Looking to buy a backhoe loader. Ford 550 price?

NC419N · Dec 8, 2016

That 550 is tough old machine and fun to play with you may be surprised what you can do with it. The biggest problem is transporting if you don't have a way of hauling it that can become expensive. The 6 to 8k range is what I would expect to see but condition is everything repairs can be expensive been there done that with the 2 4500's we have

Snobdds · Dec 8, 2016

I hate having to rent anything. When I want to do something, I want to use my own tools that I know and there is no learning curve. I say get it.

I would not pay more than $5k for that machine. I have property that is rocky too and the best advice I can give you is...get a thumb for that hoe. It the only way to efficiently move rock. Don't let anyone with no experience tell you different.

City Farmer · Dec 8, 2016

You'll be turning wrenches when you buy old and cheap. BH hoses will probably be the first to go and they get expensive real quick. Does it have a power reversing trans?
That 550 is bigger than my 4500. I'll go out on a limb and say that any rock under 5000lbs and (almost) no stump will be to big for that tractor. The biggest stump I've had to remove so far was a double 24". With a 12" trenching bucket I had it out & rolled on its side in 5-10min. My loader will lift 4500lbs to full height and it wouldn't budge it. I've gone through my entire machine from the BH bucket to the loader bucket and I wouldn't let it go for less than $7500
Unless the seller is going to fix the issues himself, I'd start at $5k and walk around $6k.

Alexp08 · Dec 8, 2016

LD1 said:
Where are you gonna find a new larger backhoe for 8k-12k?

I was gonna say $7k-$8k is fair. Repairs sound minor if the machine runs good and is tight. You aint gonna find a machine of the 70's-80's vintage that doesnt need something. And you arent gonna find much under $6k that is even in usable condition. Just what the market is. They are valuable machines with what they can do. Gotta pay to play.

I was on machinery trader and they have some early 90s that appear to be in good condition for around 9-10k only issue there is theyre 3-4 hours away. This ford is less than a hour

Alexp08 · Dec 8, 2016

Snobdds said:
I hate having to rent anything. When I want to do something, I want to use my own tools that I know and there is no learning curve. I say get it.

I would not pay more than $5k for that machine. I have property that is rocky too and the best advice I can give you is...get a thumb for that hoe. It the only way to efficiently move rock. Don't let anyone with no experience tell you different.

I didnt know you can buy them for a backhoe, that is great news! I had one on the excavator i rented and it was soooo handy! Any idea what itll cost for installation?

City Farmer said:
You'll be turning wrenches when you buy old and cheap. BH hoses will probably be the first to go and they get expensive real quick. Does it have a power reversing trans?
That 550 is bigger than my 4500. I'll go out on a limb and say that any rock under 5000lbs and (almost) no stump will be to big for that tractor. The biggest stump I've had to remove so far was a double 24". With a 12" trenching bucket I had it out & rolled on its side in 5-10min. My loader will lift 4500lbs to full height and it wouldn't budge it. I've gone through my entire machine from the BH bucket to the loader bucket and I wouldn't let it go for less than $7500
Unless the seller is going to fix the issues himself, I'd start at $5k and walk around $6k.

Thanka everyone!

Alexp08 · Dec 8, 2016

City Farmer said:
You'll be turning wrenches when you buy old and cheap. BH hoses will probably be the first to go and they get expensive real quick. Does it have a power reversing trans?
That 550 is bigger than my 4500. I'll go out on a limb and say that any rock under 5000lbs and (almost) no stump will be to big for that tractor. The biggest stump I've had to remove so far was a double 24". With a 12" trenching bucket I had it out & rolled on its side in 5-10min. My loader will lift 4500lbs to full height and it wouldn't budge it. I've gone through my entire machine from the BH bucket to the loader bucket and I wouldn't let it go for less than $7500
Unless the seller is going to fix the issues himself, I'd start at $5k and walk around $6k.

We have a few stumps thats are around 3 ft in diameter but well probably get a stump grinder for them.

bspeedy · Dec 8, 2016

I guess I don't understand what could take more than a week's work on 1 acre. That old Ford could go through a grand in repairs pretty quickly if things go sideways. You have to transport it, store it, maintain it, re-sell it... I don't get it. I'm not a renter - more of a buyer, myself. But for some stumps and rocks on an acre, I'd rent a full size hoe or 12k lb excavator and take a week's vacation. Get the work done in fewer hours than it will take to remove stabilizer cylinders for a rebuild, replace a couple of hoses and whatever else the guy didn't tell you about. Probably for less money as well. And no real risk. Rent, work, return.

Alexp08 · Dec 8, 2016

Without seeing the land ita hard to understand. I had a excavator for 3 days and didn't even scratch the surface. Of what needs done. Plus like i said my dad made up his mind and theres no changing that. He wants to also use it for snow removal. Yes i know it is way over kill for snow removal but we live on a private road and thatll make sort work of it

LD1 · Dec 8, 2016

Alexp08 said:
I was on machinery trader and they have some early 90s that appear to be in good condition for around 9-10k only issue there is theyre 3-4 hours away. This ford is less than a hour

Appearances can be deceiving. From the 1970's to the 1990's, not much changed with backhoes. They were big and powerful and fast in the 1970's, just as they are in the 1990's. Just because its 20 years newer, certainly dont make it worth more. It all comes down to condition and hours.

I see alot of ~20 year old backhoes (mid 1990's) that are in similar price ranges, but usually 7-10k hours. So I gotta wonder how soon they will be needing an overhaul. And how sloppy are the pins and bushings? And did the operator take care of the machine and keep it greased? Those are all more important than age.

I'd be alot quicker to buy a late 1970's machine with 3k hours.....than spend MORE, for a 1990's with 8k hours