I need to buy a backhoe for my tractor and can't find any information at the Kubota website. The backhoe section for M series tractors is under construction. I have a M7040 tractor with 4WD and would like to buy a backhoe for it. Does anyone know which model is recommended for this tractor? Is there a Kubota backhoe made for this tractor model or is another brand better? I will be using it to clean up tree debris and stumps left over from hurricane Katrina. Thank you for your help.
If it's possible to put aside some of the personal sniping for a moment to actually help you, here's some information that might be useful with your backhoe question. There is a factory backhoe for the Mxx40 series tractors that comes up in the "Build my Kubota" section on the website. It doesn't give you the model number, but it does quote out the MSRP... something north of $15K, depending on options. The previous Kubota model for that size tractor was an M4011. Maybe that's still the right one, or - considering the "under construction" status of the website pages - maybe there's a new one coming out - I don't know.
That's a pretty steep price for a backhoe attachment. Unless there is some pressing reason for buying a new one, I would have to seriously consider buying a used full-sized TLB or mini-excavator, as one poster suggested. You can get a pretty good piece of used equipment for $15k and not tie up your tractor with digging duty.
I don't know if the non-Kubota backhoe attachments are similar in price, but regardless of brand, an 11 ft, new backhoe is not going to be cheap. You probably could also put a smaller backhoe on an M7040 (assuming one of the non-OEM brands makes a subframe that would fit a smaller hoe to it), but that's a pretty big tractor to be using with a small hoe, and you'd probably get tired of jockeying it around repositioning the hoe.
Also, you are really into the price range where an L45 or M59 is possible. If the majority of your work is going to be this kind of clean-up work, you should look into one of those dedicated TLB's.
Just an owner's comment about Kubota backhoes. My backhoe is quite well made and has given excellent service for more than 8 years. Don't know how many are actually sold, but it has to number in the thousands, and I expect very few of them have given their owners trouble, in spite of what a few people say on the internet. Nonetheless, I'm thinking in your situation, your money would be better spent on another digger.
Just one opinion. Good luck, whichever way you decide to go.
, but since lightly used BH1050's seem to go for $9-10k, one might think a new one goes for more than that. Of course, a fella could put the smaller hoe on the larger tractor to save money, assuming there is a subframe for it or locate a good used BH1050.