rScotty
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2001
- Messages
- 9,534
- Location
- Rural mountains - Colorado
- Tractor
- Kubota M59, JD530, JD310SG. Restoring Yanmar YM165D
After reading the many replies (Many Thanks!) I have decided to look for a backhoe with a thumb that I can attach to a sub frame. It looks like the tow behind diggers are just way too light for the ground I have here and 3 point units are too risky.
Looking at my tractor I can see how to attach a sub frame unit such that it will not put the kind of load on the tractor that causes breakage.
In the mean time I'll just rent a mini excavator with a thumb for the places it can be used. The thumb is a super time saver when dealing with the kind of rocks we have.
I'm pretty sure that once I start to seriously look for a small add on hoe I'll be able to find one at a price I can afford.
Thanks Again Everybody,
Eric
Agree. Having been where you are headed, the 3pt backhoe is OK if you are careful. The pull behind is too light.
What you are describing is a pretty common evolution for tractor guys. I see that lots of us started with a compact tractor&FEL then eventually added a 3pt backhoe before ending up with either a newer TLB or mini.
My old 3pt backhoe sat unused for a couple of years after we got the TLB. Then one day an old buddy asked if it would fit his tractor..... so he used it a few years and then FFWD another ten years and I noticed that old 3pt hoe sitting unused in his barn while he was playing with his new TLB. He eventually passed it along to a neighbor.
rScotty