SCUT's with backhoes

[dougtrr2]

I posted earlier about my Kubota BX24 and addressed the original question. I chuckled when I read the references to glorified shovel. It might be, but it is so much faster and easier. I have a project next summer that will use my backhoe in an unusual way. I am going to rebuild a 5' retaining wall. The wall was made with Keystone blocks that use fiberglass pins for alignment. Each block has four holes and they make lifting handles that fit in those holes. Now for the twist on backhoe use

I remove the middle tooth on my bucket and replace it with an eyebolt. Then I rigged the two handles with a chain and hook. Now I can use my backhoe as a mini crane to lift the blocks on and off the wall. They aren't extreme heavy, maybe 70 pounds, but using the backhoe to move them is a back saver on this old body.

Doug in SW IA

 

[Overtaxed]

I chuckled when I read the references to glorified shovel. It might be, but it is so much faster and easier.

LOL, it was exactly the "glorified shovel" type comments that kept me from buying one in the beginning (which, as I said in my post, turned out well, I really wanted a dedicated machine, not an add on to my "do everything" tractor). I don't know what kind of shovels you all have, but, apparently they're a **** of a lot better than mine! Glorified shovel? Would that mean my pickup is a "glorified horse" or "glorified shoes"? Because that's about how much my little backhoe has in common with a shovel. Sure, they do the same job, just like walking does the same job as a driving or flying. But beyond that, there's simply no comparison. A single scoop with my BH is probably 20 minutes of work with a shovel (red clay soil). 20 mins of back breaking, pick axe and shovel work. I can do it in 20 seconds with my little tiny backhoe. And yeah, I suppose I could get 4 guys to help me unload and position a railroad tie, but.. Again, is that comparison really even in the same zip code?

Glorified shovel? I suppose. And yeah, compared to a 10K excavator, it's a LOT slower and less capable, no argument at all there. But the difference between a shovel and my little backhoe is dramatically different than comparing my BH to a 10K excavator. If a shovel is a 1, my BH is a 100, and a mini-ex is a 200. Any backhoe is just leaps and bounds beyond the capabilities of a shovel.

Shoot, want to get silly, I can tell you that your 40K full sized excavator is a "shovel" compared to my bucket wheel loader. And, I'd kind of be right, but the time you got the bucket to the dump truck for the first time, I'd have filled it with a bucket wheel.

 

[Oldoak]

This website, oh man, sometimes this website lol! A few months ago on a thread about ar rifles, some dude was arguing the most ridiculous bs with such conviction, I was like, he's GOT to be trolling!

Yep, just like this thread is leading too. And the same people insist on having the last say. Eh

 

[bcp]

...I agree that a small excavator is more agile but our main place is a couple miles across and we can just hop on the JD 3038 and be anyplace on the ranch in a few minutes. The thought of crawling across to the back pens on an excavator is not my idea of fun. The JD 3038 wont win a race but it will sure get to the other side much faster than the excavator. ...

There is an answer to the slow excavator problem.

wheel excavator at DuckDuckGo

Bruce

 

[polarred21]

And then there's this....what a price!

 

[Code54]

Thats the way tp get one!

 

[Rebeldad1]

you dont have a loader? a backhoe would work great.

 

[tmcj]

When I was buying my Mahindra tractor, practically all of the smaller machines had backhoes on or available, and the larger ones did not. I was told that my Max 26XL was the largest that was easily interchangeable between the MMM, backhoe, use of 3 point, loader etc. without changing mounting hardware. Hardware for all of the components could be left on while any other item was being used which provided quick changeovers and convenience. The next largest tractor, the 1526, could have a MMM or backhoe, but not both without changing major mounting hardware. I think the larger tractors are just more dedicated machines to one purpose or another and not intended to be the "swiss army tractor" for the average home owner or hobbyist. Basically if you would need anything much bigger than my Max for your tasks that you need a machine that is built for the heavy duty task, not a do all machine. You might pack a swiss army knife or gerber tool on a little hiking or hunting trip, but you sure don't head out to cut firewood with it. You use the tool designed for the job at hand.

I don't know if any other manufacturers work that way, but I am extremely happy with my Max 26XL. Sure, I have discovered it's limits in just about every aspect of its use with MMM, loader, backhoe, brush hog, and grader blade that I have. But every implement has been well used and very much appreciated. I absolutely wouldn't want anything smaller and could sometimes use something bigger and more ideal for the task at hand, but it is extremely versatile as it is and I have never regretted one penny spent on any of it.

 

[Alien]

Wish I had a backhoe.... however, my next tractor will. One would fit on my CK30 but I would have to remove my flail mower. I would like to keep that on there.
I have about 40 or 50 tree stumps to remove eventually and I'm not allowed to use dynamite.

 

[GeneV]

Yep, just like this thread is leading too. And the same people insist on having the last say. Eh

That sounds exhausting. :laughing:

 

[Mosby2015]

I guess like most thing on the internet this thread has taken on a life of it's own. It definitely has turned into SCUT/BH owners defending their purchase, and letting everyone else know how great a tool it is. Which was never my question.

In case no one wants to actually read the thread the question originally was why are SCUTs so often sold with a backhoe, and CUTs mostly not sold with backhoes.

None of the defensive arguments being made by all the SCUT owners answer that question, so this thread, like many, has become a petty argument about mostly nothing. I didn't ever say a backhoe isn't a worthwhile tool, on a SCUT or anything else. But it is interesting to me that that option is most often bought by SCUT buyers and not CUT buyers. As far as this thread goes, it's also interesting that almost no CUT owners have chimed in about why they did or didn't buy a backhoe with their tractors.

That's not to say their silence has any meaning one way or the other, just that I find it interesting.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

You can buy a BH for any tractor if you want it. I don’t understand what you are getting at..

 

[Code54]

Part of it comes to the costs vs capacity. As you get a bigger backhoe for a CUT you start being able to look at older used construction units for not a lot more. If you have the need for a BIG tractor and a BIG backhoe then you start thinking maybe it is worth spending the extra for a track hoe or old used construction unit. In my case I spent the money on a track hoe as I felt it was the best machine for MY uses and instead of sinking the money in my CUT for an attachment, I went with a separate machine and never regretted the decision. Just seemed to work best for me.

 

[Diggin It]

In case no one wants to actually read the thread the question originally was why are SCUTs so often sold with a backhoe, and CUTs mostly not sold with backhoes.

It's been addressed several times. SCUTs are sold as multipurpose machines for smaller property owners who only have the budget, need or space for one machine. CUTs and larger also have multiple uses, but on a larger scale where some of the functions are needed by less buyers. Those who buy CUTs are more likely to have other dedicated machines.

 

[snymat68]

It's been addressed several times. SCUTs are sold as multipurpose machines for smaller property owners who only have the budget, need or space for one machine. CUTs and larger also have multiple uses, but on a larger scale where some of the functions are needed by less buyers. Those who buy CUTs are more likely to have other dedicated machines.

Exactly. There was a market segment that the small backhoes filled. The larger backhoe market segment was already, and still is, covered by purpose built machines that are more capable than a hoe on a tractor. Not sure why the OP feels his question hasn't been answered several times over. :confused3:

 

[GeneV]

x3, says GeneV.

 

[Doofy]

They are like a "Jack of all trades, but a master of none". You can accomplish amazing things with them, however, you must also know their limitations.

That sounds like Dirty Harry:laughing:.

 

[Egon]

Just use them!

When the job can’t be done make a ‘new plan, ie. rethink your procedures!

 

[Imold]

SCUT-TLB packages are like what the Swiss Army knife is to a Outdoorsman, a few options in a small package and they do not take up a lot of room. A toy for the House Poor Suburbanite ��......j/k.

 

[Richard]

How much backhoe work does your average homeowner do?

Since I don't own a SCUT nor CUT, I don't know that I'm qualified to answer that.... that said, I do own a full sized industrial backhoe/loader that is used for residential purposes. If I'm moving dirt (which happens but not much) I obviously use the loader. Otherwise I find myself using the backhoe many many many more often than not.

Currently scraping my driveway down. Using backhoe to "rake" it and loosen it up. Use boxblade on tractor to move & smooth. Use backhoe to bury pets that have gone to the big Ranch in the sky, including my wife's fish. (yes, I used my 2' wide bucket to dig a hole to then toss her dead fish into)

Used it to transplant some of her day-lillies, "pinch" and carry/move some downed trees to the burn pile. Use it to push some standing dead trees over so they'd not fall into roadway. Used it to pull a fallen tree out from a ravine so the tree could be taken to saw mill & turned into dimensional lumber. Used it to scrap out the cove where our dock is (at low winter pool) Use it to pull idiots out of the mud when they try to go 4-wheeling in areas they're not supposed to be in (I let them crawl into the mucky mud to attach to their vehicle)

Have some Kudzu on back side of farm. (my wife grew up here) Decided to take tractor in there 15 years ago and see if I could cut it back some.... BAM, hit something metal. Turns out 25 years ago her brother lost a trailer! I just found it. Was a rust bucket so went to put into her uncle's truck to take to dump....trailer was WAY too heavy for that and literally bent the side of his truck out to about 45 degrees (oops). When I told him about it, expecting I'd have to buy the truck or a new bed for it, he just laughed and said to bend it back!! So, used the backhoe to push the side of his truckbed into position (today you'd never know that happened)

Used it to hoist/crane the (flat) rear tires off the tractor to put into truck to get flat fixed, then hoist/crane tire back into position.

The backhoe specifically is the first thing I think of when it comes to doing something other than lifting & moving dirt. I view the loader as a sledghammer and the backhoe more as a versatile swiss army knife.