Buying Advice needing a small tractor with backhoe

[Argonne]

I was in the same boat for over a decade, wanting a backhoe but never pulling the trigger on an aftermarket one for my CUT because of the hassle of mounting/dismounting it when needed, and the fact that it would be a pretty marginal backhoe in the big scheme of things. I eventually had two machines with end-loaders, a 65 hp and a 25 hp, but still didn't want to hang one on either because it wouldn't have been convenient to leave it on all the time. I decided to watch for a used Terramite.

I finally found a T7 locally for about $8k and bought it. It was one of the best purchases I have ever made. Terramites lack speed and refinement, but boy can they dig, and they are virtually indestructible in the hands of someone reasonably careful. Mine sits in the shed until I have a project for it which is about every other month. It will never be worth less than I paid for it, so I can rationalize that I never spent that 8k :biggrin: and I have a specialized machine on tap and don't have to hang (expensive, inadequate) crap off of my other machines that will lose half it's value the day I un-crate it.

 

[gravelman]

Yes, Mahindra makes a good machine and the prices are excellent...thanks for that

 

[Cramby]

I have a Mahindra Max 26XL with backhoe and could not be more pleased. I checked the Kubota B series with backhoe, and could not get the price where I wanted it.

 

[gravelman]

hmmmm seems i have heard that story before... thanks The reason i went with Kubota on my main tractor...it was the only small one with a factory cab. Mahindras small factory cab can only have a heater for an additional $1000 and no AC. In this case, i do not need a cab so i would go with Mahindra for sure.

 

[bspeedy]

How about a small mini excavator? I've seen some in the 8500-12,500 range nearby. May have a few hours, but a good one will dig circles around a tractor mounted BH.

 

[TheMan419]

For the investment you can rent a mini excavator for a lot of weekends.....

 

[gravelman]

this all sounds good but i don't have a particular project...just want it available when i need it.. you are so right about the mini 's ability to get stuff done...i just wanted a backhoe so when i needed to shovel something..i could play with the backhoe... it is called Laziness.

 

[fried1765]

this all sounds good but i don't have a particular project...just want it available when i need it.. you are so right about the mini 's ability to get stuff done...i just wanted a backhoe so when i needed to shovel something..i could play with the backhoe... it is called Laziness.

I completely understand!
Bought a 20 year old medium sized Ford TLB 27 years ago.
Still have it.
Use it maybe 20 hours per year.
Disassembled, and repainted 2016.
Am 76 years old now.
Kids will have to sell it!....NOT ME!
One of my best toys EVER!

 

[gravelman]

good for you...that is awesome... i keep telling my wife...im getting all this stuff for the grandkids...not ME

 

[tractordog]

Hi folks..gravelman here from chilly NH. i m thinking of buying a small tractor...25 hp with a loader and backhoe. I have a Kubota but would consider John Deere or Mahindra (closeby dealers) Im thinking turf tires, no cab. just wanting to know if anyone out there has an opinion, especially the backhoe part. i would want a thumb on it too.. thanks alot.

I was wondering why you would not be considering the new bx80? Are you looking for used?

 

[gravelman]

im not familiar with the bx 80 so i will look it up now.... i was considering used but im always nervous i may be buying a headache etc... thanks, will look it up now

 

[fried1765]

im not familiar with the bx 80 so i will look it up now.... i was considering used but im always nervous i may be buying a headache etc... thanks, will look it up now

"Used"?
Why not?
Ever bought a used car or truck?

 

[Egon]

A JD 4200 with loader and frame mounted backhoe might work for you.

 

[gravelman]

will check that out too... i know there are some good used equip out there

 

[bspeedy]

For the investment you can rent a mini excavator for a lot of weekends.....

I suppose that is true IF...

you can plan and schedule and 'batch' your work
you don't have to pay pick up and delivery charges
you are flexible so that if the machine is not available it is no big deal
you see money spent on equipment as 'gone'.

I spent 17,500 on my mini ex. Put another 800 in it for some parts and maintenance. It's worth about 20k because I bought it right. Of course I've used it a good bit (for a homeowner). If I put 50 hours per year on it for the next 10 years, I'll still have less than 1500 hours on it. Probably still worth what I paid due to inflation and the fact that all my equipment stays indoors and gets over-maintained.

AND, I have the convenience of using it whenever the mood strikes me. It's worth it to me.

 

[gravelman]

yes, in your case it is a great way to go... for me , i don't have much work for one... i can't justify it.

 

[cford36]

Do a Google search for the new LS MT125.
My dealer quoted me these prices.

Tractor $12333 (with free loader program)

Backhoe $4166

Mower $1888

One thing to note is that the 3pt comes standard with draft control which is I believe is usual to find on a tractor this size.

Also SSQA.

 

[gravelman]

wow, i will do that right this minute....and get back to you

 

[cford36]

If you go to LS Facebook page they have a video of it there.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I suppose that is true IF...

you can plan and schedule and 'batch' your work
you don't have to pay pick up and delivery charges
you are flexible so that if the machine is not available it is no big deal
you see money spent on equipment as 'gone'.

I spent 17,500 on my mini ex. Put another 800 in it for some parts and maintenance. It's worth about 20k because I bought it right. Of course I've used it a good bit (for a homeowner). If I put 50 hours per year on it for the next 10 years, I'll still have less than 1500 hours on it. Probably still worth what I paid due to inflation and the fact that all my equipment stays indoors and gets over-maintained.

AND, I have the convenience of using it whenever the mood strikes me. It's worth it to me.

This is so true. Most jobs that folks claim that a rental will do the job would never get done. If you have one major project in mind and a time frame to do it, then a rental is the way to go. I have put around 400 hours on my TLB in the last 5 years or so and most backhoe uses didn't take more than a few minutes. The longest projects was 1)digging out my pond 2) trenching 300 feet for water line in concrete like clay/rock soil. The rest were FEL uses and using the backhoe to dig a hole for a tree planting. Most of the hours was for menial tasks that I would have had to use a shovel if I did not have the TLB. Shoveling is something I can do a little off, but my back suffers for days from it. I cant estimate the amount of pain that I have escaped by using my backhoe rather than a shovel.