Backhoe Backhoe justification

[brianMO]

My wife has been wanting an inground swimming pool for some time. I look at it as a way to get my backhoe attachment for my Tractor. Will a back hoe get this done? I was thinking about a 14x28 rectangle at 6ft in the deep end. Has anybody put their own pool in?

 

[20 20]

Sounds easier then it is but could be done, heck a shovel and wheel barrow would do the job. Some things you may want to consider, what is your experience with a BH? How will you get rid of the dirt? How much room do you have to move around in the area? What happens if/when you hit a huge rock or other hidden treasure? IF you decide to go this rout make sure there are no barried lines, might get expensive?

 

[brianMO]

I thought about this little back-hoe. Might be more versatile keeping the FEL available to move dirt. I could tow this around with my atv or riding mower. As far a rocks go. Not a likely problem in my area, but you never know.

NorthStar Trencherman Backhoe — 9 HP | Backhoes | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[AndyMA]

First let me say, unlike many on this list I could not live without my backhoe. I've had one on my last 4 tractors. My current hoe is a Woods 1050 that can dig a flat bottom trench 10 1/2 feet deep. Even with that hoe, digging a pool would be a lot of work. I would probably need to dig a hole and build a dirt ramp to get in and out of the hole. I could not dig it all from the top. With a tiny hole, especially the tow behind the repositioning would be a killer. Figure out the volume of the size hole you need and double it (will be in cubic yards). Take abut 2/3 of the struck capacity of the backhoe bucket (will be in cu feet) and dive it out to see how many buckets will be required. You'll be surprised. I also have a 44,000 lb excavator with a 29 foot reach and over a 1 yard bucket. That machine can dig a pool in a few hours.The little hoe could do it, in weeks not hours. Now you can easily justify the backhoe on many other projects. I say het it.

Andy

 

[MikeD74T]

Brian, No man should ever have to justify buying a backhoe!!

However.... I did install my own inground liner pool with a 580 Case. Besides how many buckets full it takes to create the hole it's necessary to have the reach from enough locations to dig & remove spoils. With a big machine there's less locations needed, less moving that must be done immediately, less time involved overall. With a smaller hoe one is at the mercy of time & weather. The goal is to get the hole dug & pool in it ASAP. One good rain can fill the hole back in to the point that it cannot be easily redug, especially with a small machine. Also with a liner pool the hole has to match the liner very closely. Are you experienced enough to do this? Failing the project to where she doesn't get the pool would be a bad move. Do the man thing - buy her a pool - buy you a backhoe. It's a fair deal. MikeD74T

 

[LBrown59]

I thought about this little back-hoe. Might be more versatile keeping the FEL available to move dirt. I could tow this around with my atv or riding mower. As far a rocks go. Not a likely problem in my area, but you never know.

NorthStar Trencherman Backhoe 9 HP | Backhoes | Northern Tool + Equipment

Doubt that it has the gusto necessary .

 

[LBrown59]

Brian, No man should ever have to justify buying a backhoe!!

However.... I did install my own inground liner pool with a 580 Case. Besides how many buckets full it takes to create the hole it's necessary to have the reach from enough locations to dig & remove spoils. With a big machine there's less locations needed, less moving that must be done immediately, less time involved overall. With a smaller hoe one is at the mercy of time & weather. The goal is to get the hole dug & pool in it ASAP. One good rain can fill the hole back in to the point that it cannot be easily redug, especially with a small machine. Also with a liner pool the hole has to match the liner very closely. Are you experienced enough to do this? Failing the project to where she doesn't get the pool would be a bad move. Do the man thing - buy her a pool - buy you a backhoe. It's a fair deal. MikeD74T

It's a BH so no justification needed.

There was another thread about the same subject a week or so ago .
What I learned there is digging a pool is a far more precise thing than digging things like septics basements ditches etc.

 

[JoelD]

It's a BH so no justification needed.

There was another thread about the same subject a week or so ago .
What I learned there is digging a pool is a far more precise thing than digging things like septics basements ditches etc.

Brown took the words out of my mouth, there was an extensive post on this very subject.

I've briefly thought the same.

This is a job, that if screwed up, you are in big big trouble.

I would leave this job to the experts.

If I were to dig such a hole, I'd rent an excavator, will save you much time and in the long run money in my opion. As I've posted previously, I rented a cat 311 (28000lbs) for a day for $500. You would be amazed at the work you can get done in 8 hours with a 36 inch bucket, big pistons and a big pump.

I think clasic case of you need to proper tools for the proper job, and even a better example of leave it to the pros.

Man would I like for something to go wrong with the pool, anything, and just make a phone call and its fixed.

Joel

 

[dr swartz]

i have a frend does this kind of work he sed the hole has to match with in 4 inches the conture of the pool then you add a 6 inch coating od sand and install the lower drainse and pumps you have to lower the pool from both ends at the same time and shake the sand into the conters to level out hi spots and low spots its is realy persice work my tip is to hire it done while she is away and letr her think you did it

 

[alchemysa]

I met a guy once who dug a small pool with a spade and wheelbarrow. Every morning before work he spent an hour digging. Took him about 2 years as I recall. It was a 'labor of love'.
I'd just about put digging a pool with a small backhoe in the same category. I'm sure some guys have done it but I wouldn't. (Even though I have a backhoe). Apart from the time factor (weeks perhaps) the wear and tear on a small backhoe would be significant. It would take thousands of scoops and you'd have to reposition the tractor dozens of times. I wouldnt for a second consider one of those little towbehinds for it. (They are not cheap anyway).
Hire a good operator and a big excavator for a day.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

I have dug a couple in-ground pools and i also dug a pond on my property that's 9ft. deep in the middle.

The best way to dig a pool or pond deep is to make a ramp and get down inside the hole, and you can shape the sides with your BH from inside also.... and i used my FEL a lot while inside.... I was digging in clay and its great for shaping the sides.

 

[alchemysa]

I have dug a couple in-ground pools and i also dug a pond on my property that's 9ft. deep in the middle.

The best way to dig a pool or pond deep is to make a ramp and get down inside the hole, and you can shape the sides with your BH from inside also.... and i used my FEL a lot while inside.... I was digging in clay and its great for shaping the sides.

The voice of experience. Its hard to beat.

But johndeere, would you buy a small backhoe to dig a pool? And how long did it take ?

 

[GreenLawnFarm]

I would use a subsoiler to rip up a foot depth at a time, then the FEL to scoop. Under $200 for a subsoiler and it also pulls out tree roots and small stumps well.

 

[Gizmo2]

I thought about this little back-hoe. Might be more versatile keeping the FEL available to move dirt. I could tow this around with my atv or riding mower. As far a rocks go. Not a likely problem in my area, but you never know.

NorthStar Trencherman Backhoe 9 HP | Backhoes | Northern Tool + Equipment

The notion is insane, buy a six pack of beer and call it a day.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

The voice of experience. Its hard to beat.

But johndeere, would you buy a small backhoe to dig a pool? And how long did it take ?

Like BrianMO said, he doesn't own a backhoe...If i was him and didn't own a backhoe and wanted to buy one to dig a pool, (then yes)... I would buy one to dig a pool.

On one of the pools that i dug, it was 4ft. on one end and it sloped down to 10ft, and the pool was 10ft. wide...It took me 16 hours to do the whole thing, and that included shaping the sides, and hauling all the dirt out of the hole.

On the other pool, it was 4ft. and sloped to 6ft. and doing everything took about 10 hours.

My pond is 25X25 and 9ft. deep and i had to slope the sides different than the pools....The pool sides were straight down, and my pond sides are sloped from the top of the bank down to the bottom.... I could back my ATV down in my pond.(only if there wasn't any water in it. ).... My backhoe has a reach straight down to 8 1/2-FT.

Its much easier & faster if you make a ramp and get inside of the hole, and you can use your FEL to do some digging.

The biggest problem with digging a pool or pond is getting rid of all the dirt, and if you don't have it planned out first, then it can take a lot of hours to finish.... On the pools and pond i had a dump trailer sitting on top waiting, and i came out of the hole with a load & dumped it in the trailer.

If a person knows how to use a piece of equipment he could dig a pool or pond with a 'terramite' that had a FEL and backhoe.... But it would just take longer to do.

 

[brandoro]

I bought my first tractor to fill in a pool that was 20' X 40' and 10' deep at the deep end. That was a big enough job with a small machine. Digging a hole that size with the same small machine is not something I would look forward to. Certainly it can be done but IMO bigger is much better for a job like that.
The reason I decided to delete the pool was poor installation, even though it was allegedly done by "experts" so even if you hire it done keep a close eye to make sure steps don't get missed.