sits in the yard waiting for me to operate it. My original plan was to buy it, fix it up, use it for a few years, then sell it. The wife informed me the other day it has become part of the family and cannot be sold. Guess I will just have to keep it running and finding new uses for it.

Tractor Seabee · Dec 21, 2018

The best time to get a BH on your tractor is when you buy a new tractor with the BH in the deal. Costs twice as much afterward.

There is nothing like having it when you need it. No long range planning to maximize use of a rental or waiting till they get one in. My BH is on more than the 3 point. FEL has never been off. 1500 hrs later.

Ron

JerryK · Dec 21, 2018

A tractor mounted hoe is not a construction hoe, just like a construction hoe is not a full sized excavator with a two yard bucket. But, if you have the time, the tractor hoe will do a lot around your place. No, it will not dig a basement, and it takes awhile to dig out a stump.... I looked for several years for a used TLB, but most were rode hard and put away wet. And they wanted top dollar for them. I have floor jacks to work on fairly heavy stuff, but not to work on 10 or 20 K pound stuff... and my barn only has 10' high doors.... A tractor hoe may not be perfect, but it works for an old retired guy with lots of time to ' play ' ...

Agvg · Dec 21, 2018

Save for a real excavator, had a big backhoe used it once and gave it up, needed some TLC but it was such a helpless machine that I'm now looking for an old 6t excavator.

newbury · Dec 21, 2018

4570Man said:
I think most of the people in the just rent one crowd don稚 actually have a backhoe. My tractor backhoe easily paid for itself. How often do you guys use the tractor you own for a task actually worth renting a machine for?

Additional items I have not seen mentioned about the rental option are location and availability. At my place in Mississippi it is an hours drive 1 way to the nearest rental place. NO drop off/pick up options for "short term" rentals. In Virginia I'm about 4 miles from the rental center. In Virginia it's worth it to me to rent tools for the "weekend at 1 day rate". And the tool needs to be available in good condition WHEN I want it.

So that adds up. To drive two trips (pick up and drop off) of two hours round trip adds up quick and does not lend itself to situations where the weather changes.