Backhoe Are small backhoes worth the $??

[Ken45101]

I am thinking of buying a small TLB something like a B20 or B21 (used) and was wondering if anyone can tell me how hard it is to remove the backhoe from these tractors. There is also a Kioti ck35 and a Cub Cadet 7300 for sale with a backhoe attachment. Since we are talking about value, can someone give me an idea on which of these would be the best value. They are all priced around $12,000. My uses would be digging out small/medium sized rocks, digging draining ditches and using it to maintain the edges of my ponds.

I have a B21. According to the manual, removal is fairly simple. Of course, it helps to have a flat concrete surface, something that I do not have. I would think that when reattaching it, having everything aligned on a flat surface would make it even easier.

I've had the B21 for 8 or 9 years and I have never taken the bh off although I'm thinking about it.

IMO, the B21 will hold it's resale value better than the Kioti or CC if you ever want to sell it.

I'm not sure what you mean by "maintaining the edge of your ponds" but be aware that all small backhoes have limited horizontal reach. You don't want to get too close to the edge

Ken

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

It is very handy to have a small BH available when needed. No need to list all the possibilities.

As for those who think "justification" is necessary - here is my take. Either one has the money to purchase for cash or can afford the payments. If so, reasons to buy are easy to determine. If no money and not able to make payments - no BH.

I purchased a brand new JD / TLB in 2008 and sold in 2011 for 88% of what I paid. Figure the BH cost me approx $650 for three years or less than $225 per year. Justification? Depreciation? That's good enough for me.

All the guys that want to rent - how many rentals for $225?

 

[LT1Pat]

I bought a backhoe because they're fun to play with! I find the arguments about rental vs buying to be pretty flawed because if you buy a piece of equipment used they don't tend to lose value very much (sometimes none at all if bought and sold in the right seasons). I would never rent an excavator to do the things I do with my backhoe so they would just never get done.

 

[cowpatty]

I have a b21 and it is very easy to remove the hoe. Not to mention the b21/b26 plays way above it's weight class. My only problem is the ole "ball and chain" won't let me out enough to play with it!

 

[Gary Fowler]

Cowpatty/Ken: about how much weight will the B21 hoe lift. I have lots of rocks to dig out. Some are less than 100 lbs but some are larger. You cant really tell the size of them when you start digging.
Also how much reach / digging depth do they have.

 

[Eyeshade]

Is it worth it? Yes, yes, and yes.

 

[tractchores]

I've got a bh on my b2920. I use it quite a bit. I used to rent an excavator, but this is much easier because i can pop it on in 2 minutes, use it, take it off and go back to my 3pt in 5 mins and continue. Some jobs need 15 minutes of bh time, but can't be done without it. Renting would have been a huge pain for those jobs. Not to mention the tractor goes olaces the mini excavator could bever dream of. My main jobs are digging and cleaning drainage, removing rocks, building walls and stump removal. I would also recommend a bh dolly, i built one and it akes attaching or removing the bh a 2 minute job with no effort.

 

[Ken45101]

Cowpatty/Ken: about how much weight will the B21 hoe lift. I have lots of rocks to dig out. Some are less than 100 lbs but some are larger. You cant really tell the size of them when you start digging.
Also how much reach / digging depth do they have.

The hoe is rated (depending on depth and angle) for lifting 650-700+ pounds. Digging depth is just over 80 inches. For big rocks sometimes you just drag them out and slide them around. I even have to do that with my 8000# mini excavator. There will always be bigger rocks than you can handle. Even the big boys have to use explosives to bring some of them down to size. :laughing:

Ken

 

[FritzII]

No & Yes. I had a Kubota BX23 and sold it to get a bigger tractor with more bells and whistles. I still have a good amount of things I want to do with the "new" BH. Last Friday I removed 5 stumps with it. I have a buddy that rents Gehl equipment and would drop the stuff at my house when I needed it. It was a great deal, but not convenient. I like to use the equipment when I feel like it and not have to plan ahead for it. I walk out to the garage jump on the tractor and can run it all day and night or for 15 minutes. I think I will always have a BH in my arsenal. I can't live without it now. I say, if you want it and can afford it, buy it !!!! I figure that if I was paying the normal rate for BH rentals, I'd be around $5000.00 right now.

 

[PatasColo]

I am thinking of buying a small TLB something like a B20 or B21 (used) and was wondering if anyone can tell me how hard it is to remove the backhoe from these tractors. There is also a Kioti ck35 and a Cub Cadet 7300 for sale with a backhoe attachment. Since we are talking about value, can someone give me an idea on which of these would be the best value. They are all priced around $12,000...

Gary, I don't know anything about the CubCadet, but that CK35 is a much bigger animal. If it is in reasonable shape and not totally overloaded with hours or abuse, that $12,000 sounds like an absolute steal to me! (As long as it meets your needs and is not too big for your uses.) Do your own research; I know that small tractors and backhoes in my area (front range, Colorado) tend to command such top dollar that it often makes more sense to buy new here. Not the same in all areas of the country.
-Mitch

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have been looking around on Craigslist and tractorhouse and small backhoes like the B21 are really scarce and carry top dollar prices even for models built in the 1990's. Most of the ones for sale are in the 1700 hour + range but seem to be ok (at least in the photos) It seems every good deal I find is when I am out of the country working and by the time I get home they are sold and nothing online anywhere. I will just have to be patient. I really wanted to get something small that would get into tight spots and not rut up my yard. I can get used 580 Case etc for about the same price as the B 21 but dont want anything that big. I do want it big enough to handle a fairly large rock of say 2 feet long x 1 foot in diameter which is about the size of most or smaller, although I have dug some out with my FEL that put a load on the LS P7010 when picking them up. When you dig something out like that with the FEL you end up with a large hole to fill in and tamp down, hence wanting the back hoe for that and planting trees, maybe digging up some and relocating also. That 7300 Cub Cadet is about as large as I would go I think.

 

[tractchores]

One use for the BH that has not been mentioned is it makes an incredible rear ballast. My BH weighs in right around the same as the tractor's dry weight, so I'm putting ~1400 lbs right on the rear wheels when its on. That translates into a much more usable FEL and great traction. I often carry it around when doing FEL work in the mud or hauling heavy stuff just for its weight.

 

[Ken45101]

I have been looking around on Craigslist and tractorhouse and small backhoes like the B21 are really scarce and carry top dollar prices even for models built in the 1990's. Most of the ones for sale are in the 1700 hour + range but seem to be ok (at least in the photos) It seems every good deal I find is when I am out of the country working and by the time I get home they are sold and nothing online anywhere. I will just have to be patient. I really wanted to get something small that would get into tight spots and not rut up my yard. I can get used 580 Case etc for about the same price as the B 21 but dont want anything that big.

I would guess there are two categories of B21s that come on the market: beat to heck and back rental fleet units and lightly used homeowner ones.

As for Case 580, and that type, this may be a good time since prices are down with the downturn in the construction industry. However, again, I've seen some pretty poor condition construction equipment. Before I bought the B21, a local had a 580 type for sale. I tested it out, just driving it in his yard. The brakes wouldn't stop it!!! His comment: "Well you can just drop the bucket if you need to stop". I live in very steep terrain. NO thank you!

I will just add: decent equipment is not cheap, either new or used. Beware of any cheap "bargains". YMMV,

One use for the BH that has not been mentioned is it makes an incredible rear ballast. My BH weighs in right around the same as the tractor's dry weight, so I'm putting ~1400 lbs right on the rear wheels when its on. That translates into a much more usable FEL and great traction. I often carry it around when doing FEL work in the mud or hauling heavy stuff just for its weight.

You bring up a point that I wanted to mention. My B21 manual is very clear: do not operate without some rear ballast. If you remove the backhoe unit, you need to add weight on the rear like a box blade or something else heavy.

 

[LBrown59]

I'm currently in the process of purchasing a JD 2000 series tractor and was thinking about getting a backhoe. I would use it to maintain the area around a one acre pond and plant some trees. My dealer says their about $5,000. Are these small backhoes worth the money? Anybody have one?

Well worth it to me.

I have one of the smallest... it's a BX23 and the Backhoe is one of the reasons I bought my Kubota...

MyBX23

 

[underdog02817]

You've rented a mini excavator ...... spending seven grand in rental fees to do all that work around your place.

I spent seven grand buying a backhoe to do the work around my place (on my schedule, not the schedule of the rental yard), but when I'm done, it is still worth five grand if I decide to sell it.

Just a different perspective, I reckon.

A backhoe transforms my tractor into a totally different animal, with a whole bunch of new capabilities. After having one (well, actually two), I would have a really tough time being without one.

Amen to that. It was the reason I picked my BX25 over others. I liked the fact it was "designed in" from the ground up.

With that said I weighed the options of renting weekly versus the added cost of buying one up front and to me the convenience of having it available when I want and where I want made more sense. I have rented equipment in the past and always feel rushed to get the job done with it to get it back within the alloted time rather than take my time and do it right. Or just pace myself to not over do it on me personally. And there are many jobs where I wish I had the equipment and made due without it.

Its not that you have to stretch to find uses its that now you dont have to comprimise.

Believe me,if it is absolutely a one time use then yes renting but if you have any intentions of multiple projects that might take cumulatively 7 weeks or more.......

And not talking solid straight work time. if you rent one and really need all that weeks time you are tied to it. You cant just do a little here and a little there at a reasonable pace.


I bought mine knowing I have some drainage to dig, a bunch of retaining walls I want to build and some to rebuild. The builder that built my house must have buried a ton of rock and stumps to one side of the property because it is major sinkhole heaven there so now I can dig it up a bit and really fill it properly. No more hose, prybar and wheelbarrow for a few days everytime one opens up. This is just the start....

 

[cowpatty]

Exhibits 1-6

I have picked up a Small Block Chevy out of a truck and lifted it over the tailgate. It probably went 600 pounds.

Like Ken said, you can drag a whole lot more than that and maneuver it that way. Feel free to use my "sled" idea.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Good job with the tree and restoration of the area after removal.

 

[YesDeere]

Mine was in the package. Was gonna sell it. No way after multiple culverts and a new septic field. Also digs a mean fire pit

 

[MtHam]

Not sure if mine is considered small, but having done approximately 75 hours of backhoe work in the last 2 years with my B3030/BH75, I would say it is definitely worth it. Rental would have involved a 2 hour round trip drive each way, but even if rental was closer, it still has more than paid for itself. And having been purchased 2nd hand (almost new) it still holds most of it's purchase price and will provide years of future use.