**** backhoe's are expensive

[Diggin It]

So, every time you want to dig something, it costs you $250 plus travel time, no matter whether it would take you an hour or a day. And maybe the digger is available when you need it.

I can dig a hole whenever I want to, no direct cost.

 

[fried1765]

The rent it guys are starting to irritate me. Aside from the unrealistically low rates they often quote, they don't consider that many rural areas don't have rental places at all. If they do, they probably don't have a hoe of any kind for rent. On the off chance that a rural rental place does have one, you still have to schedule and transport it. Then who's to say it will be available when you need it? Or will you have to take time off from other projects to meet the rental schedule?

We're not talking about cutting thousands of feet of trench on a schedule. We're talking about a couple of hundred feet of water line or trench that we can do as wee feel like it.

EXACTLY CORRECT!

I have owned my (bought used) Ford 10' TLB for 33 years, yet only put 500 hours on it in those 33 years.
I only want it available for very occasional use in Summer, but I want it AVAILABLE.

Nearest backhoe rental place is 85 miles away.
If I had rented for the entire Summer, for each of the past 33 years,.... wonder what that would have cost?

My TLB, with only 500 hours use in 33 years, has paid for itself MANY times over.
Now, I am considering replacing it, with a newer used machine.
Current value is somewhat more than I originally paid.

 

[grsthegreat]

So the guys that can and do rent hoes efficiently and effectively should just be quiet and not participate in this discussion.

I'm in a county of 8,500 people. Six miles from my farm I can rent a 10' hoe for $250 per day. Free haul if I do it.

exactly. I have 3 rental companies in my rural town. A small bobcat rents in the low $200s i haul. Rental rates DO AFFECT someones thoughts weather they need to buy a backhoe or not. Its very relative.

 

[fried1765]

exactly. I have 3 rental companies in my rural town. A small bobcat rents in the low $200s i haul. Rental rates DO AFFECT someones thoughts weather they need to buy a backhoe or not. Its very relative.

I would suggest that backhoe availability is the most important issue.
Rates do not matter one iota,..... if there are NO backhoes locally available for rent.

 

[Oaktree]

The rent it guys are starting to irritate me. Aside from the unrealistically low rates they often quote, they don't consider that many rural areas don't have rental places at all. If they do, they probably don't have a hoe of any kind for rent. On the off chance that a rural rental place does have one, you still have to schedule and transport it. Then who's to say it will be available when you need it? Or will you have to take time off from other projects to meet the rental schedule?

We're not talking about cutting thousands of feet of trench on a schedule. We're talking about a couple of hundred feet of water line or trench that we can do as wee feel like it.

Are you saying that anyone who disagrees with you should keep their opinions to themselves?
Boils down to your individual situation. I'm in the camp where it would be nice to have, but could never justify the cost, so if/when I ever need one it will likely be a rental. If you think you'll get enough use out of one, have at it. No one's stopping you.

 

[cdaigle430]

If you've got the space and funds a mini-ex might be better.
To me the backhoe when on a tractor only shines when you have to travel long distance ON the equipment. Like trail maintenance in the woods.

Yeah mini-ex are alot more expensive than 9k, even ones with 3,000 hours on them-Ive been looking for 10 years now fro something decent.

 

[fried1765]

Are you saying that anyone who disagrees with you should keep their opinions to themselves?
Boils down to your individual situation. I'm in the camp where it would be nice to have, but could never justify the cost, so if/when I ever need one it will likely be a rental. If you think you'll get enough use out of one, have at it. No one's stopping you.

I think you miss the point by Diggin It.
He is apparently irritated by the assumption that there are backhoes for instant rental on nearly every street corner nationwide.
He is correct!
It simply ain't so.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I also agree with Diggin. I have had many DIY projects put on hold because a rental tool was not available when I needed it. Or, have to rent something too small, too big, or a compromise that made the project harder or frustrating. Since 2011 the BH for my BX has been on more than off and now BX has clocked 1500 hrs. If I remember a BH for a B model is $6K extra. Add the numbers, I am way ahead of the game and a lot less frustration. That is a plus at my age. Diggin by hand is not in my lexicon. Since moving to town I'm still using the hoe for landscaping our new property.

Ron

 

[fried1765]

I also agree with Diggin. I have had many DIY projects put on hold because a rental tool was not available when I needed it. Or, have to rent something too small, too big, or a compromise that made the project harder or frustrating. Since 2011 the BH for my BX has been on more than off and now BX has clocked 1500 hrs. If I remember a BH for a B model is $6K extra. Add the numbers, I am way ahead of the game and a lot less frustration. That is a plus at my age. Diggin by hand is not in my lexicon. Since moving to town I'm still using the hoe for landscaping our new property.

Ron

Tractor life is just not complete without a hoe!

 

[ovrszd]

I would suggest that backhoe availability is the most important issue.
Rates do not matter one iota,..... if there are NO backhoes locally available for rent.

I agree. For those that have them available it's the most cost effective solution to rare use.