To hoe or no?

[Baby Grand]

I致e been following this thread :

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/94365-your-backhoe-worth-over-long.html

with great interest as I have been wrestling with the same question I want a hoe, but the money is hard to part with. There are a lot of things that this place needs. Many of them would be much easier with a hoe; some of them would be completely impractical without one. I致e been eyeing the Kubota BH90 & Woods BH90X 9 units for their reach - I need to do some trench digging for drain pipe and electrical conduit, some French drains/drywells and a little road work. I知 going to be doing a lot of 3 to 12 inch stump removal, too.

There has also been the idea of renting vs. owning outright. Rod (Brandoro) disabused me of that idea with his story of rental purgatory that would have put me over the edge. I just don稚 have much time to work outdoors, be it due to lack of daylight or because of poor weather. I want to be able to hit the ground running as soon as conditions are good and I can get away from my day job. What Andy said is the deciding factor for me: I look at it as could I get the work done with the time I have available without it and the answer is no with out my backhoes?

A remaining concern is matching the unit's size to my tractor. The 9 seems awful big for my L3240, but Talon Dancer, RPK, L3130, and Chris (cschlaps), have expressed no post purchase remorse, so I assume they are well matched. Any thoughts?

Jim

 

[SHIITake' farmer]

my advice
buy a unit with a full sub frame / no three points... if you can, balance your tractors hyd remotes to your BH needs ... try not to use your pto to pump BH...it makes for easier change out to other implements. Another issue I found is the ground clearance at pivot is important and understand why the Woods BH has a "arched" boom...
Look at others b4 you buy wallinstein makes one too...
smf

 

[Racer71]

Another option would be to buy a mini-excavator. Food for thought.

 

[Baby Grand]

A mini-ex! I like that idea - I took a quick look at used units at a "local" dealer's on-line inventory site. If only I could convince my "Plant Manager" that I need another tractor. She's okay with the backhoe, so I don't want to push my luck. Still, Racer71 gets bonus points for style.

SHIITake' farmer suggested subframe mounting - it's on my required list after reading various comment about the 3ph arrangements. Match hydraulics & consider pivot height and distance from rear axle. - I'm guessing the arched boom allows you to reach over a pile better?

Thanks for the suggestions.

Jim

 

[shvl73]

If cost is a factor and you have fabrication ability a 3pt hoe can be bought right if you have time to look. I have a 3pt converted to a Bradco subframe, there is a difference in how solid it feels. Some subframes reduce clearance, if you can compare actual installations, you'll see. Everyone has to value the cost for themselves, for me, each little job has proven its worth.