Regret not getting a backhoe for my tractor

[Pleease]

Guys I think my humor was too subtle.

Re-read my OP carefully.

Or TL;DR

Ranches are money pits, the scale of which necessitates heavy equipment to dig said pits and fill them with all your hard earned money.

Just a tongue in cheek observation on how expensive this lifestyle is.

I just about “LOLed” at your cash-cavation post, but couldn’t find a “funny” reaction option here…

 

[ZiggyD]

A loader is important

Your post is tongue in cheek but what I find invaluable and used far more than the bucket are a pair of forks.

 

[Dunno]

I have a JD310 backhoe, the real deal. Waited until I really needed one, and use it extensively on the farm. I don’t have much spare time so I like to get projects done ASAP. That would be one of the last pieces of equipment to go if I were to sell things. I think people don’t use smaller backhoe attachments much because they are too slow.

 

[Zork]

We picked up a backhoe (BH) when the tractor was purchased and have not regretted it at all. A subframe mount is a necessity to protect the the tractor and the 3pt assembly from damage. The BH has been used for many things and certainly has less use compared to the low hours on the tractor/loader. But the pure convenience of having a BH on the property for twenty one years is worth the $238 small fee per year. Rentals require time and precise scheduling to make it pay. When you have a BH on site you can relax and work at your own convenience. It is amazing that when you buy a BH, everything in one’s life becomes easier, graves for family animals, mixing homemade top soil, septic access, hoist/lifting, tire bead breaking, stump removal, drainage management, and tractor extraction are just some of the things we’ve used it on. This year, the hoses were replaced just in case, add about $200.

 

[walnutman]

I have had a full size backhoe since around 2003. Four over the years. Used on our residential propery.. no farm.
73 Ford 4500 $6750
1983 JD 310A $8000
2010 JCB 3CX Turbo 4x4 Extendahoe $36k
And currently here in East Texas
2000 JD 310SE 4x4 Turbodiesel Extendahoe $32,500

Used, sold and bought again. They hold value.

First propery it was all about digging out stumps, grading and moving big rocks.
It was a 1973 Ford 4500 Industrial.
Someone here said you shouldnt use a farm tractor for a backhoe.
This 4500 is a farm tractor that was redesigned by Ford to be a backhoe.
The original pedals are still there under the footboards. The rear end has the same casting that would have had the PTO but no PTO gearing. If you removed the backhoe specific metal... you had a farm tractor.
Here it is with the hoe removed so I could replace all the hydraulic lines to the four stick control valve. Actually six valves when you include the outriggers.
Modern backhoes are purpose built. You can't take them apart like this as a unit.

And here is a view of the rear showing the 3PH attach points and the PTO access. You can see the two large arms hanging from the upper bars and the "hooks" in the bottom ones that the hoe drops into.
That big hyd line above is the feed for the hoe. I had to couple it together. The hoe itself has everything on it just like the detachable small tractor hoes except the seat. It uses the tractor seat and rotates.

And here is the hoe removed..

 

[Modrob]

Just a plain ol’ homeowner here with several hilly WV acres, and have a Power Trac articulated tractor with grapple/bucket. Handles most of my needs. But a couple of years ago I needed some stumps removed and holes dug, so I bought a HF towable backhoe. Cheap, still today around 3 grand. It’s been very handy—a little slow but upgrades can be made to make it faster. (Large FB community that provides about all the knowledge and how-tos you’d ever need) Only downside is it can’t move under its own power—have to hitch up and maneuver it, although short distances it can be “crab-walked” with the bucket.

 

[Quilceda]

I had a backhoe on a smaller Deere and didn't find it very useful. Hard to put on. Then, every time you move you have to get back on the seat. And you move often because the stick range isn't very far. This makes it difficult to move the dirt far enough from the hole/ditch you are making. Also, at least on the Deere, the controls moved it very rapidly, not very smooth. I decided to get a mini track hoe for this work and am much more satisfied. If nothing else, just rent one when you need to dig.

 

[deezler]

Backhoes for CUTs are definitely just a nice money grab for the manufacturers. Most people that buy them use them only a few times before they just sit forever after that.

I only got one because I bought used, and it came in the package - so thankfully the original owner did all the money-pit digging first. I've used mine every summer or fall since then, very handy not to have to rent anything to get my trenches dug or big trees/stumps removed.

But it's definitely a weak machine and hard on the tractor.

Somehow I got it mounted in like 15 minutes this past time, never been anywhere close to that fast. But I'm already anxious about where to store it this winter, might need to put up a new shed.

 

[walnutman]

Stumps aren't as easy as some might think. Even with a full size hoe... I have a lot of experience... you can't just rip it out on one full swoop. You have to dig a trench around it, severing the long horizontal roots before the stump starts getting loose. Then you curl the bucket under it in multiple places. Curl has the most power.
Not sure what size you'all are taking out with those smaller hoes but it must be brutal on the machine.

 

[deezler]

Stumps aren't as easy as some might think. Even with a full size hoe... I have a lot of experience... you can't just rip it out on one full swoop. You have to dig a trench around it, severing the long horizontal roots before the stump starts getting loose. Then you curl the bucket under it in multiple places. Curl has the most power.
Not sure what size you'all are taking out with those smaller hoes but it must be brutal on the machine.

For my 7.5' backhoe on my 5000 pound tractor (with front loader and backhoe on), I generally limit myself to felling 12" trees and smaller. The 15-20" diameter trees I have tried to fell have taken FOREVER, with many repositions of the machine to be able to find the right roots needing cut. And then when a giant tree gets to swaying, you dont have enough backhoe leverage power to necessarily avoid a catastrophe if the wind blows randomly.