Wanted opinions on towable hoe?

[PAGUY]

I've been checking out the Dr towable hoe and also see Northern Hydraulics sells a similar one. Anybody own one or willing to offer an opinion on them.

I have a BX2200 Kubota and wouldn't want a backhoe for that. I like the fact that you can tow it behind a pickup truck if you were to use it off your own property.

 

[GE222]

Like most equipment the amount of use it will get versus cost must be compared.

Not to try to steer you away from this unit, but like every piece of equipment it will have limitations.

I guess one disadvantage is mobility.

Sure it can be move long distances via a tow vehicle, of relatively small distances on its own.

Digging out a small tree stump that may have to be attacked from multiple directions is one for-instance.

How about selling your BX2200 and getting a BX24. My brother has one and loves it. The Hoe can be attached or remove in about 2-3 minutes.

The new cost of a DR unit can also buy a substantial amount of rental on a compact excavator.

It is; however, nice to have a backhoe around to use when it is convenient.

As far as comparing the two units, I would try to as a minimum to at least look over the two units and make a visual comparison as well as comparing the specs.

If it is possible, try to operate one or both of the units.

Assuming you buy one, use it for a while, then you decide after a couple of years that you want to sell it, what about the resell $$$.

Just some ideas to kick around and think about.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I've been checking out the Dr towable hoe and also see Northern Hydraulics sells a similar one. Anybody own one or willing to offer an opinion on them.

I have a BX2200 Kubota and wouldn't want a backhoe for that. I like the fact that you can tow it behind a pickup truck if you were to use it off your own property.

Guess it depends on what conditions it will be used in. I have a friend who rented one of those units (not a DR) and in the soil he was trying to dig it proved to be about worthless.With the light weight of the unit it would pull its self along without really doing much digging. Now that was a few years ago so maybe they are better now...

 

[PAGUY]

Thanks guys for your opinions.

I'm thinking that it may be to light to dig like they show in their advertisement. THey do advise to leave it hooked up to your truck for more weight and that thru a red flag for me right away about it skidding backward. I guess I was impressed with the ripper attachment. My buddy thinks I'm nuts. Like it was advised to rent an excavator would be cheaper to remove stumps or dig a trench. He said the same thing. I said maybe I could start a little business with it. His response was "YEAH RIGHT".

 

[tommu56]

I think this is a good in between idea

Truckhoe and Towable Truckhoe - Versatile Backhoe Alternative

but they aren't cheep.

tom

 

[LBrown59]

I've been checking out the Dr towable hoe and also see Northern Hydraulics sells a similar one. Anybody own one or willing to offer an opinion on them.

I have a BX2200 Kubota and wouldn't want a backhoe for that. I like the fact that you can tow it behind a pickup truck if you were to use it off your own property.

Thy are 2 light for any serious work.

 

[J_J]

I never did see the price for the Truckhoe.

 

[JoelD]

I owned one, a cadigger 628, ran off of a 5 HP motor with 3 GPH pump. I paid approximatley 3200 for the machine.

I loved that machine. I liked it so much that I cut the frame in half, removing the motor and frame mounted to my little Kubota B6000E. She dug amazingly hard, I could pick up 1000LB plus bolders like they were popcorn. I did not find a rock I could not one way or the other dig out.

I used for over a year as towable and the rest of it's life was affixed to my tractor, I frame mounted and could remove with 6 bolts.

Long story short. I paid $3000 for my tractor with finish mower and and york rake. I paid 1000 for loader and tiller and then 3200 for the hoe, all in I was at less than $7500 for a tractor, loader and backhoe.

With that said, depending on what you can sell your machine for, I think a BX24 would be an excellent choice.

To be clear, my tow-able backhoe was excellent, and dug as strong (when affixed to something heavy, at one time I hooked to my deere 350b dozer) as any backhoe I've opperated. Ripping force was amazing.

I'd stay away from the Northern Tools version as the dump height is 3 or so feet, can't imagine how that would be of much use as a true backhoe, really just a trencher.

Joel

 

[PILOON]

I have a 'CRICKET' towable hoe.
Not a production machine, but quite capable.
Excellent for trenching for hedges and the like.
Rather difficult to manouver around, say a tree, for different attack angles, but good at straight line trenching.
Not as powerful as mini excavators, and slower.
Lift height to load even a trailer is inadaquate.(could be modified, uses a plug to limit lift)
Uses the bucket and stick to pull itself around, swing to turn.
Very stable footprint.

I purchased mine (used from a rental) intending to mod onto my CUT but opted not to do so.

Deffinately does not live up to a mini excavator, but has its place.
Not for very rock imbedded soil situations, ok for occasional biggies.

I have managed to extract rocks in the 45 gal drum size but needed to work at it a bit, but then I could do that with my FEL and tooth bar!

 

[tommu56]

I never did see the price for the Truckhoe.

I got a quote and the video before I bough my 23 if my memory is right around $15,000.00

bit I don't think it would be as versatile as a TLB

tom