Opinions on backhoes.........

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Still learning about my new property, and all the things that I'll need to work with it, including tractors.

I'm wondering what the experiences/opinions of the readers here are relating to backhoes?
How many of you got one, and decided you didn't need it?
How many of you don't have one, but wish you did?
If you do have one, how happy are you with it - is it heavy enough, large enough?
Should the addition of a backhoe entail a larger tractor? In other words, if I decide to go with the 'hoe should I also move up a size or two?

Any opinion, information, or feedback on this rather pricey subject will be much appreciated!!!

Gregg

AndyMA · Jun 7, 2003

I've had backhoes on each of my last 4 tractors.

A small JD 7 ( I think) on a JD 650--- fairly useless except for planting shrubs

a Ford something on a Ford 1710 - much more useful.. You could actually pull a stump if you spent enough hours.

A Ford 758 on a Ford 2120, 43 hp. This was the first hoe that could actually do some serious work even though it took some time to get it done.

I still have the 2120 but I traded the hoe in toward a Woods 1050 when I bought my latest tractor a New Holland TN75D. This 11 1/2 foot hoe with it's own hydraulic pump can do some serious work and has plenty of hydraulics to do it.

What I've found is that each hoe on a larger tractor was quite a bit more capable. From my experience the larger the better. all the hoes were much better than the front bucket for digging out stumps and rocks and I used them all the time. I would have to say that they are my favorite attachment with the front loader a close second. Without the backhoe I wouldn't get much loose for the loader to pick up.

My advise.. get a backhoe, practice leverage so that you can move things much larger than the rated capacity of the hoe and you'll love it.

Andy

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

I had a chance, and I passed it up. I still don't know if I made the right decision. When I was choosing my tractor, I first went in to price a TC33D. It was more than I wanted to spend. I ended up getting a TC18, and I've been perfectly happy with it; it does everything I want to do, so far.

But, the dealer also had a 2001 TC33D with about 360 hours on it that had a Bradco backhoe attached. The Bradco lists at something like $6,700. I could have bought that tractor for about $3,000 more than I paid for mine, and gotten both the larger tractor and the back hoe.

There were several reasons I didn't. I didn't want to spend the extra money, I was a little concerned about the used machine (it looked well used), and I wanted both the new warranty and the 0% financing. Still, it was tempting. I could afford the extra money, I just didn't want to spend it. The dealer was willing to stand behind the used tractor, I could have purchased an extended warranty, and I could have paid cash instead of financing (the primary reason I financed was because of the 0% - why not?)

But, the other reason I passed was because of the evaluation I made about it. The primary immediate use I had for it was trenching. I looked at it, and realized it wouldn't be very convenient. I've used the backhoe on a bigger tractor with a power shift and a swivel seat; when you want to move a little, you lift the stablizers and use a different set of controls to shift the tractor, then put the stabilizers back down and keep digging, all without moving the seat. With the smaller one, I would have to lift the stabilizers, climb out of one seat and into the other, put it in gear and move it, then reverse the process, climbing back into the other seat to keep digging again (New Holland's have interlocks so that the parking brake has to be set in order to get out of the driver's seat, so it couldn't be moved by pushing with the hoe). That didn't sound like much fun.

I also thought about it for planting trees. but, it was a lot of money for something that would only be used a few times a year. Plus, it looked like a royal pain to take it off/on in order to use the 3PH attachments, which is my normal use.

My dealer rents mini-excavators for a decent price. I decided that I could rent one a lot of times for the $$$ of a backhoe, and have a dedicated machine that was designed for what I want to do. Plus, I've been keeping my eyes open for a used mini-excavator - there's a place down the road that has a late-model Kubota for $8,500, not too much more than a backhoe attachment, but still more than I want to spend. If I find a mini-excavator for around $3K, it's mine. Not too much chance of it, but you never know. I've also given some thought to investigating the Cad Plans indpendent hoe that I could build. I'll think about it later - I won't need it for a while.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Or, there's this in Miami for sale on Ebay for $3,000 and no reserve... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

excavator

rockyridgefarm · Jun 7, 2003

Thrilled with ours! I love the mounting, the ease of attach and removal. I am particularly glad I got the Deere BH instead of aftermarket.

Boondox · Jun 7, 2003

It all depends on your perspective and intended use. I have a Kubota L3010 with a Woods 7500 subframe hoe. Absolutely love it! Most fun I've ever had with my clothes on! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif But for me, the tractor is half a neccesity and half a big land yacht. I have 155 acres, but can only reach 25% of it because of the steepness of the forested slope. But there are drainage ditches to create and maintain, hardwood trees to transplant, wet spots to drain, rocks to dig up so they leave the mower alone, 200 year old stone walls to rebuild, stumps to dig up, etc. And sometimes, when cleaning the garage of my packrat Wife's junk, the only way to keep that junk from reappearing is to bury it deep! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

But in my opinion if you want a hoe you need a fairly serious tractor. Personally, I wish I had one two sizes up able to handle the Woods 9000 with that wonderful 9' reach! It's cheaper to rent as needed, and you'll rent a more capable hoe most likely. But for sheer fun and convenience having one under the tamarack tree waiting for me just can't be beat!

Pete

DK35vince · Jun 7, 2003

Around 4 years ago I built my own backhoe using Cad-Plans.
I made my own to keep the cost down not being sure how much I would use it.
Turned out I used the hoe far more than I expected, digging off some steep embankments, a foundation for my pole barn, drainage ditchs, ect.
Seeing how much I had use for a backhoe I decided to order one for my tractor that should be in in around a week.
I have coming a Rhino 85 with subframe for my DK 35.
8 1/2' digging dept, 11 foot reach, 18" bucket.
I would recommend a subframe backhoe instead of a 3 point model.(my opinion).

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

I have a Mahindra 4110 w/Bradco 511 hoe on a subframe mount system. I wasn't too happy with the standard tractor hydraulic pump and therefore the hoe operation.. Mahindra (DID) and at great expense to them and the dealer, add an 11gpm pto pump and 14 gallon reservoir that is hung between the subframe rails. I only tried it for a few minutes as we have had 20 days of rain in the last 26 days. From that few minute test, I am sure it will perform fine. Anyway, I run a John Deere 710 Xtendahoe near a 1000 hours per year, and have had for many years. When I looked for a tractor, the big three were just too much money and too much for their hoe setups. The NH 45 can only have a Woods 9000 model or their NH number which still means Woods as far as I can see. THe exception was the Kubota L48 @ 11ft, but also 44,000 or so.. Deere had just announced their 110 model. THe Mahindra performs flawlessly for what I've put it through so far. I wanted a larger hoe and Mahindra will hang a Bradco 11 footer. My suggestion though, is too have a PTO 11GPM pump added.. Whatever you buy, the following week it will probably be too small and not enough.. I think I would ask some more here at TBN of their type property, size, etc and (why) they chose a particular sized hoe, for that property. Take it all in, then financially, decide what to do.

Splinterguy · Jun 7, 2003

Gregg,

I have a JD4400 with their model 48 BH. I have owned it about two years now, and am very pleased with it. A very handy item to have around.

Have dug some medium sized stumps from difficult soil (lots of large imbedded rocks). The hoe's major drawback is it's limited reach - 8'. You get good at moving the machine around. But all in all it has been great.

When looking for my tractor I was looking at 4300's, the smallest machine that JDeere would put the 48 on. That made me think a liitle about going toward the 4400, just a bit more tractor. Then the dealer I ended up buying from was able to give me a good deal on the 4400 as he had it on the lot.

Hope this helps you out.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Hi,

I'm wondering what the experiences/opinions of the readers here are relating to backhoes?
How many of you got one, and decided you didn't need it? 

I pretty much knew I didn't NEED my backhoe befor I bought it...I guess I also knew I didn't need the tractor either. But for 20 years I wanted a tractor...so I bought a Kubota B2910 with the 7.5 foot backhoe.

I love it! I would do it again in a heartbeat! I bought the Kubota backhoe, which is a 3PH backhoe, because I wanted everything to be under one manufacturer's name for warranty reasons.


If you do have one, how happy are you with it - is it heavy enough, large enough?


I like the extra reach the one I have has over the shorter reach of a smaller unit. Reach means out, not down. I rarely if ever need to dig 7.5 feet down. But a longer reach lets me dig a longer section of shallower trench before having to move the tractor.

Should the addition of a backhoe entail a larger tractor? In other words, if I decide to go with the 'hoe should I also move up a size or two? 

Not sure about that, but I think the B2910 and 7.5 foot backhoe fits my 3.7 acres pretty well. I don't think I would want to go smaller, but in the end it really is what you get used to and if you started with something smaller like a BX22 for example, my guess is that you would find that just fine and dandy.

Good luck and have fun deciding!

Rick Jay · Jun 7, 2003

Ditto everything Henro said. Just replace his Kubota hoe with my Woods 7500 with subframe and his 3.7 acres with my 2/3 acre.

For me, I like the longer reach when transplanting shrubs. I believe the longer hoe allows a better "angle of attack" when plucking them out of the ground with less chance of damage.

I talked myself up through the Kubota B series partly because the upper end of the B's would take the larger backhoe. For me, the extra performance was worth the extra $$$.

Now, if I actually had some real property, I could easily convince myself to go with the L30 series and a 9' hoe. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good Luck,

~Rick

PondKeeper · Jun 7, 2003

I'm a virtual newbie to tractors but your question is on point to what I had to answer to myself when I was deciding what to purchase. I ended up buying a smaller tractor than my budget but I went with the backhoe attachment which increased the initial purchase amount back to my max budget. If dollars were not the concern I would have gone with a larger model with a backhoe but that was not reality for me. My B7500 Kutota is the smallest compact model but when you add the backhoe it was far more than the largest B Series without a BH.

The task and your budget really make the decision. In my case, I am glad I got the BH, in fact, I have not taken it off yet because I continue to use it all the time. I have tackled projects that I could not do with the FEL alone. BTW, the FEL is the most useful attachment IMO and I see the BH right behind it, (discounting mowing decks if that is one of your tasks).

The BH is probably the most lux attachment because of the excessive cost, but when you have one you know how many uses it has that are beyond any of the things you thought you might use it for when weighing the purchase. It might be cheaper to rent one when needed but the all of the incidental tasks would not warrant a rental..... The BH literally opens the door to more uses for the tractor, kind of like "if you build it they will come..."

If I had the same budget today as I had when I was deciding what to buy and with the experience I have had since I took delivery I would do it the same way again. I am very pleased I bought a BH.

Mike

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Now, if I actually had some real property, I could easily convince myself to go with the L30 series and a 9' hoe. 

Rick,

Somehow I doubt that you would stop at the L30xx series!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SPIKER · Jun 7, 2003

AUTOTECH:

I have a smaller backhoe frame mount on an import (JINMA284) 28 HP 4 wheel drive gear drive) It has it's own PTO pump as others said... I have been using mine quite alot, though not enough to have justfied the cost 100% but shortly I think i'll have made it there!

It only has a 6' dig and an 8' reach but it is frame mount which makes it harder on,, pretty easy off, but really is much more sturdy, I can lift tractor with it and the FEL. (both IMPORTS CHINA STUFF) but heck I have less than 10 grand into it with FEL, hoe, mower and TIller. that was WITH the tractor too... lots cheaper than going with big 3, maybe older tech, but well worth the $.

Mark /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Carl_NH · Jun 8, 2003

Greg,

It's like a snowplow on a truck, when you need it you have it.. and it will be dormant for a time, and at the end of the day you will decide it is probably one of the better investments after the basic, FEL, box blade etc.

Before the BH I used a hand operated rototiller then the bucket to move the spoils as needed. While the BH gets infrequent use, (1-2x week) when I need to use it it's there..

The key element in consideration should be ease of R&R of the BH, then size. If you intend to tackle a quantity of large stumps (10" and up) or need to navigate in large rocks then either rent/hire this done or get a unit that is sized for the task at hand.

THe other factor is depreciation, and if you buy the BH and use it for 2-3 years and don't misuse it, it will likely lose about 25% of its value in that time, so not a bad investment if you need the tool.

Carl

Dahammer · Jun 8, 2003

I had a JD48 hoe on the back of my 4600 for four years. A compact tractor hoe is an expensive toy IMHO. That never stopped anyone from buying one, including myself. They are light duty little hoes for around the house or estate. Dig a hole for a shub here, trench a french drain over there bury some cables over here sort of thing. Now, understand that you can do just about anything a real hoe does, it will just take you forever. I cleared an acre of Maine woods, and wouldn't want to do THAT again. Pulling a 20 inch maple stump would take hours. I just sold my outfit and next one will be a smaller tractor without the hoe, and I will buy an old beat up excavator or *yellow* TLB and have 10 times the capactity for not much more than I invested in my old rig (30+K). If you are not in a hurry and have the self-control not to try things with a compact tractor hoe that you shouldn't do, then go for it. If you want some serious capablities, then rent a 26,000lbs Hitachi for a week and do what would take you all summer to do with a little hoe. I just got back from a farm, looking at a camper for sale. Out back the guy had about a 30,000lb excavator that looked like a rusting hulk. He paid 12K for it and has been using it to clear woods for more pasture. The bucked on it was a big as a car. He pulled trees out like pulling weeds. He will use it for the summer and then sell it for 12K not a bad deal..

Hoeman00 · Jun 8, 2003

I'll second lamarbur just get a Deere 710 w/ extenda hoe and be done w/ the debate /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

manganos · Jun 8, 2003

I had a Kubota BX22 and just traded it in on a Kioti 3054. I didn't get a BH for the Kioti. I used the BH a lot on the BX22 and then I didn't use it anymore. I feel that getting a bigger tractor and just renting the job out or renting a BH is better in my case.

EddieWalker · Jun 8, 2003

I've been looking at backhoe's on tractors also. I've been told to avoid putting a backhoe on a 3pt due to the amount of preasure put on the frame. In some cases the frame will bend or even break. I don't know this to be a fact in all cases, but if it happens once, it can happen again.

GregJ · Jun 8, 2003

Gregg,
I just wrote a post in the Kubota Owning/Operating group regarding some of your questions. Here is the link: Backhoe Attachment . I think it is one of the most useful parts of my tractor. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

Greg