Not another HFPB topic!

[Imold]

Well yes it is a thread about the HF Portable Backhoe. I also did a search before posting.

Anyway I turned 59 today and my health is not the best due to a bad heart and a couple other major issues so digging with a shovel is not really a option and renting is a issue due to living rural I would rather put that money towards buying but anyway I have been reading and watching as many videos as possible on portable backhoes but I am mainly interested in the harbor freight one. It is still way cheaper then adding one to the GC1705 and yes if I knew now what I did not know when I bought my tractor I would of bought a TBL model, my bad. Anyway,

There is a guy who put a bigger pump on his and now it is about twice as fast which I really like, I have seen mostly positive feedback on the unit itself along with the minor fixes that are easily done with a small welder so that is not a issue, the Janson is a nice unit but about 1500 more and it says available but back ordered so thatç—´ out of the picture.

I have decided to go with the harbor freight backhoe for 3 grand but I will wait to order it until after Christmas and I will keep a eye out for the rare sale price on it, think it goes on sale once or twice a year for 2800 or around 200.00 off.

Now my next question is do any of you on here still own yours and if so how is it holding out? Or have you sold it due to having to many issues.

Just want honest opinions or direct knowledge on it. It is a part of B-day and X-mass gift to me from wife.

Thanks.

Ok to move if not in the right forum topic.

 

[Roadworthy]

I do not own, nor have I ever seen a Harbor Freight back hoe. Watch their sale fliers. Sometimes they have a twenty five percent off coupon. I'm leery of Harbor Freight stuff beyond hand tools as they do not source any repair parts. I got switches for my wire feed welder from eBay. My neighbor has an after market back hoe that hangs off the three point hitch on his tractor and runs from the tractor's hydraulics. I believe it's from Wallenstein. It was about $3000 but that was fifteen years ago. Backhoes & Skid Diggers | Wallenstein Outdoor Power Equipment

 

[ericm979]

I got a lightly used backhoe specifically for my tractor from my dealer. Someone bought it and didn't need it any more, or it was on a tradein machine and they took it off. It cost significantly less than a new BH. Given how it can move the 4500lb tractor around I don't see how a light trailer model can do much.

 

[bcp]

Have you watched these?

Metsa Man Kellfri - YouTube

Bruce

 

[Imold]

I appreciate the replies.

Have seen a few of those videos and lots of other ones that pertain right to the HF backhoe and a lot that show home built and other manufacturers and I have seen most of the fixes for the HF, rounded out pin holes for stabilizers, cracked bucket, leaky cylinders, replacing the hydraulic pump for a bigger pump to speed the unit up, have also read mixed reviews on line, have heard most the pluses and minuses. So I have done my homework on these unites.

I will basically use it to dig holes for trees, do some trenching for electrical, dig out for my septic and a list of other things, I am well aware of it’s limitations and for 3k I do not think it will be a bust unless I get a lemon. It is way cheaper then having to send my tractor back to have it taken apart to install the main mounting plate and hoe, dealer will not do it so that is the catch 21, you have to buy the GC right from factory with the backhoe installed for warranty. A 3pt hoe is a big no no it voids all warranty and liabilities from what I know.

Living out in a rural area I will never purchase another tractor without a backhoe or one I can add a backhoe onto, I find a lot of things that a backhoe would be good for or at least nice to have on hand.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

How old is your GC? Is it feasible to trade it in for a new TLB? Maybe sell it privately and put that towards a new TLB. Both the SCUT and now the CUT tractor I have have the BH on them. I wouldn't be without one! In the first year I had the SCUT w/ the BH, I saved enough by doing the jobs myself to pay for the hoe.

I think the dealer is giving you a line of BS, telling you that adding a Massey BH to you tractor will void the warranty! Most of the SCUT tractors have the BH added at the dealer. My CUT tractor had the BH added by the dealer. Took a couple extra days to do it before delivering the unit. Sounds like he doesn't want to go through the hassle....

I knew someone who purchased the HF hoe and sold it mid-project because he was hakving trouble with it and it did not perform like he expected/wanted it to. He ended up hiring someone to finish the job. He took a $750 loss in order to sell it.

You are correct, adding a 3 point hoe WILL void your warranty.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^^
It clearly states in the paperwork that a 3 pth backhoe will void the warranty. I was already to pull the trigger on a new Massey until I read that. I bought my Kubota the next day.

 

[Imold]

I will be upgrading from my SCUT to a CUT in a few years so the BH will be a big consideration when I do that, it all depends if we buy the 40 acres next to our property, I will be looking at around a 34hp CUT.

I am sure I will not have a problem in a few years selling the HF Backhoe out here, I know some folks that have talked about getting one but nobody wants to be the 1st to pull the trigger, a guy had a DR one that he bought and did what he needed to do and that sold right away and he got just about what he paid for it.

It was mentioned to me that I should get a TLB setup from a few folks but I never listened and now I kick myself.

 

[dodge man]

Why is living rural not an option to rent? In my area they will deliver. You just might pay extra for it. I just thing the HF backhoe is going to be pretty light weight and really limited unless the ground is soft.

 

[Imold]

Why is living rural not an option to rent? In my area they will deliver. You just might pay extra for it. I just thing the HF backhoe is going to be pretty light weight and really limited unless the ground is soft.

It is more of a time issue when renting being it seems like your paying for two hours just for the loading then getting to your home and unloading, it would not be to bad if a person was doing a two/three day rental or even a day rental at least you would have around 6 hours of use.
I know the hardware store has a mini ex but that’s 20 miles away, they don’t include trailer in the rental so that would be extra being I do not have a bigger trailer yet.
The ground around here is sand and basically dirt with some areas having a layer of clay so digging will not be a issue, lot of sand and gravel pits Around my area.

There is also another project I would like to try with it that I have been thinking about for the last 20 years or so that includes a stripped down pontoon boat with at least 21 inch tubes, has to do with repairing rip-rap.