Back Hoes for Track Loaders

parisq · Sep 24, 2009

I need some expert advice on how well back hoes work on track steers? I'm a newbie in the pre-buy stage of getting a TS (ASV PT100) as my primary farm machine (no CUT), supplemented by a Toolcat 5610 for lighter-duty all-purpose work. A back hoe will be critical for digging holes and digging out rocks. I like the idea of having the hoe in front and possibly operating while in the cab. Is this possible? I suspect you should be out on it with the stabilizers down for heavy duty digging. I'm looking at the the Bradco 511 or 600 series hoes. Thanks in advance.

dfkrug · Sep 24, 2009

Backhoe attachments for skidsteers have been made for quite a while,
but most had to be operated from their own seat. I have seen very
recent models of a hoe on a Bobcat that was operated from the main
seat, but it was not made by Bobcat, and I was in Spain at the time.

Most, like the ubiquitous Bobcat 709 have their own seat and that requires
that the operator change seats often to move around. Not a very
ergonomic way to go.

Then there are the simplified diggers that mount to the Bobtach and only
have a boom, bucket, and curl function. They are operated from the
driver's seat, but have no swing or dipper.

some zilch · Sep 24, 2009

skid steer mounted backhoes suck. you have to change seats, you cannot move the machine from the backhoe's seat (like you can use the hoe to push the tractor forward, you cannot with a skid steer), sometimes, the door on a cabbed SSL will not open all the way, and so on and so forth. for the price of a SSL mlunted backhoe, you could pick up an older used real backhoe and do 5x the work.

Botabill · Sep 24, 2009

For digging most will agree an excavator is best. The Tractor Loader Backhoe has the advantages of mobility, digging and then using the loader. The skidsteer with hoe has no advantages over either that I can think of.

parisq · Sep 25, 2009

Great points! You now have me rethinking my equipment combo. Because I envision doing a fair amount of digging, now, thinking a tractor/loader w BH or used mini-excavator (maybe 3 to 4 tons) instead of the fairly expensive Toolcat.