Buying Advice Buying a backhoe ?

[mediplt]

I have owned 1 tractor in my life, but operated equipment during my National Guard career and as I have needed to rent. I am now to the point of considering rental vs. ownership of a backhoe. I have approx 100 acres that are always in need of something, so instead of calling the rental office, I think ownership would be cheaper in the long run. The question is " How do I buy a backhoe?" Where do I go? What should I be looking for and when do I turn and run away? A 4n1 bucket and extended reach with a thumb would be the preferred tractor.

Thanks for the advice

 

[fried1765]

I have owned 1 tractor in my life, but operated equipment during my National Guard career and as I have needed to rent. I am now to the point of considering rental vs. ownership of a backhoe. I have approx 100 acres that are always in need of something, so instead of calling the rental office, I think ownership would be cheaper in the long run. The question is " How do I buy a backhoe?" Where do I go? What should I be looking for and when do I turn and run away? A 4n1 bucket and extended reach with a thumb would be the preferred tractor.

Thanks for the advice

How much are you willing to spend?
Your profile does not show your location....It should.

 

[art]

Might be the best for your request to look at rental unless you are looking at used for the value.

 

[jeff9366]

Your M7060 is a reasonable platform for a factory tractor backhoe addition.
I speculate a Kubota backhoe for your M7060 would cost $7,000 to $8,000.

Kubota has heavier, more specialized backhoe machines in the L47 ($55,000-$65,000) and M62.

Consider a Kubota tracked excavator paired with your M7060.

 

[Cataclysm]

purplewave.com
machinerytrader.com
equipementtrader.com

Several worthwhile threads on here about purchasing/owning backhoe's. To my knowledge extendahoe's and thumbs do not mix.

$30k should get you a reasonably workable backhoe.

I am not calling you out. If you have ran one much at all you know what to look for. Others along with myself on here will happy to list a bunch of points to look for.

I'll start with an easy one to miss. A "low hour machine" that doesn't look low hour. At a local auction house I regularly see beat up "low hour machines". Someone just puts in a new hour meter to hide how many hours the machine really has.

FWIW I own and make a living with a Cat 420D, 4x4, cab, heat, air, 4in1, extendahoe.

 

[Jchonline]

I have owned 1 tractor in my life, but operated equipment during my National Guard career and as I have needed to rent. I am now to the point of considering rental vs. ownership of a backhoe. I have approx 100 acres that are always in need of something, so instead of calling the rental office, I think ownership would be cheaper in the long run. The question is " How do I buy a backhoe?" Where do I go? What should I be looking for and when do I turn and run away? A 4n1 bucket and extended reach with a thumb would be the preferred tractor.

Thanks for the advice

Please clarify your request.

Do you mean backhoe as in one you attach to your M7060, or do you mean a separate JD 310 type full size loader/backhoe, or do you mean an excavator?

If you mean M7060 forget it....they are so high off the ground a 9 ft backhoe is about as good as a 6 ft one...pretty worthless for the $$ you would pay for it. I do believe there is a subframe for it but it is a bad idea in my opinion.

You could look at a Kubota M62 as Jeff suggested and you would get 3PT, very capable BH, but you cannot get a factory Cab (there are aftermarket options).

If you mean a JD310...well I would consider that a total waste unless you are selling the M7060...but you would loose 3PT capabilities.

To me the best option is a mini-excavator or rent if you plan on keeping the M7060. You already have great FEL capacity.

 

[4570Man]

We need more information on the budget and planned use to make solid advice.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Why would 100 acres have anything to do with needing a backhoe?

Bush hogging, yes, but a back hoe is a really specific piece of equipment.

A loader? Most definitely. What will you need to be doing on a routine basis that you'd need a backhoe?

 

[Mrsig]

I have less than 100 acres I got the backhoe for my LS from LS and It saved me a ton of cash over renting one in just the last 2.5 months I had to use it.

Dig out a by pass canal for my lake, a bunch of pits and so much more.
I found it just as valuable as my grapple or bucket.
Good luck!

 

[Moxie 15]

If you are buying used very high on your lists of musts needs to be GOOD TIRES.

 

[4570Man]

If you are buying used very high on your lists of musts needs to be GOOD TIRES.

And good hydraulic hoses and an all around not a piece of junk. You’re a lot better off to spend more money to buy a decent machine vs buying a restoration project.

 

[LouNY]

Just a general comment;
yes an excavator is nicer many times for the actual digging,
however many times a backhoe is preferable.
If the places of use are widely separated a backhoe is much faster traveling,
the front end loader on a backhoe does a better job back filling.
A loader/backhoe can do more varied tasks

 

[fried1765]

And good hydraulic hoses and an all around not a piece of junk. You’re a lot better off to spend more money to buy a decent machine vs buying a restoration project.

SO TRUE!

 

[Williy]

I would recommend the Yanmar YT235C it has the B75
backhoe, bucket, tiller and brushhog and I enjoy using it.
Very comfortable seat, all the controls are at your finger
tips very easy to use the controls. You can see videos
on youtube about this tractor!

willy

 

[4570Man]

I would recommend the Yanmar YT235C it has the B75
backhoe, bucket, tiller and brushhog and I enjoy using it.
Very comfortable seat, all the controls are at your finger
tips very easy to use the controls. You can see videos
on youtube about this tractor!

willy

That might be the best tractor backhoe in the world. If so it’s the best of the worst.

 

[finn1]

Consider a mini excavator in lieu of a compact tractor with a backhoe. Mini excavators are dominating that market now, just like CTLs now dominate the former skid steer market.

 

[fried1765]

Consider a mini excavator in lieu of a compact tractor with a backhoe. Mini excavators are dominating that market now, just like CTLs now dominate the former skid steer market.

Yes, ......if you buy BOTH a mini excavator AND a CTL, you will have better capabilities than a compact TLB.
Will cost a lot of total dollars though!

 

[mikester]

Buy a full sized used construction BH, use it for several years to do your jobs, then sell it for what you paid for it originally.

Keep your tractor for your tractor needs.

 

[GSVette]

Having a construction backhoe myself (Case 580D, extendahoe ) I would offer that you need to look at what you are needing to do before buying one. For myself a tractor backhoe would not have realistically been able to do what I needed to do in my ground- I had to trench long distance for power, water and septic through ground that features a layer of decomposed Granite. Needed either a construction backhoe or an excavator-I went with the cheaper of the two options. I have had to put some money in to mine to fix a variety of hydraulic leaks and such but could probably recoup most of what I paid for it.

 

[Sberry]

310 is a good digger but a poor loader. There are some trades.