Backhoe Learning to use backhoe

[Botabill]

I haven't used a trencher but a mini excavator will do this job in 1/4 the time of a backhoe. Some minis are better than others. The bobcats don't rate high but they are still a lot better than a back hoe.

 

[workinallthetime]

Just raise the outriggers and front bucket and push the tractor along with the hoe. Obviously, the trans must be in neutral and no brakes engaged. Don't forget to steer. The front wheels still determine the direction the machine goes when you push. Find a pipeline job somewhere and watch a pro.

I use this exact method with my b3030 and even in perfect conditions this is slower than an excavator (trac hoe) style. Your entire description is not needed, you simply just use the foot pedal and drive foreward or back, no set up unless you are using the front blade to stabilze which i do suggest. The best way to look at this is:
A TLB is a multi tool, the large one are really good at doing alot of different things.
A excavator is good at only 1 thing, digging so it is built to do that as fast and as efficent as possible.
I would have to also say to a novice the excavator is going to be much more safe due to greatly reducing the chance of turning it on its side. He is also going to have less of an impact on the ground since he will not have out riggers and a front blade digging in every few feet as he works.

IMO small excavator, having operated both tlb's and excavators, also have dug a few 1000 feet of french drains for customers, neighbors, and myself.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Have you considered a trencher like a ditch witch? Might be a whole pile faster and cheaper.

I'm with Egon on this one.. If you've never operated a backhoe, then you don't want to waste your money learning.

 

[harpoonalt]

I'm with Egon on this one.. If you've never operated a backhoe, then you don't want to waste your money learning.[/QUOTE

Backhoes are a pile of fun. Some people have the knack for running equipment and some don't. I'd never used one and became somewhat effective after about an hour. Almost looked like I knew what I was doing after 2. My neighbor used it for 4 hours and still made us laugh every time. I'd rent just for the experience and fun. He would hire it out next time. If you have the desire, and confidence, go ahead and try it. Something to laugh about as you get older. If you just REALLY need this done then hire it out and don't be stressed.

 

[dillo99]

I wanted to get the opinions of some of you who own/use backhoes a lot about some work I need to do. I need to trench in a water line to a new horse pasture I am putting in. The trench will be 4' deep and about 50 feet long. I also want to dig a trench to run electricity to the new pasture for an automatic watering system. This trench will be about 100' long and 18" deep.
The problem is that I have never operated a backhoe before and plan to rent one to do it myself. The rental/delivery for the backhoe for one day will be $400 - $500. Getting a excavator to come out and do the work will be around double the DIYS method. Can I as an able, well versed tractor operator expect to get this done in one day? There are no obstructions or obsticals in the path of these trenches. The soil is a sand clay mixture. At this point in time I do not know what size or power the rental unit will be.

All opinions welcome.

Thanks

After a short time you will be able to handle the backhoe and get the job done. You will gradually get more and more efficient at it. Whether or not all of this can be done in a day will depend a lot on your soil. If you have rocky soil you can have a problem. I was helping my neighbor with a similar job and we hit a volkswagon size rock. Not much fun and it can really mess up your plans. If your soil is not rocky this can be done in a day (a long day).

Good luck and have fun!

 

[sandman2234]

I would rent the hoe and make sure the next day is available in case you don't finish, or if your like me, find something else to use it for while it is there. The second day of rental is always cheaper, because you don't have to pay p/u or delivery fees. You might consider finding a young man with muscles to come do the shovel work. Pay him a decent wage based on the fact that the job gets done, and only if. Minimum wage if the job doesn't get done completely...
David from jax

 

[jimmyj]

I just did a trench like yours last fall. We went about 5 feet deep and I layed styrofoam over the waterline too when we backfilled as it went under the laneway and I was worried about frost being "driven down".

I hired a man with a mini hoe and he had the whole trench dug in less than 1/2 a day (and my soil is sand and gravel so the trench sides kept caving in slowing us down and the trench wound up being way wider than necessary). I used the tractor to fill it in. I have a BH for the tractor now and there is no way I could match his skill even today when I'm pretty familiar with the hoe.

I really suggest pricing a hired man vs doing it yourself. I paid him only about $50 more than the cost of renting a mini hoe. As for the hand dug at the end, if he's good he'll get you way close and it will be a minor hand dig at the end.

 

[etcallhome]

I had my bh 5 days , Had messed around maybe 3 min. in the back yard when my wife's uncle called and wanted a 250' 24-30 " deep--drainage ditch dug , took appx 4-5 hrs just digging ditch.
First 15-30 min. I really thought I had made a mistake buying the bh
Since then I have used the bh close to 30 hrs. digging ditches, digging out tree stumps . Each time it gets easier .
I would think you should be able to do this with the hoe. Never have used a ditch witch but it does sound like it may be quicker. Maybe not as much fun as with the hoe
Good luck on whatever you choose
Just take your time , have fun and above all be SAFE !!!

 

[BeeferMan]

Just raise the outriggers and front bucket and push the tractor along with the hoe. Obviously, the trans must be in neutral and no brakes engaged. Don't forget to steer. The front wheels still determine the direction the machine goes when you push. Find a pipeline job somewhere and watch a pro.

That's a 10-4, I've never seen anyone who digs for a living ever switch seats to move a backhoe while doing trench work. The excavator is a little more versatile for sure, but at the end of a day you won't find much difference in the amount of trench dug if this is your first big camp out...

 

[tommcintire]

I'll second the "cover it with Foam". If I remember correctly, 2 inches of foam = 1 foot of earth cover. Nothing worse than frozen lines to the paddock (happened to me for unrelated reasons this past winter).

As far as hoe vs excavator, I haven't run an excavator, so I can't speak to it, but once you get the hang of a hoe, it can work well for you. Don't try to "overdo" it with the machine, and you will dig quickly. Whatever you rent, if you have rocks in your soil, make sure it has a thumb. Will make your life much easier removing them.

Just worry about opening the trenches with the rental equipment. A loader works great to backfill...

My two cents...

-Tom

 

[jnjpream]

Having used multiple trenchers, backhoes, and excavators (of various sizes), I'd suggest one of two pieces of equipment.. A ride-on trencher with a backhoe (chain on one side, backhoe on the other). Or a mini-excavator 10000# or so.

The trencher will dig your trench faster than an excavator and leave you with a cleaner trench, and if you can find one with a hoe you can use it to scrape the ground away slowly where you think the water line is. If you get just a trencher you're asking for trouble around the water line, because everything happens fast with a trencher such that you can wrap the water line around the chain before you can even think to reach for the engagement lever.

The mini excavator would be my second choice. The bottom (and sides) of the trench may be a bit rough, but nothing a little back-fill won't fix though. And it will take a bit longer than the trencher.

One thing that has me worried about your project is that you stated you hit bedrock around the work area.. If you hit any when digging you can expect to take a good sized time hit no matter what you decide to use..

 

[LBrown59]

Just worry about opening the trenches with the rental equipment. A loader works great to backfill...
Tom

Why would diging the trenches be any problem ?

 

[pitt_md]

Thanks to all for your input. After talking to a lot of different people about this reletively simple job i went back to my tractor dealer that I was going to rent the TLB from. I brought up the idea of using an excavator instead and they said it was a good idea. They asked me if I have ever used one and I told them no. They tossed me the keys and said Mike (mechanic) will get you started and you can get the feel of it out back on their practice dirt pile.
I played with it for over an hour and its quite the machine. Cost is $275 per day plus $79/hour dilivery (max of 2 hours). They will drop it off Friday afternoon and pick it up monday and just charge me for one day if I keep it under 8 hours of use. The unit is a Yanmar but I can't think of the model number off hand. It has a thumb, front blade, and is on tracks. I found out right away that you need to be careful when you piviot 90 degrees with a big rock in its claws . I hope I am there when they drop it off. The thing moves so slow I will burn up time getting it out to the field where I need it.


I will take pictures but getting them from my camera to the computer will be a challange due to the 'Vista' operating system.

 

[harpoonalt]

Good choice! You'll have a lot of fun!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Why would diging the trenches be any problem ?

I think the spirit of that post was "don't worry about backfilling". In other words, only use the rented equipment to dig the trench. Backfill with an owned loader tractor.

 

[Mrb94]

Pitt,

Glad to hear that you decided to go the min-excavator route versus a TLB. I learned from experience that I was able to do a trench more than twice as fast with the excavator. I also learned that no matter what the weather man said, everytime I opened up the earth, it would rain and then I had mud - so a tracked excavator will be much better for that.

When you dig - make sure that the front blade is down - that should help out the stability issue. Also, as other have said - don't try to "hog" out the whole thing at once. Dig down in steps. With only 2 joysticks to use, it won't take long at all to master how to run the thing! Lastly, there is typically a button on these to switch over to a transport speed, so that you won't need to crawl (parden the pun) to where you are digging.

Good luck!

 

[pitt_md]

thanks for the tip on the button for transport speed!
Oh I found out about having the front blade down in short order.
Darn things can be tippy!

 

[LBrown59]

I think the spirit of that post was "don't worry about backfilling". In other words, only use the rented equipment to dig the trench. Backfill with an owned loader tractor.

I thot so but weren't sure.

 

[tommcintire]

I thot so but weren't sure.

Yes, that indeed was the spirit of my comment. The excavator/backhoe will work for the trench, and a loader bucket will do the job backfilling...

 

[powerstroke444e]

My guys do a great job of doing things for about the same as it would cost most to rent the machines. How do we do it? Well if we do 3 in one day and own the machine it don't take long to make money. The first one pays for the fuel, insurance and labor after that I just hope to pay for the breakdowns.

Have fun with a excavator they are fun to use but take your time and don't get to close to the utilities as it's easier to had dig a little more than fix a big mess.