Backhoe Looking at a couple of backhoes.....any advice/suggestions?

[leeinmemphis]

I have a Kubota m5040 4x4 with a loader on it with two sets of aux hyd. on the rear and one on the front bucket for the grapple. It looks like I may have sold my trackhoe and so I am going to be in the market for a backhoe attachment for my tractor. I really don't have enough heavy digging to justify the trackhoe and the insurance/maintenance costs are too much to justify keeping it. So I am now looking at a Woods BH90x and a rhino 95 backhoe. I have had woods equipment and am pleased with it's performance but I don't really know anything about the rhino brand. It sounds like I can get the rhino for around $8500-9k with it setup for a 3pt hitch and it's own hydraulic pump that will run off the pto on the tractor. I am also getting a price on the woods but haven't received it yet. Both of them are fairly comparable as far as specs it appears but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with either of these? The woods is a new model that was just released and the rhino has been around for a while. Both units I am probably going to look at a 18" bucket and a thumb. I figured a 18" bucket wouldn't be as hard to dig with on the bh as a 2' bucket. Most of the time it will be used to dig small trenches on the farm, take up some smaller trees, and basic farm maintenance items. It may be something that only gets used a few times a year but when I need it I'll need for it to be available. Thanks.

 

[DK35vince]

I have had woods equipment and am pleased with it's performance but I don't really know anything about the rhino brand.

Woods and Rhino are both very nice backhoes.
I have owned a Rhino 85 backhoe for several years now. Been real pleased with it. Good power and speed with no problems.

 

[leeinmemphis]

Thanks DK.....I got a price on the woods model with a subframe for about $500 less than the rhino. I have a couple pieces of woods equipment and I have been more than satisfied with them so I imagine I'll probably be going that route it possible. Plus woods offers a factory mechanical thumb and rhino doesn't offer one. That alone makes me more apt to buy the woods unit. I've never had a thumb on a bh but I know that everyone that has had one swears by them.

 

[chrisjbell]

I've used a couple of different Woods backhoes and they work pretty well. I would suggest that you get a hoe with a subframe - it makes the whole unit more solid. More $$$, though, but considering the amount that a hoe costs it isn't out of line.

I'd also recommend the smaller bucket, unless you have pretty soft, non-rocky soil. A 12" bucket is probably more than adequate for most work. We even have a bucket that is only 6" wide at work (it was a 12" bucket cut in half and welded together). For digging trenches for irrigation and drainage it causes much less damage to the terrain (we're a golf course, so a lot of our digging is done through what is supposed to be nice turf). I like using the smaller bucket for digging out stumps - it delivers more "umph" to the roots.

 

[K7147]

As mentioned, both the Rhino and Woods are excellent backhoes. I have the newer style Woods HB90-X w/thumb & subframe. It is solid and very heavily built. The combination of the thumb, subframe, curved boom, and swing control make it a joy to operate. If you get to see one face-to-face you’ll be impressed with the design and the amount of raw metal that went into it’s construction. Good luck.

Ken

 

[leeinmemphis]

I've thought about it and I think that I am going to go with the woods unit with the factory thumb. Now my question is this: Do you guys find a mechanical thumb sufficient or is a hydraulic thumb worth that much more? I understand the hydraulic thumb is about $1400 more.

 

[CJ4]

I purchased a Woods BH-90X (new style) last summer of 06 and absolutely love it. I have a New Holland TC55DA. I would definately go with the subframe!!! I will say that i purchased the BH-80X first, took it home, and was disappointed with it in the first 5 minutes. It obviously had something wrong with so i insisted the dealer order me a 90X and he did. A whole new world with it. It has the mechanical thumb and i love it. Never used a hydraulic one so i'm not sure if it'd be worth it.....my gut tells me it wouldn't after using mine. Mine had i thought a 16" bucket on it and I was worried it'd be too wide.....i debated between the 12" and 16" and ended up with the 16". It's been just fine and probably better for all around use. I think if you were digging up alot of establish grass putting in trenches i'd sure go with the 12" though like the other gentleman said. Backhoes are sure expensive but ooohhhhh so nice!!!! People would be surprised what these small ones will do.

 

[CJ4]

Woops.....I have to correct something.....I did go with the 12" bucket instead of the 16" and it seems to be fine......I think I was thinking if you dug in established grass i'd even go smaller because mine seems to be plenty of big and.............you guys know you like spending more time on your tractor anyway, right?????

 

[K7147]

Lee,

Give or take a couple of hundred bucks due to negotiation or regional differences the HB90-X costs $8,000 to include sub-frame. Again, give or take a couple of hundred bucks due to negotiation or regional differences the manual thumb runs for about $700 and the hydraulic thumb runs for about $2,200. These figures assume that you already have two remotes in place to power both the backhoe and the hydraulic thumb. If you do not have any remotes in place then consider $600 each for DEALER installed remotes to power each unit. The figures I provide are from ten dealers in four different local states.

Ken

 

[leeinmemphis]

thanks everyone. I think I have decided to get the backhoe and the hydraulic thumb. I'm going to think about it through the weekend but I think my mind is pretty much made up.