woods bh8x or used bx23

[swampvol]

I got a quote yesterday of 6850.00 for woods backhoe and install on my l3400. I can also pick-up a 300 hr bx23 tlb for about the same price. My uses will be primarily trenching for electrical lines (once a month or so) along with the occasional hole digging and stump removal around my properties.
Since trenching will be what I do the most, I know a trencher would be the best bet, but the extra use of the bh out ways the extra time it takes to dig the trenches. I am leaning towards the bx23, easier trailering, less damage on lawns exc. but I'm thinking that it would take much longer to dig the trenches than the bh80 and would not be practical for digging 100ft. trenches on a fairly-regular basis.

What do yall think, as I have absolutely no experience with a bh...

[KeithInSpace]

If you want your trenches 16" wide, then the L would be great. The 9" narrow bucket on a BX23 may go quicker, actually. And you can't beat the maneuverability.

However for stump pullin' power, the L would certainly take the cake.

If you find yourself in the situation more than once saying "this darn L is too tough to haul around and move around my land", then a BX may be just what the Dr. ordered. But if the L is juuuust right for you in nearly all situations up to this point, I'd just put a BH on the thing and save yourself the maintenance.

Pretty good deal on the BX23, by the way.

[mikim]

I've got a bh80 on my 45hp New Holland ..... for trenching - go with the bx tlb. It'll have the advantages you mentioned plus some and it'll trench as well as the bh80. I use mine more for stumps more than trenching so the bigger oomph helps - but trenching doesn't need the extra oomph - so I'd fall back on ease of use.

[MessickFarmEqu]

Originally Posted by swampvol

I got a quote yesterday of 6850.00 for woods backhoe and install on my l3400. I can also pick-up a 300 hr bx23 tlb for about the same price.

If you can... buy it and sell it. They typicaly would be 10-12k. If its on ebay or craigslist, its a scam.

[bandit67]

Originally Posted by MessickFarmEqu

If you can... buy it and sell it. They typicaly would be 10-12k. If its on ebay or craigslist, its a scam.

Kind of what I was thinking - either that or the BX is beat all to $%*$#.

[BlacknTan]

While i cannot speak to scams, a couple of years ago I had a young fella with a BX23 trench an electrical line in for me, a pretty good distance too.. He made that machine do everything but talk, but, he was a talented operator, also..
I could not have thought of a better machine for the job!

[swampvol]

Originally Posted by MessickFarmEqu

If you can... buy it and sell it. They typicaly would be 10-12k. If its on ebay or craigslist, its a scam.

Yep..craigslist, and now that I think about it, you're probably right. I am going to at least take a look at it, maybe see if I can take it to the local dealer for a look over.

Thanks for all the replies!

[RichT]

I was browsing craigslist a few days ago and spotted a BX23 at about the same price range. Not sure if its the same one, but spotted the EXACT same ad (same pic) on another city listing over 1500mi away from the first listing. A BX23 for 7K is probably either missing something (backhoe) or a scam.

[danfromsyr]

one of the best way to quickly check a craigslist for spam cross posting scams is to do a google on "#########[space]Site:craigslist.org"

or search google for craigslist, then theres a small text search box, that will hit ALL craigslist ads,

that will tell you if it's spammed over many localities with a deal of a price.

Originally Posted by RichT

I was browsing craigslist a few days ago and spotted a BX23 at about the same price range. Not sure if its the same one, but spotted the EXACT same ad (same pic) on another city listing over 1500mi away from the first listing. A BX23 for 7K is probably either missing something (backhoe) or a scam.

[buckeyefarmer]

Originally Posted by danfromsyr

one of the best way to quickly check a craigslist for spam cross posting scams is to do a google on "#########[space]Site:craigslist.org"

or search google for craigslist, then theres a small text search box, that will hit ALL craigslist ads,

that will tell you if it's spammed over many localities with a deal of a price.

Great advice! I only use google to search craigslist. I see the same Kubota about every week being sold all over the US at a really great price.