I bought a CK3510 SE HST last October. I live on approximately 10 acres. Half or so is hilly and I have some drainage issues. I am contemplating purchasing a KL2475 Backhoe. It's a big price tag but if it's as useful as the other implements I own, it'd be worth it. What I'd presently like to accomplish is to dig a retention pond and divert a lot of the runoff into it. The pond dimensions would be about 20' x 20' x 4'-6' deep. The length of what i would need to trench would be in the 200'-300' range. Maybe I'm thinking about it all wrong, but in surveying where the water naturally goes, it seems to be in line but I'd like it to be more contained and limit the amount of erosion we battle. I've read a little bit on backhoes and wonder if it will hold up over time. Too is it worth the investment? I've attached a pic showing how the water tends to go presently. I'd like to divert the lower path to go into the upper path to maintain the path to and from the existing pond for travel. I know that the aerial shot doesn't do much good for this purpose. To try and give some sense of scale, the barn is at the highest elevation of the property and it's 40' x 60' located at the bottom right of pic. Any advice would be much appreciated.
To Backhoe or not to Backhoe
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EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
What does the backhoe attachment cost?
I have a full sized New Holland 555E backhoe and it's too small for most things, but I do what I can to make it work. Having a backhoe is extremely useful for more things then you can imagine. You will find something to use it on the rest of your life, so for that reason, I would always want to have one. Right now I'm using mine to clean up fallen trees after a sever storm that we had here. I've dug three ponds with mine. Two on my land and one on my neighbors. All where a lot bigger then what you want do to. What I've found is that digging is easy, the real work is in what you do with the dirt. Piling it up on the dam works the best, and if that is what your plan is, I think you would be a lot better off renting a dozer to do this.
I have a full sized New Holland 555E backhoe and it's too small for most things, but I do what I can to make it work. Having a backhoe is extremely useful for more things then you can imagine. You will find something to use it on the rest of your life, so for that reason, I would always want to have one. Right now I'm using mine to clean up fallen trees after a sever storm that we had here. I've dug three ponds with mine. Two on my land and one on my neighbors. All where a lot bigger then what you want do to. What I've found is that digging is easy, the real work is in what you do with the dirt. Piling it up on the dam works the best, and if that is what your plan is, I think you would be a lot better off renting a dozer to do this.
crashz
Veteran Member
I think you will be unhappy with a backhoe for that project. It could do it, but long swale trenching means moving the machine a lot and it will get tedious with the short reach of the tractor mounted backhoe.
If you want to do this work yourself, I would either rent or purchase a mini excavator. It will still take some time, especially if a learning curve is involved, but you will be productive.
Just a thought, but have you tried talking to your local NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Services) office about this? They could be a good resource and will help with ideas, planning, permits and regulatory issues. Possibly grants as well, depending on the scope. They are one of the few government agencies I've worked with that seem to help farms.
If you want to do this work yourself, I would either rent or purchase a mini excavator. It will still take some time, especially if a learning curve is involved, but you will be productive.
Just a thought, but have you tried talking to your local NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Services) office about this? They could be a good resource and will help with ideas, planning, permits and regulatory issues. Possibly grants as well, depending on the scope. They are one of the few government agencies I've worked with that seem to help farms.
fried1765
Super Star Member
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The hoe you are considering might be fine for trenching, but it is way too small for the job you propose.
I would suggest that you hire someone with a large tracked loader to dig just the hole (90 cu. yds., but probably with slope, more like 120+ cu. yds.)
Maybe 4 hours using the much larger machine.
You will love how handy a hoe can be for ALL SORTS of other uses though.
After having the hole dug, you can do the all the trenching you want with your new hoe.
fried1765
Super Star Member
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I would ABSOLUTELY STEER CLEAR of ANY CONTACT with NRCS!
It is MUCH better to ask for forgiveness that to ask for permission!
DON'T open up a NRCS can of worms!
Just DO IT !
3Ts
Elite Member
I have a tractor mounted (subframe) backhoe and have dug a hole about half the size you are planning, took me 2 days to do it. And the biggest problem is what to do with the dirt? I piled it up on the side of the hole but quickly realized that I'd have to move the pile before I could dig anymore. Backhoes are good at digging trenches, a little more problematic for ponds. As for the swale, you are now talking about just skimming a thin dirt layer to redirect the flow. Backhoes aren't so good at doing this, bulldozers are much better. However, I have a similar problem to what you're trying to do and have to redirect the water with swales. I have really hard packed clay and 2 different blades (one weighs about 900#), neither one can cut into the clay. So you use what you have. I scraped about 3" off the top of a half acre area with the backhoe. Again, had to stop frequently to move the spoils, would have been better and quicker with a dozer, but I don't have one, nor know anyone with one so cost would have been prohibitive to rent.
So, to answer your question, it's not the best tool for what you have planned, but yes it can do the job, but will take longer than a dozer.
Also, as to whether a backhoe is worth the money. That depends. I bought it because I needed to dig several trenches 2' deep and totalling over 1000' over several months so the rental cost would have been more than the purchase. I've already gotten my money's worth out of it and continue to use it for various projects (including planting landscape bushes) because I already have it and it's easier than digging by hand.
P.S. my hoe is on a 50 hp tractor and a stated digging depth of 8'. It requires lots of positioning to dig an area as deep as you're planning. It will require you to reposition frequently. Oh, and by the way, repositioning takes time so be sure to allocate lots and lots of time to the project.
So, to answer your question, it's not the best tool for what you have planned, but yes it can do the job, but will take longer than a dozer.
Also, as to whether a backhoe is worth the money. That depends. I bought it because I needed to dig several trenches 2' deep and totalling over 1000' over several months so the rental cost would have been more than the purchase. I've already gotten my money's worth out of it and continue to use it for various projects (including planting landscape bushes) because I already have it and it's easier than digging by hand.
P.S. my hoe is on a 50 hp tractor and a stated digging depth of 8'. It requires lots of positioning to dig an area as deep as you're planning. It will require you to reposition frequently. Oh, and by the way, repositioning takes time so be sure to allocate lots and lots of time to the project.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
I got a hoe. I wouldn't think of digging a pond that size. That'll take a dozer.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
I dunno ... 20 x 20 x 6? Maybe it could be done. Question I guess becomes will the ground hold water there? Or will it become a big mud hole?
justman777
Platinum Member
Another vote for a dozer. You could have a dozer in there and done by the time you'd dig 1/10th of your pond with a hoe.
I think you'll find two camps on here....those who swear by their hoe, and those who swear at it. If you can afford it, get it just to have around. They're handy as all get-out. But, for what they're charging for them, I think I'd rent something I could abuse and return and not have to worry about storing it for the once or twice a year I'd use it, or the wear and tear on the tractor.
If you get one, you'll have lots of new friends at church and around the neighborhood! :laughing:
I think you'll find two camps on here....those who swear by their hoe, and those who swear at it. If you can afford it, get it just to have around. They're handy as all get-out. But, for what they're charging for them, I think I'd rent something I could abuse and return and not have to worry about storing it for the once or twice a year I'd use it, or the wear and tear on the tractor.
If you get one, you'll have lots of new friends at church and around the neighborhood! :laughing:
