Back Hoe -vs- Excavator... Which do you prefer?

Localmotion · Jul 30, 2012

I stumbled across this video on YouTube - obviously a PR stunt for Neuson, but quite interesting all the same...

I will fly my flag for an excavator when it comes to "digging" everytime, although I must conseed that there are times when a backhoe is much better simply because of its versatitly / fel :laughing:

So the question is - do you prefer a 360 degree excavator, or a 180 degree backhoe with FEL, & why?

bcp · Jul 30, 2012

A one-purpose machine is usually better than a multi-purpose machine for that purpose.

Now lets see the backhoe and the excavator each carry 10 yards of dirt 50 yards.

Bruce

20 20 · Jul 30, 2012

I posted this a while back. I have owned both, an excavator compared to a BH is like comparing a bullet to a knife. If you need an all around machine then go with a BH, personally a skidsteer or tractor with FEL and an excavator is the cats butt. When it comes to digging an ex will walk all over a(even a bigger) BH hands down.

Storm56 · Jul 30, 2012

Obviously the excavator is superior for digging, it is what is was made for. But it is pretty much a single use machine. I have a JD 4700 with the loader and back hoe, it does MANY jobs well. Does not dig like an excavator, that is for sure. But let me assure you, it beats the crap out a pick and shovel BIG TIME!

Bob Rooks · Jul 30, 2012

I'd like to see a TLB pick and carry a 17' railroad tie down a 10' wide dirt road.

oliver1555 · Jul 30, 2012

My wife can run a backhoe better than that guy on the JCB! Put a good operator in a Case, Cat, or JD BH/L and see what happens.

Storm56 · Jul 30, 2012

Bob Rooks said:
I'd like to see a TLB pick and carry a 17' railroad tie down a 10' wide dirt road.

I would like to see an excavator prep and plant my fields, or mow my fields or drive across my lawn without tearing it up.

bcp · Jul 30, 2012

Bob Rooks said:
I'd like to see a TLB pick and carry a 17' railroad tie down a 10' wide dirt road.

Easy. Straddle it. Strap one end to the bucket and the other end to the hoe. Lift and go.

Bruce

JoeBuyer · Jul 30, 2012

I would clamp it in my grapple and drive straight down the road with it sticking straight out in front. I might be able to even let a small excavator pass me going the other way.

Seriously, apples and oranges here as has been mentioned. For pure digging there is no beating an excavator. For multipurpose, there is no beating a TLB. A TLB with a quick attach on the FEL and removable hoe and equipped with a 3 pt and PTO is a Swiss army knife these days. The number of attachments is impressive. Again, pure digging and backfilling is an excavator's world.

20 20 · Jul 31, 2012

Storm56; I agree with your opinion to a point just a couple of things I myself have not had an isssue with. Excavators can go across a lawn and not dig it up even did this with an old 20+ton machine. I also do not feel the ex is a "single use machine", I use mine for many different task anything from mowing around the ponds to taking down trees, oh and of course digging

. There are many other functions an ex is used for, splitting wood, wood processing, drilling, mowing................

Storm56 · Jul 31, 2012

How do you mow with an excavator? When you went across the lawn, did you try any sharp turns? Not trying to argue, just curious...

Localmotion · Jul 31, 2012

Storm56 said:
How do you mow with an excavator? When you went across the lawn, did you try any sharp turns? Not trying to argue, just curious...

You can get flail heads which fit onto the linkage that normally carries the bucket for mowing - it makes a really useful tool as you can reach high up and far out from the cab - ideal for clearing bruch etc...

To turn on a lawn you use the bucket to lift the front of the machine, and then track oneside forwards and one backwards while slewing to turn the bottom of the machine - this leaves no marks.

Interesting that everyone is assuming (probably because of the video) that an excavator has to be tracked - what about rubber ducks?...

JoeBuyer · Jul 31, 2012

Localmotion said:
You can get flail heads which fit onto the linkage that normally carries the bucket for mowing

I have seen some flail heads in the past starting in the $5k to $7k range and going way up from there. What brand and size do you have? That would be very useful, I had forgot about those. Note that these can be used on an excavator or TLB.

Storm56 · Jul 31, 2012

OK - I retract my statement, not single use machines! Still for sure, in my case, not nearly as versatile a TLB.

20 20 · Jul 31, 2012

Thanks Localmotion.

I actually made a mower for my baby mini out of an old lawn mower, didn't have the $$$$$ for the flail head, works great for what I need. We've had this argument in the past and I'd rather not get into another p'sing match on whos mommy wears combat boots. Like I wrote, 2 different creatures(BH vs EX) an ex will out dig a BH any day, but a TLB is more verstile(for all around jobs). For my needs I'd rather have two different machines, the versatility of the ex to swing and dig and a tractor with dump trailer to haul away the spoils. I have been asked before if I had to get rid of all my machines except one which would I keep. Too me this was a very simple answer my EX stays, way to many uses.

Localmotion · Jul 31, 2012

20 20 said:
Thanks Localmotion.

I actually made a mower for my baby mini out of an old lawn mower, didn't have the $$$$$ for the flail head, works great for what I need. We've had this argument in the past and I'd rather not get into another p'sing match on whos mommy wears combat boots. Like I wrote, 2 different creatures(BH vs EX) an ex will out dig a BH any day, but a TLB is more verstile(for all around jobs). For my needs I'd rather have two different machines, the versatility of the ex to swing and dig and a tractor with dump trailer to haul away the spoils. I have been asked before if I had to get rid of all my machines except one which would I keep. Too me this was a very simple answer my EX stays, way to many uses.

Totally agree - if & when budget allows I would definately consider purchasing a backhoe (purpose built JCB, Case, CAT etc, not tractor mounted), but here and now our excavators manage fine, plus we still have a tractor fel when needed.

We just completed a job which was a prime example of the benefits of a 360 machine over 180...

A guy had a new septic tank installed, and the builder contracted a JCB to dig the hole. Unfortunately the site is very tight (only just the width of our lorry), so once backed in, the JCB could only pile the soil up on one side. Once the tank was in, they then realised that there was no way for the JCB to load the spoil onto a lorry - simply not enough space, and 360 machine was needed (to my benefit).

That said there have been plenty of occasions when I wish my excavator had a front loader with 4in1 bucket...

swick1 · Aug 1, 2012

I own a tiny tlb and rent excavators all the time. They are much better for jobs where you have to control where your spoils are placed precisely. A mini excavator will be stronger than a small backhoe and have more reach. They don't get dragged around by the hoe as much as a tlb either.

caver · Aug 1, 2012

You can drive a TLB to the next site a mile down the road...... still lusting for a mini ex though

Localmotion · Aug 1, 2012

caver said:
You can drive a TLB to the next site a mile down the road...... still lusting for a mini ex though

Round here I have seen some Spanish tracking their excavators several miles along the road to the site :laughing: Definately don't recomend it though - tends to wear rubber tracks our rather quickly!!!

We use our 7.5 tonne lorry to move our excavators around - loading and unloading is each a 5 minute job including strapping and signage, so if travelling more than say 5 miles, it is quicker than driving a backhoe!

excav8ter · Aug 2, 2012

Had a JCB hoe once......first time I got in an excavator I realized a BH was not the machine for me. Bought a Kobelco Sk120 and now have a Kobelco SR135.... I have never missed my old BH....not for a second. I do demolition, concrete/asphalt removal, sewer, water and storm sewer installation and repair, resi and commercial excavating, slope and river bank restoration and many other things. I personally have no use for a BH. Especially with my Kobelco SR35 and my Takeuchi TL130 in my fleet.