Backhoe Are small backhoes worth the $??

[sodamo]

There's likely dozens of reasons not to have one, but they seem to disappear when doing that one job you're doing.

BTW, learning how to use that BH was likely the most humbling experience in my tractoring days. LOL

[caver]

BTW, learning how to use that BH was likely the most humbling experience in my tractoring days. LOL

I'm learning all over for the second time with a 4 stick Case 580.

[El Wood]

Thanks for the comments and advice. I think I'm going to go for it. I have 20 acres (future house site) with half being high and flat (previous owner farmed beans). The other half is low and swampy. I'm going to need to make a 400 ft road through the forest to the previously mentioned pond site. I'm thinking the JD 2520 with FEL and hoe. I'm also going to trade in my 5 by 10 trailer and pick up something I can haul the tractor with. Anybody know if 7 by 14 would be big enough assuming the FEL and hoe are attached?

[Ken45101]

I talked to one contractor who is selling his and he told me that the mini's work good if you are going to be working on fairly hard surfaces but he has found that if you take it onto soft or muddy soils the track systems are severely underpowered and tend to get stuck, hence the reason he is selling. I would be using it on the farm to dig ditches etc so his comments were a big eye opener and turn off for me.

He is not making sense. In soft soils, it's not power you need, it's traction. And the beauty of an mini ex is that the hoe can pull it out if it gets stuck.

I am in the same category as CurlyDave and JDFire....now that I have the backhoe, it would be sweet to have a small dump truck to complement it.

But then again, a skid steer/mini x/dumptruck combo would be pretty sweet...maybe one day my ship will come in..

They do make dump trailers, a lot less expensive than a dump truck

Ken

[newbury]

Anybody know if 7 by 14 would be big enough assuming the FEL and hoe are attached?

Nope, get at least 18'

[bcp]

The trailer must do more than just contain the load. You need room forward and backwards to move the tractor to balance the load for correct hitch weight.

It might happen to balance correctly with a short trailer. If so, go buy a lottery ticket before your luck runs out!



Bruce

[BroBro]

No one ever said farmers were smart just very very wise !!!!

[two_bit_score]

Usually small backhoes are worth it. Just have to match the BHTo the jobs you expect to do.

[Morning Wood]

I've got a bh80 with thumb on my 1720. It's nice to have. Is not really great at digging but it is good for pulling rocks or moving rocks short distances. It is far from doing this efficiently though. A min ex will run circles around a tractor mounted backhoe. So, if you are short on time or get really frustrated working inefficiently go for a mini ex

[roman]

I have a small woods bh6500 on my 1720 with a subframe. I have done a few things so far but have bid plans for it. I know it will do what I want and the cost was a no brainer. I use it when I want and when (if) I sell it I will at least break even.
Look around for a used one if cost is a factor, patience is a virtue!