Backhoe, 3 point or trailer?

[aczlan]

Picked up a backhoe the other day, a Truxcavator:






Was originally made to go on a truck (take off the tailgate, bolt it on and it runs off of a pump on the engine).
Debating between converting it to a 3 point mount, or setting it up to sit on the back of a trailer (like this one that the guy also had for sale):




If putting it on the trailer, it would get a pair of hydraulic "feet" on the front so it would have 4 outriggers.
The trailer has a curb weight of 1350# per the dataplate, so it would be somewhere around 1800-2000# with the backhoe installed.

If setup for a 3 point, it would go on the L3830, or the David Brown 880UE (both of which are big enough that it shouldn't hurt them to run this small of a 3 point backhoe on them).


Aaron Z

 

[Reb954]

Looks like a lot of work for something that won't provide a lot of return. But you will have bragging rights as I am sure you will be the only one on the block to have one.

 

[AndyMA]

Picked up a backhoe the other day, a Truxcavator:
View attachment 660751

View attachment 660749

View attachment 660750

Was originally made to go on a truck (take off the tailgate, bolt it on and it runs off of a pump on the engine).
Debating between converting it to a 3 point mount, or setting it up to sit on the back of a trailer (like this one that the guy also had for sale):
View attachment 660748

View attachment 660747

If putting it on the trailer, it would get a pair of hydraulic "feet" on the front so it would have 4 outriggers.
The trailer has a curb weight of 1350# per the dataplate, so it would be somewhere around 1800-2000# with the backhoe installed.

If setup for a 3 point, it would go on the L3830, or the David Brown 880UE (both of which are big enough that it shouldn't hurt them to run this small of a 3 point backhoe on them).


Aaron Z

Of the 6 backhoes's I've had only one on a 75HP Cat 2 New Holland 75D was a 3 point mount. That was a rugged 10.5 foot woods. Worked fine, but mounting and unmounting it was a muti hour job. I think you'll be fine size wize. A trailer mounted hoe appears very cumbersome to me.

Andy

 

[Jchonline]

Maybe you can be like URHC. YouTube

 

[aczlan]

Looks like a lot of work for something that won't provide a lot of return. But you will have bragging rights as I am sure you will be the only one on the block to have one.

I didn't pay much for it, so I dont have much invested in it, the cylinders or the valve should be able to be sold for what I bought it for it need be.
The trailer would probbaly be somewhere around the same price.

Of the 6 backhoes's I've had only one on a 75HP Cat 2 New Holland 75D was a 3 point mount. That was a rugged 10.5 foot woods. Worked fine, but mounting and unmounting it was a muti hour job. I think you'll be fine size wize. A trailer mounted hoe appears very cumbersome to me.

Just going back and forth, trailer mounted would be easier to take to my brother's place if needed (don't have a trailer that will handle the larger tractors) and be quicker to "get hooked up".
Not sure how things would work with adding a platform to sit on while operating it, there isn't currently anyplace to sit on the backhoe itself.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Maybe you can be like URHC. YouTube

Probably not, but time will tell.
Mostly need to put in 600' of drain tile through a field and pasture. If I can get this to where I can use it to do that for under $500, it will be well worth it.

Aaron Z

 

[shaeff]

I say slap it on a trailer, make it have four outriggers that reach out a decent distance for proper stabilization, and run it off whatever pump/engine setup you can scrounge up. You won't have much into it, it'll be useful simply due to the ease of moving it around from location to location, make it so you can tow it with your truck and behind a tractor. I'd do this project in a heartbeat if I could find the parts for the right prices.

Make sure you have enough tongue weight when "stored" on the trailer for towing, too much tail weight can be catastrophic.

 

[CoyPatton]

I say slap it on a trailer, make it have four outriggers that reach out a decent distance for proper stabilization, and run it off whatever pump/engine setup you can scrounge up. You won't have much into it, it'll be useful simply due to the ease of moving it around from location to location, make it so you can tow it with your truck and behind a tractor. I'd do this project in a heartbeat if I could find the parts for the right prices.

Make sure you have enough tongue weight when "stored" on the trailer for towing, too much tail weight can be catastrophic.

Totally agree about tongue weight if pulling at any speed. But a big help fir this will be the hydraulic tank, pump and engine to run the rig.

 

[aczlan]

I say slap it on a trailer, make it have four outriggers that reach out a decent distance for proper stabilization, and run it off whatever pump/engine setup you can scrounge up. You won't have much into it, it'll be useful simply due to the ease of moving it around from location to location, make it so you can tow it with your truck and behind a tractor. I'd do this project in a heartbeat if I could find the parts for the right prices.

Make sure you have enough tongue weight when "stored" on the trailer for towing, too much tail weight can be catastrophic.

Looks like they want too much for that trailer, looking at some others on CL for $200-300ish.
Like the idea of the larger tires to keep it up off of the ground, have a engine and a hydraulic pump from other projects.
We will see where it goes.

Aaron Z

 

[shaeff]

Totally agree about tongue weight if pulling at any speed. But a big help fir this will be the hydraulic tank, pump and engine to run the rig.

Depending on the size of the hydraulic tank, he may also want to think about a baffled tank. That surge when you hit the brakes can be nasty depending on tank size and how much liquid is in it.

Looks like they want too much for that trailer, looking at some others on CL for $200-300ish.
Like the idea of the larger tires to keep it up off of the ground, have a engine and a hydraulic pump from other projects.
We will see where it goes.

Aaron Z

Keep looking, and if you succeed in obtaining all the necessary parts, make a build thread or put it in here. I'd love to follow along.

 

[aczlan]

The current tank is small (3/4 gallon?), I plan to replace it with a larger one (2-3 gallons?) if I can find one.
I will probably just use this as a build thread.

Aaron Z

 

[shaeff]

The current tank is small (3/4 gallon?), I plan to replace it with a larger one (2-3 gallons?) if I can find one.
I will probably just use this as a build thread.

Aaron Z

Gotcha, hardly enough liquid to worry about!

 

[airbiscuit]

Nice project. I would make it into a trailered model

Easier to transport
Won't wreck your 3pt
No mounting/removing

 

[bigtiller]

If you put it on an old beater truck you will have a handy thing.

A local guy had what was called a "Hopto Truck Backhoe"

 

[aczlan]

Not going to put it on a beater truck, don't have one, don't have any interest in buying one and don't want to have to register and insure one.
If I can put it on a trailer, the trailer does not have to be registered or inspected (just like with a towed man lift or cement mixer).
Found a couple on Craigslist, one for under fifty bucks but it's 2 hours one way. Another for a couple hundred which is an hour or so away.
Waiting to hear back from a guy I work with to see if he knows anybody truck parting out a truck that I can get the frame of for cheap.

Aaron Z