People with 3 pt hoes/ TLB's

[Inkomodius]

To all the people that bought hoes or TLB's can you honestly justify the extra 10-14k (Canadian) for the attachment. I think if i had one id use it but for all the things I need to do i dont know if i could justify it. I can rent a Cat 308 for 1800 a week 0r 3500 a month. What I have to do Is clean up 2km of creek (now and mantain it lots of dead fall and beavers), dig water lines for horse and cattle (8 FT deep), dig stumps (6-8 inch spruce), remove brush from akward areas the a FEL can get into. And im sure having a TLB in my yard would probably get me some work on the side. As well owning a hoe would allow me to build a brush/root rake and a chuck/landscaping blade for it.

So as you can see im confused lol. Im buying no later then when the snow breaks so probably another 2-3 months. Any advice or experiance would be great..

Also how many people have turned their tractor/TLB into side businesses?

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

As a single owner with 20 acres I could never justify the cost of a new BH. These attachments typically don't get high hours of use and last year I picked up a 3 point Kubota 4690BH to go on my L3400 for $2500. I spent the extra bucks to get the heavy duty bracket from Kubota and after going thru the hose change cycle must say I wonder how I ever did without it. Starting with stumps to drainage to planting and building or improving it is a great attachment. My two cents is even today it's not worth the price for new but keep your eyes peeled and you will find one sitting somewhere for a much better price. I just went thru a bent boom cylinder which turns out to be another learning curve but am still very fond of this attachment.

 

[dillo99]

My hoe added about 6k (US) when I bought my machine. This was added into the financing. I would definitely say that I have gotten plenty of use out it. I know I could rent, but it is very nice to just put it on when I need it and not to have to hassle with a rental.

 

[WilliamBos]

My hoe added about 6k (US) when I bought my machine. This was added into the financing. I would definitely say that I have gotten plenty of use out it. I know I could rent, but it is very nice to just put it on when I need it and not to have to hassle with a rental.

And having it all financed as one also make it feel less expensive too.

 

[joe48]

from the sounds of the amount of work you have described, especially cleaning up 2km of creek bed/banks that an excavator is what you really need.
If you have the $ I would suggest you buy a used excavator that has 1/2 the reach of the width of the creek. Get the digging done asap and then sell it for what you bought it for, or keep it and do side work or lease it out.
You will find that to do a job like cleaning creek banks that the excavator can run parrallel to the creek while digging, something that is almost impossible to do with a TLB.

 

[radioman]

from the sounds of the amount of work you have described, especially cleaning up 2km of creek bed/banks that an excavator is what you really need.
If you have the $ I would suggest you buy a used excavator that has 1/2 the reach of the width of the creek. Get the digging done asap and then sell it for what you bought it for, or keep it and do side work or lease it out.
You will find that to do a job like cleaning creek banks that the excavator can run parrallel to the creek while digging, something that is almost impossible to do with a TLB.

that could work, but whats the fun when working agianst a deadline ? Have a backhoe at your disposal is really nice and can do anything you need to do at your pace. The "cost" of hurrying to get something done for multiple projects like OP is mentioning with a rental is an accindent waiting to happen or will leave a experience a person may not want to go through. If you really have that many projects that needs to be done with a back hoe, I am sure you can do most of it with a 3 pt BH and once you encounter a area where a excavator is better, your time and money is well spent with a rental bigger equipment without having to rent more then one day and lose all the time off from work. This is my 2 cents.

 

[RobS]

Speaking purely philosophically, with no data to support...

I doubt that many of us homeowner types could financially justify the purchase of a backhoe attachment. Most of us (myself included) own them for the convenience. Yes, renting is a viable and cost effective solution but there is something about knowing you can do that project anytime you want, without making the arrangements for a rental. They're also quite enjoyable to operate, so there is a fun-factor to figure in.

 

[DWCox]

I owned one in the past when I had a Kubota, and am thinking of getting one again for my JD. When you need them (and I do frequently now), you do not know how you ever got by without them. I would not presently lay down 10K for one though.

 

[Gittyup]

My 7.5' frame-mount hoe cost about $6K USD when purchased with the tractor. I would say to date (~150 hours of hoeing) it's probably paid for half of its cost. I've installed septic lines, buried a 500 gallon propane tank and trenched for the lines to house, buried gutter drain tile, dug footers for a retaining wall, installed 40' of 2' diameter culvert pipe, dug a garden pond, removed several large stumps, placed a heavy concrete fountain in the garden pond, removed all the old shrubs from in front of the house, buried the neighbors dog, buried a dead deere. Have other projects planned for it this spring too. Need I say more?

Will it ever fully pay for itself? Maybe, maybe not. But I chose to buy one because it's convenient and fun to do yourself without rental and transport hassles, and it really saves your own body too.

I have not been paid to do anything with it, and don't plan to ever try. I will ocassionally help out a neighbor or friend, but that's it. Didn't buy it to make money.

 

[john_bud]

10-14K Canadian ? For that money you can get a 1/2 way decent used industrial machine with 3-5x the capability.

 

[Botabill]

A used excavator for that price will do a better job than a backhoe for most of the tasks you mention. The only advantage to a backhoe is more portability getting out to the back 40. Yes you may pick up a few jobs but where I live it seems everyone has an excavating business so jobs are few and far between. I didn't get a BH when I bought my first tractor and within a few years saw the error of my ways and went lookng for one for my tractor. Price is much higher after the fact than at first purchase. Ended up finding that an excavator made more sense to me. I will concur though that you NEED one or the other. You only live once.

 

[mikim]

I held off buying mine for several years until I needed a septic system. They wanted between $8500 and $10,000 to install one. I bought the hoe and material for $9000 and installed it myself. I figure it paid for itself in that one application and I've used it for trenching and digging stumps as well. I have and will have more trenching and stump digging to do over the years so if it sits in the barn for months --- it's there when I want it.

 

[jimmyj]

That price seems awfully high. Are you sure of it?

I got the subframe mount bh with the tractor in Dec. BH added $6000 but I got a $2k discount because it was a demo. I really cannot justify it from a pure $ and cents point of view but I will get a TON of work done that I would not have otherwise completed (and I likely would never have bothered to rent). If in the end I find it is sitting, I will sell it. I figure it will take 3 years to get my work done, so after that I bet I could get $4000 for sure so the investment would not be that bad really. I also think it will add value to the tractor if I ever do have to sell it as a package.

Also, I have a couple of neighbours who are already bugging me to do some work for them so it may actually pay for itself.

 

[charlz]

Mine came with my tractor. I've used it clean ditches, put in water lines for gardens, reset culverts etc. Handy to have but in reality it doesn't get used much.

For the tasks you describe I would say the biggest shortcoming is reach. You also need to be able to put the stabilizers down. Sometimes you can maneuver in but can't get the feet down. An 8 foot hoe will dig an 8 foot trench, but only right below the tractor, this makes for slow going. I'm thinking excavator or maybe a industrial backhoe with extenda-hoe or something.

 

[Inkomodius]

10-14k is what deere list canadian for a 110 tlb hoe. Im kinda going for a prepare for the worst hope for the best price scenario. LOL... i would never pay that but if i can justify spending 10-14k then actually spending 6-8k makes me look good to the wife hahah. Now that Ive been thinking of it the list of stuff that me (and my family) need Im pretty sure I can justify it. Now someone mentioned a compact excavator. Ive rented many of them before and I love them but have never looked into their price. Im guessing with a 110 TLB a comparable hoe would be a 3 ton? Any one have a clue on what they range from in price? Probably the wrong forum to ask but I think its more curiosity then anything.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Redneck in training]

I have related question. I saw advertised three point BHs but my dealer warned me that if I pull the screws holding the top link from the tractor it will not be covered by warranty. He said that I need subframe mounted one but it seems to me that they are much more money. My tractor is TYM 330 and has about 4 years of warranty left. What is the experience with three point mounted BHs. Should I spent the money for subframe mounted?

 

[AndyMA]

For me at least one of my tractors needs to have a hoe. I've had one on my last four machines. Where I am with all the rocks and roots I use it all the time to dig and also just loosen the surface. I also level with it. Many time I loosen and derock an area before tilling. I woud definately say a tractor for me without a hoe would be close to useless. Renting one definately doesn't work as I need to jump on and off the hoe during the entire course of a project.
Andy

 

[Ken45101]

If you get down to just plain $$$, it's probably cheaper to have someone do it or rent one when you need it.

BUT having one sitting there lets you do more fun things that wouldn't be done if you had to go out each time and pay for it.

I've put 400 hours on my B21 in the six years I've had it. Actually right now I'm thinking about a mini excavator. I enjoy those sorts of projects. Of course, it helps to be retired

Ken

 

[mikim]

Redneck -- do a search for 3pt hoes vs. subframe and after reading the volumes of threads on the subject....I believe you'll come to the conclusion, like I did, that a subframe (at any cost) is the only way to go. After using mine on stumps....it was very obvious that I needed that extra support.

 

[streamin]

I also had a question on the ease of removal of install. I use the boxblade all the time.How much of a pain is it to take it on or off a lot??