Backhoe Woodmaxx vs Wallenstein backhoe

[asic ace]

I'm looking for a PTO backhoe for my Kubota L3400.

I've been eying a Wallenstein GX600 that apparently was bought in 2008 and never hooked up. It's been sitting outside since then.
The seller recently hooked it up and said it works fine. It requires hydraulic remotes so I'd need to use my bucket tilt connections
and get longer hoses and different connectors. The seller is about 2-1/2 to 3 hours away, so I could spend a day to check it
out / buy it. He's asking $3,000. In my experience, things that are used regularly are better off than things that have been sitting
idle for years, especially outside. The seller said the pistons were all retracted, so no pitting on the shafts.

Then I read about the Woodmaxx WM-6600. It's $4250, shipped, and has a PTO hydraulic pump, which I'd prefer. I get the
impression that Woodmaxx is new to backhoes, so I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with them?
How are their other products, do they have a good reputation?

The GX600 can also be used with a PTO hydraulic pump (PTO70), which I haven't been able to track down yet.
That may be an option, but acquiring a PTO pump plus losing a day of my time makes the $1250 difference
balance out.

So I'm looking for opinions on either brand.
Has anyone used a Wallenstein GX600 or a Woodmaxx on a Kubota L3400? Or on anything?

One other question, if I use my bucket tilt connections, do I just detach both hoses and use those or do I need to use
one side and tap into the return line for the other? That would be a deal-breaker as I don't want to change the plumbing
on my Kubota.

My use would be very light, mainly digging in Florida sand but I have some areas with clay, but nothing like the clay I
had in California. Also, this isn't urgent. There are things I could use it on tomorrow but they can also wait until next year.

-- Ace

[wedge40]

I could have sworn that someone on here has gotten a woodmaxx backhoe. I tried a search and couldn't find it. If their backhoe is the same quality as their chipper I wouldn't be to afraid.

Wedge

[Scooby074]

Woodmax may very well be Chinese origin. There is some discussion that their chippers are. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/a...-chippers.html

Id probably go for the Wallenstein in that case. Wallenstein makes an excellent product.

[asic ace]

Well, I finally located a PTO70 Wallenstein pump kit for $1170. Wow.
I guess I could use a cheaper pump kit but this puts the prices closer together.

[mguitas]

I use a gx620 hoe an they work fine, in your case i would buy the gx600 over the Woodmaxx.

[asic ace]

I just called Woodmaxx and ran into a menu system with a choice of "1" and nothing else.

The person I spoke with said these are made in China but they are very proud of them.
The WM-6600 is a new product but the larger WM-7600 has been out for about a year and a half.

He pointed out that a PTO pump guarantees proper flow and doesn't mix the tractor and implement oils,
which was something I was worried about.

For my light use, the Woodmaxx looks ok. I'm not too keen on being one of the first buyers, though.

[TheGoose]

Subscribed.

[ChipThis]

That's interesting - I've been watching their website for quite some time and I never even saw a backhoe on there until July of this year. After looking closer at the backhoe it looks surprisingly similar to these units sold by The Tractor Man: The Tractor Man, Inc. perhaps with a few modifications.