backhoe attachment vs a separate machine

[streamin]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but doing a search didn't bring any good threads. So Buying the BH to me seems like the less desirable option so you can keep the tractor free with the boxblade, but probably a lot less money. Any thoughts of anyone who had this dilemma?

 

[HP942]

My last tractor was a 1983 JD1050 4x4 with a loader and factory backhoe. I bought it used with 1800 hours and ran it 14 years and put about 1200 hours on it. I did use my backhoe a few times over the years, it sure beats a shovel. BUT, I live in an area with a lot of rock and clay, TBL’s can never replace a good backhoe doing real work. My first project was to dig the footings for a 30 x 40 workshop. It took me while to complete that job, a pro with the right equipment could have done it in a couple hours or less. If you are in an area free of rocks or sticky clay it may be fine. When I bought my new ride, I decided not to look for a backhoe due to cost and not really using mine much. Although they are handy, I couldn’t justify the cost based on my past use over 14 years.

 

[streamin]

My last tractor was a 1983 JD1050 4x4 with a loader and factory backhoe. I bought it used with 1800 hours and ran it 14 years and put about 1200 hours on it. I did use my backhoe a few times over the years, it sure beats a shovel. BUT, I live in an area with a lot of rock and clay, TBL’s can never replace a good backhoe doing real work. My first project was to dig the footings for a 30 x 40 workshop. It took me while to complete that job, a pro with the right equipment could have done it in a couple hours or less. If you are in an area free of rocks or sticky clay it may be fine. When I bought my new ride, I decided not to look for a backhoe due to cost and not really using mine much. Although they are handy, I couldn’t justify the cost based on my past use over 14 years.

That is good input, thankyou. I fear I will have a bunch of rocks where I'll need it.

 

[timbatrader]

To me the biggest difference between a tractor mounted back hoe and a mini excavator is the ability to work on the face of a slip on a track and load the debris onto a truck or trailer behind you with a backhoe unless your working area is big enough to park beside your tractor you run out of places stack dirt quickly in my case working on narrow tracks or my confined spaces where I dig out rock to spread on my tracks a backhoe would mean double or triple handling every bucket of dirt

 

[dirttoys]

If budget is not an issue, a mini and a tractor with a loader are handy as a hoot owl.

I used a hoe on my skid for years before buying the mini. The hoe on the skid had more power, less reach, half the swing, and tied up the skid. Not all bad, but, a world of difference having the mini. I would be hard pressed not to have one. You can drag a tractor around with a hoe better than you can a skid, in my opinion, and changing seats gets to be a real drag.....

Best,

ed

 

[Mrsig]

I got the backhoe on my tractor and use it a lot. Once I added the thumb to it was even more useful. I could not afford a separate machine.

 

[streamin]

Mrsig, that is really nice and clean too! Timbatrader and Dirttoys, I wasn't really thinking on the fine points you made but I'm sure in the long run they become important. I think it also matters how much you use them too. Thanks!

 

[Diggin It]

Are you talking about a new unit, or adding something to what you already have?

I got mine new as a whole package. The BH is a four point cradle mount and the subframe stays on. I can use any other attachments including the MMM, tiller, rake, etc. Changeout takes just a few minutes and a couple of pins.

Add-on 3 point BH units are known to be transmission killers due to the insecure mounting method, though some people have beefed theirs up.


Are they as capable as separate machines? No. Cost effective? Only you can decide that.




.

 

[rbstern]

Have the factory backhoe on my LS M225e. There are two things I love about it: 1) being able to dig on short notice, and 2) the ballast it provides. Gives the tractor the stability of a tractor another size up.

When I got the machine a few years ago, hated taking the backhoe off to switch implements. Takes a bit of practice to do it in a short time. Have gotten to the point where I can do it in about 10 minutes. Truly not a big deal.

No question a mini-ex is far more capable. But the convenience and cost savings of the tractor mounted BH, as long as it can do the digging chores you need, makes it worth it. In the three years I've owned mine, the rentals to do my modest projects would have totaled at least half of the backhoe's cost, not to mention time and effort to get the rentals (I'm 40 miles from the nearest rental place).

 

[GSVette]

It really comes down to where and what you are digging. I originally planned on getting a tractor with backhoe however when doing septic evaluation trenches using a Case 590 I realized that a tractor based backhoe had very little chance digging through the decomposed granite I hit between 3 and 4 feet. As a result, I purchased a well used ( but repowered) Case 580D which has dug hundreds of feet of water and power line trenches. There are places where I don’t think a lighter machine could have broken through the granite layer.

In retrospect a min-ex in the 10k# range might have been a better choice-but I got a pretty good deal on the Case and could probably sell it for what I paid for it.

 

[sea2summit]

If budget is not an issue, a mini and a tractor with a loader are handy as a hoot owl.

I used a hoe on my skid for years before buying the mini. The hoe on the skid had more power, less reach, half the swing, and tied up the skid. Not all bad, but, a world of difference having the mini. I would be hard pressed not to have one. You can drag a tractor around with a hoe better than you can a skid, in my opinion, and changing seats gets to be a real drag.....

Best,

ed

This^

Tractors with FELs and Backhoes are great, but that's not using the strengths of a tractor. A skid loader will always be better for lifting things and a excavator will always be better for digging. Having said that I still use a FEL and a backhoe on the tractor...someday though!

 

[rScotty]

This^

Tractors with FELs and Backhoes are great, but that's not using the strengths of a tractor. A skid loader will always be better for lifting things and a excavator will always be better for digging. Having said that I still use a FEL and a backhoe on the tractor...someday though!

I think that says it all.

 

[3Ts]

I use a BH on my tractor. I'd love to have a mini-ex, however, the cost is not something I can justify. I have used my BH to dig a hole for the septic tank, and a buried propane tank. Those are more difficult and time consuming than a trench for a water line etc. The wide and deep holes require digging, then stop and move the spoils so you can dig some more, there are limited places you can dump the bucket. Then reposition the tractor to make the hole wider and do it again. It is a lot slower than an excavator and it's easier to move the excavator to the proper position to dig, but it sure beats digging it by hand. If money is no object, the excavator is the way to go.

Also, if you need to dig a trench between buildings, either 1) you won't be able to get up close to one of them, or 2) you'll trap your machine straddling the ditch until you back fill at least part of it so you can drive over the ditch again. The tracks on an ex reduces this considerably.

 

[etpm]

I have a Case 580CK backhoe. It has the loader in front of course. I really like the machine because it digs and loads. Where I live there are plenty of rocks as well as changing soil conditions. So soft and hard stuff. It does not have a thumb and I really wish it did. Several years ago I rented a mini excavator with a thumb for some narrow ditch work. That machine was great for digging ditches and pulling rocks out of the ground with the thumb. The tracks also really tore up the grass even though I was as careful as possible when turning.
Now I also have a Yanmar YM2310. I love it. It is just the right size for so much that I do around my place. The Case is huge so now it gets minimal use. Now I want a small backhoe for digging small holes and narrow ditches. A mini ex would be great but they are way out of my price range. So I am going to look for a small backhoe that I can adapt to the YM2310. I need a cheap one so it will probably be one that needs repair. I know a small backhoe won't be nearly as good as an excavator but it will also be better than a shovel and better than the Case for small holes and narrow ditches.
Eric

 

[bcp]

When I bought the BX, I thought I would have so little digging that it wouldn't be worth a backhoe. Now, 10 years later, I wish I had bought it. Still very little digging, but with a thumb and a bucket hook, it would be worth it as a crane.

Bruce

 

[rScotty]

I have a Case 580CK backhoe. It has the loader in front of course. I really like the machine because it digs and loads. Where I live there are plenty of rocks as well as changing soil conditions. So soft and hard stuff. It does not have a thumb and I really wish it did. Several years ago I rented a mini excavator with a thumb for some narrow ditch work. That machine was great for digging ditches and pulling rocks out of the ground with the thumb. The tracks also really tore up the grass even though I was as careful as possible when turning.
Now I also have a Yanmar YM2310. I love it. It is just the right size for so much that I do around my place. The Case is huge so now it gets minimal use. Now I want a small backhoe for digging small holes and narrow ditches. A mini ex would be great but they are way out of my price range. So I am going to look for a small backhoe that I can adapt to the YM2310. I need a cheap one so it will probably be one that needs repair. I know a small backhoe won't be nearly as good as an excavator but it will also be better than a shovel and better than the Case for small holes and narrow ditches.
Eric

If you like your YM2310, keep your eyes open for a Yanmar CDL40 which is the same vintage. Remarkable 40 hp HST machines with serious lifting power but small size. Very heavy at 8000 lbs. PTO&3pt hitch. They were popular in the PNW 30 years ago. Similar to the Kubota L39 - but a generation older.

I almost bought one. Still see them on the used market sometimes.

 

[Smokeydog]

For our farm the combination of Kubota M59 and B26TLBs are about perfect for current life stage. Both have backhoe thumbs and have grapples. Thru the years have had bigger, smaller and various ag tractors. Three houses, miles of perimeter fencing, miles of underground utilities. Wife likes her big rocks around ever increasing flowerbeds. The compactness of the small one has big advantage in tight quarters. Big one has strength and moves more material easier. Both are in the 3pt mode most of the time. Use the HD loaders often. Not damaging landscaping, orchards and berry patches important.

Have a rock damn to repair, small hydro generator and Frank Lloyd Wright the airstream over the waterfall projects that might benefit from a larger machine. ..

 

[etpm]

If you like your YM2310, keep your eyes open for a Yanmar CDL40 which is the same vintage. Remarkable 40 hp HST machines with serious lifting power but small size. Very heavy at 8000 lbs. PTO&3pt hitch. They were popular in the PNW 30 years ago. Similar to the Kubota L39 - but a generation older. View attachment 738543 I almost bought one. Still see them on the used market sometimes.

View attachment 738543

I think I would sell my Case and my YM2310 for one of those. It looks perfect.
Eric

 

[loggin]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but doing a search didn't bring any good threads. So Buying the BH to me seems like the less desirable option so you can keep the tractor free with the boxblade, but probably a lot less money. Any thoughts of anyone who had this dilemma?

I believe it all depends on what you are going to use the backhoe for, what the conditions are, how often will you use it and what is your budget.

If money is not an issue then I would get a separate backhoe or mini ex.

One thing to consider is if you have two machines you will have more maintenance.

If you do not use the other machine much then it is just sitting around and that is typically not great especially if left out in the weather. Not to mention money tied up in something that is used very seldomly.

Capability and conditions are a little more crucial here and it all depends on what you want to use the machine for. Hard conditions and using the machine a lot will necessitate a larger more capable machine and possibly more machines depending on their niche uses.

Perhaps you could tell us a little more about your intended use and the type of conditions..??

 

[BufordBoone]

I always planned to get a tractor that included a backhoe attachment. Did a ton of research and settled on a Kubota L5740 with the subframe mounted backhoe.

Putting it on requires removing the 3-pt. hitch. Not a difficult job, gets easier the more you do it.

As I live in hot/humid Alabama, I also insisted on a cab.

Using the backhoe then having to get off, get in the cab and move the tractor is a pain. Sometimes I've had the Wife move the tractor for me. That helped.

Anyway, I don't use the backhoe very much due to having to change things out and the difficulty of working alone. Last time I had it on the tractor was August of 2020, to dig a grave for our dog.

Were I to do it over again, I'd not get the tractor mounted backhoe, I'd rent or purchase a mini-x.