Backhoe Storing the backhoe for Winter

[rimshot]

Well, Last year I had to drop off the backhoe on my garage floor. A $6000 attachment deserves a roof over it's head for the Winter if possible. You can only imagine how many times that thing got in the way over the previous Winter however. Sometimes the thought of moving that thing five inches for five minutes would have been nice. It was there for keeps and was in exactly the same spot 6 months later when Spring broke and I swapped the snow blower and installed the backhoe once again.

I know this has probably already been done and written about on TBN but this is my story. I had enough of that 1100 lb wonderful Kioti KB2465 Hoe the previous two Winters. I was going to put this thing on roller skates this Winter. If need be, I can skoot it over a bit and move some other item the stored BH blocks.

With that thought in mind, I strolled down the aisle at a Home Depot store and spyed a shelf full of Milwaukee furniturel dollies. Priced at $20.00 a piece I said I'll take all four and loaded them in my cart. I just today slid the backhoe off the back end of my CK-20. I had to fiddle a bit to get the backhoe balanced but once I broke the friction between the sub frame and the front receiver on the bottom of the tractor the whole works rolled right off.

I don't know how the entire experience gets graded just yet as the bh has yet to be reattached in the spring. I'll tell you one thing, the hardest part of loading the subframed attachment for me comes when I try to get the tractor perfectly alligned as I back up to pick the bh up. That's not going to be a problem this Spring as instead of backing the tractor in perfectly allignment to the hoe. The hoe gets to roll back under the tractor. Take a look at the attached pictures. YMMV

rimshot

 

[JoelD]

Great idea.

Quick question, is there a chance the stabilizers will settle and then the hoe will bottom on the floor?

Joel

 

[rimshot]

I don't think so. I blocked at this same outrigger location previous two years from floor up and while it did settle a very little bit it was not sufficient to skuttle the hoe. In Spring, I can still block at outrigger pad location and raise arm. I can always back tractor in and connect hydraulics and lift or lower hoe.

Good question all the same and this is an experiment. BTW, I have a bunch of jacks at hand......hope I don't need em.

rimshot

 

[ragkar]

Getting the tractor and subframe aligned is my big problem too. I hate it when I back in straight and then find that I'm an inch too far one way.

 

[Bedlam]

I might add maybe you could consider using the rear coasters under the center of the unit? maybe have to build a spacing block to hold it but then the stabilizers can be retracted in up position and give allot more room Thats how I position mine,
looks like maybe the two rear rollers under the center side by side and maybe a chunk of 8 x 8 on top? this would sure narrow it down

 

[gkm]

Well, Last year I had to drop off the backhoe on my garage floor. A $6000 attachment deserves a roof over it's head for the Winter if possible. You can only imagine how many times that thing got in the way over the previous Winter however. Sometimes the thought of moving that thing five inches for five minutes would have been nice. It was there for keeps and was in exactly the same spot 6 months later when Spring broke and I swapped the snow blower and installed the backhoe once again.

I know this has probably already been done and written about on TBN but this is my story. I had enough of that 1100 lb wonderful Kioti KB2465 Hoe the previous two Winters. I was going to put this thing on roller skates this Winter. If need be, I can skoot it over a bit and move some other item the stored BH blocks.

With that thought in mind, I strolled down the aisle at a Home Depot store and spyed a shelf full of Milwaukee furniturel dollies. Priced at $20.00 a piece I said I'll take all four and loaded them in my cart. I just today slid the backhoe off the back end of my CK-20. I had to fiddle a bit to get the backhoe balanced but once I broke the friction between the sub frame and the front receiver on the bottom of the tractor the whole works rolled right off.

I don't know how the entire experience gets graded just yet as the bh has yet to be reattached in the spring. I'll tell you one thing, the hardest part of loading the subframed attachment for me comes when I try to get the tractor perfectly alligned as I back up to pick the bh up. That's not going to be a problem this Spring as instead of backing the tractor in perfectly allignment to the hoe. The hoe gets to roll back under the tractor. Take a look at the attached pictures. YMMV

rimshot

I use two of those dollys for my 2465...one under center and one under the bucket. I raise stabilizers and it's balanced and safe. I have had no issues moving it around or lining up to attach.

Greg

 

[radioman]

If I were you, I'd try again. Move the Dolly's off stabilizers and put directly under the center to bear most of the weight. keep the stabilizers in the upright position and strap it. This will keep moisture at bay from touching the chrome rods and prevent rust so it will last longer. I know mine is different style from yours, but I am able to keep stabilizers up and it gets rid of the shin busters and give you more walking room.

 

[rimshot]

If I were you, I'd try again. Move the Dolly's off stabilizers and put directly under the center to bear most of the weight. keep the stabilizers in the upright position and strap it. This will keep moisture at bay from touching the chrome rods and prevent rust so it will last longer. I know mine is different style from yours, but I am able to keep stabilizers up and it gets rid of the shin busters and give you more walking room.

=========

Well, I would be concerned that this particular hoe would be quite tippy with this method. I like the ideat of getting the outriggers up and out of the way however.

rimshot

 

[radioman]

I doubt it. It seems that the removeable backhoes have such a low COG when its off. Have you tried it yet just for giggles ? There is another idea- you could build a dolly like BXPANDED did for the kubotas.

 

[biggerten]

I built a dolly out of 2x6's for my 3pt backhoe and casters from Northern Tool. It's basically 'T' shaped, with a swivel dolly at the bucket end.

The backhoe is heavy, about 1350lbs, so it still takes effort to move. And it looks like it has a little narrower stance under the outriggers. I strap the outriggers up. While I wouldn't call it 'tippy' (if a kid climbed on it it would be OK), I could push it over by putting a shoulder to it. This would be better if I had put two casters on the crossbar out at the narrow, and strapped the hoe to the dolly.

These are the best photos I have at the moment.

 

[LBrown59]

I store my BH here.

Getting the tractor and subframe aligned is my big problem too.

Storing the BH on the tractor solves that problem for me.

 

[radioman]

I store my BH here.

Storing the BH on the tractor solves that problem for me.

Hmm by looking at the pics- looks like the BH is mounted on the tractor, outside in the weather. yeah sure ! best place for it . maybe you need a new pic of the BH tractor inside and out from the weather lbrown.

 

[Bedlam]

Here i thought the bucket was pointing.

 

[mrutkaus]

Might remember to move the backhoe remote lever around once in a while, it might prevent the problem of the lever eventually not staying put in either "on" position.

Of course, just move it and quickly back to middle to avoid any hydraulic strains.

Mike

 

[kiotibill]

Has anyone thought of using a motorcycle lift under the backhoe? I have a Woods backhoe for my CK20S and thought that might work. Roll it underneath and you can then raise it up under the backhoe. Once disconnected, you could lowere it down and roll it away. Sounds like it would work great - line up everything straight and aid in re-connecting when time comes. Most cylce lifts handle about 1500 lbs, so it should handle my backhoe. Might need to make a bracket to line everything up right, but once done, sounds like an option. Any thoughts?

 

[fcamillieri]

With that thought in mind, I strolled down the aisle at a Home Depot store and spyed a shelf full of Milwaukee furniturel dollies. Priced at $20.00 a piece I said I'll take all four and loaded them in my cart. I just today slid the backhoe off the back end of my CK-20. I had to fiddle a bit to get the backhoe balanced but once I broke the friction between the sub frame and the front receiver on the bottom of the tractor the whole works rolled right off.
rimshot

Rimshot,
Great idea. I ran right out and got 4 of them. Ended up only needing 3 and it works great. I kept the stabilizers up and chained the dipper so it wouldn't leak down over the winter. I'm sure it will make the lineup much easier when putting it back on.

FC

 

[rimshot]

Rimshot,
Great idea. I ran right out and got 4 of them. Ended up only needing 3 and it works great. I kept the stabilizers up and chained the dipper so it wouldn't leak down over the winter. I'm sure it will make the lineup much easier when putting it back on.

FC

=========================
Glad your roller system is working so well FC. If you were to buy heavy duty casters from a company like Northern tool and then make up some frames of hardwood like those Milwaukee dollies are made of I believe you are talking much more money. Those dollies are good for 1000 lbs. each. As you have pointed out, three dollies ar plenty good


I just hope & pray everybody makes sure the things are stable and safe just in case you think you might have kids climbing on them. It sounds to me like everybody on this thread (including me) has been careful and is comfortable storing the back hoes this way to prevent the unit from tipping on somebody. From what I have seen, it would be very hard to tip over a stored hoe in most instances.

rimshot