New Member Saying Hello, With a Question

madmax12 · May 30, 2013

Has the OP considered a tow behind backhoe? Plenty of YouTube videos of various models. I'm not certain it would be strong enough. Harbor freight has a brand new one for $2500 sometimes. Certainly wouldn't break the bank vs renting, and probably cheaper than attaching to tractor.

A recent mahindra max28 owner (Madmax28, I think) found a used hoe for $700 and fabbed a frame mount for it. That was cheaper than renting. Any thoughts?

Gil Case · May 30, 2013

If you look in Craig's list there seem to be quite a few 6'-7' BHs for $2500 to $4500. Admittedly they are three point hitch models and that is not ideal, but for light work they are fine, or as stated somewhere on here, a frame mount can be fabricated. We are all aware I am sure that a new BH is $1,000 per digging foot.
I had a 3 pt Kelly 6.5' BH on my old Benye (Rhino clone) and never had a bit of trouble. The frame mount 2465 I have now is pretty nice and better than 3 pt mount.

Ted Summey · May 30, 2013

I suppose everyone's experience is different. I can count on one hand the times we have needed (vs wanted) a backhoe on our 250 acres in the last 24 years. For that level of usage, it is much less expensive to hire BH work done. The last job that required a bh here was installation of 12" x 20' drain pipe for a driveway behind my shop. It cost $100 for me to hire it done. Took him longer to drive up here and unload than to install the pipe.

I needed two plots of land cleared of small pines and brush that grew up in some fields on our place due to neglect from the previous owners. For $500 I hired the work done by a track loader in about six hours vs what it would have taken me days to do. I couldn't justify having a track loader or a backhoe for that job either.

So need vs want is my perspective. Would the OP need a bh on his property after the backyard clearing is done? That's for him to decide I guess. If I had enough disposable income to have a backhoe, I might want one but it wouldn't increase the need for one here. I'm sure I'd find stuff to do with it whether that stuff needed doing or not.

There's a lot to be said for having a professional do the bigger jobs instead of spending days, weeks or months trying to do what they could do in hours.

But to each his own, some people do love to spend that time and gain satisfaction from doing those sorts of large jobs. It's not for me.

ritcheyvs · May 30, 2013

My thoughts... If you have a continuing need for a backhoe, then get one. But don't get one just to do one job that will be faster (and probably cheaper) to hire out. A CK is not a bulldozer and clearing will go slow, even with a backhoe. But don't get rid of your loader, you will find it extremely useful for all kinds of things.

Gil Case · May 31, 2013

Ted- You live in a great part of the country and things are pretty reasonably priced there. Here in the CT, I cannot get a machine moved to the property for $100 (each way). That $100 job of yours would be $500 here and your $500 job- I just had that done at my daughters house and it was $2,000. He wanted $2500, but I talked him down to $2,000.
Little story- last time I played golf in NC, the starter at the course said his son lived in CT and paid $16,000 per year in property taxes, the starters taxes in NC were $600. He thought we were all nuts to live up here, and he is probably right.

rmorey · May 31, 2013

TopherVT said:
Saying hello as a new member to the site! I am a member of the Kioti pack with a 2010 (I believe by the SN) CK35 HST. Bought it as a holdover at roughly the same time we bought a new house in the countryside in Vermont. Our house is situated on 4 acres. We have a long (roughly 100 yards) gravel drive. With the exception of the "lawn" immediately surrounding the house, we have no back yard (overgrown, trees, stumps from the land clearing, ledge and rocks). Between the 18k for the tractor and the 1.5k for the 64" 3 pt. blower I could not afford a backhoe. Now I'm starting to second guess my purchase. With the exception of using the blower and FEL in the winter, the occasional FEL task in the summer and driving the 3 year old up and down the driveway it basically sits in the garage as is apparent with only 70 hours on the meter (and I bought it with 10). With 2 kids in daycare I really hate to dive into another loan for a backhoe yet it seems to be the missing link between what I have now and really enjoying/ using this tractor to it's potential. Is the Kioti KB2475 capable enough for removing stumps (most 8-10" in diameter)? Do I sell the tractor and put the money towards a used mini excavator? But then I lose the bucket and FEL. Do I sell it and put the money towards a used Case or Deere backhoe and have the best of both worlds? Absolutely love the tractor but feel like it's under-used. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Welcome! I had the 2475 on my CK25 HST. It is amazing what you can dig up. Will dislodge rocks, half the size of a Volkswagon! (almost) Seriously, it is not a toy, with an 18" bucket, it can do serious damage to a field of stumps. Dig all around the stump, then "pop" out she comes! :thumbsup:

When we bought the hoe, my wife said "are you sure we "need" this...thing? What are we going to use it for?" In April this year, we upgraded the tractor to a DK40 and she says "too bad there isn't a "bigger backhoe".....BOOM 2485...done! :cool2: It's even more powerful!

You will be very surprised at the number of times you find a use for it.