Backhoe tractor backhoe vs. mini excavator

[mjncad]

I've never used a backhoe on a tractor; but from looking at all the gyrations of lowering stabilizers, digging, raising stabilizers, moving tractor, repeat as necessary for a trench to be completed says PITA to me. I've rented a mini-excavator a couple of times and that would be my machine of choice for large amounts of trenching and digging.

 

[wedge40]

I've been begging the wife for a backhoe! Now I have to ask the wife for another $25,000 for a must have mini excavator.

True if you were to purchase a new excavator, but like anything else you can pick one up at action or used for $10-$15K.. Yes more than a backhoe, but it can do things in half the time or less. When I win the lottery next week that will be on the list of things to purchase.

Wedge

 

[Spudland_Dave]

True if you were to purchase a new excavator, but like anything else you can pick one up at action or used for $10-$15K.. Yes more than a backhoe, but it can do things in half the time or less. When I win the lottery next week that will be on the list of things to purchase.

IMO, The Backhoe MFG's have priced themselves right out of the market... 8-9k for a Woods or Deere Hoe? Sorry but for 1-2k more I'm into a used hoe that will out perform the tractor hoe in any & every situation possible...AND have both machines operable...Its nice being able to dump from the hoe into the loader bucket on my tractor...Add to that all the wear & tear it saves from the tractor and the fact you can easily resell the hoe and its a no brainer...

 

[Ken45101]

One of the big disadvantages of a small add on backhoe is that you have to leave the seat (or turn it around) to move the unit. With a mini ex, you just lift the blade and push the sticks and you are there.

I've gotten many hours of use from my little B21 backhoe, but now that I have the mini ex, I suspect the B21 won't see much use. I may either sell it or take the backhoe off of it and put on a small bush hog for trail use.

Ken

 

[Botabill]

I have a small KX41 excavator that is really handy and for most appications will outperform a backhoe. There is a downside to the excavator though and that is mobility. To get to the back of my property it is a major outing so when there is a small job I don't do it. Once a year I go around the property with the excavator doing all the little jobs that I would have done as I saw them if I had a backhoe.

 

[have_blue]

There is no comparison between an excavator and a backhoe. Period. The excavator has it all over the backhoe in the ability to manuver, swing and reposition itself. As far as digging force it is all in the individual machine's specs.

Andy

That's what I thought until I operated a JD300C with Extend-a-Hoe. It will out work any mini excavator, and is far more versatile. You can get a good used one for $25-$40K. The 1-1/4 yard loader is priceless, and so is the traveling speed.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

That's what I thought until I operated a JD300C with Extend-a-Hoe. It will out work any mini excavator, and is far more versatile. You can get a good used one for $25-$40K. The 1-1/4 yard loader is priceless, and so is the traveling speed.

IMO, thats like saying "My Peterbilt 379 will out tow Any Pickup Truck"....While I dont doubt your JD300C will outperform a "Mini" Excavator, it would NOT outperform a Full sized excavator (other then transport speed ) of comparable size.

Pound for pound, at comparable sizes, the Mini-Excavator will outperform a TLB.

 

[shasta]

I just compleated about a mile of 10'" water line on a very steep hillside. The first half I did with my L39. It was slow going because I had to build such a wide platform in order to have a place to set up the stabilizers. For the second half I rented a "mini" excavator. It was about 4 times as fast to trench and and cover to pipe. I only needed a platform as wide as the tracks. It was much faster trenching as there was no setup just dig and move. No climbing in and out of the seat to move the tractor and set up and dig a few more feet. The excavator can go up and down much steeper slopes and access areas that I could never get to on the tractor. The main problem is they are so slow to get anywhere and about the only thing they are good for is digging. The excavator will out perform the backhoe in digging but will never match the speed and versitility of the backhoe. For me the backhoe was the best piece of equipment to purchase and then rent the excavator as needed.

 

[Kays Supply]

I've had both and would not trade my mini Yanmar for two BH. The Yanmar quick connect for the bucket alone would sway me, besides all the things already mentioned. I have 5 different buckets that I can change back and forth in less than a minute each way. The 36" backfill bucket can dress up a job so slick. Try to get a backhoe out of a 6' deep ditch when it has slid in. You can't get the boom around far enough to lift you up enough to crib up. The mini can. Don't ask how I know.

 

[have_blue]

Pound for pound, at comparable sizes, the Mini-Excavator will outperform a TLB.

I was thinking more like dollar for dollar. I have no idea what a mini excavator costs, but assume they aren't cheap.