Is an FEL and Backhoe Worth It?

[robertwhite]

I agree a mini excavator might be a wise consideration vs. buying a backhoe. That is the way I've gone. Of course it depends on your needs and how you will use it.

Ken

I need a bucket that can get down 10-12 feet into the ground to expand a pond. Don't know if a mini can do that, plus the mini bucket would take a year to pull all the dirt and move it.

 

[Mousefield]

Actually, I never suggested I would be looking at a new TLB, only a new tractor.

In my area, one can easily find a used Case 580 for under $10K and it will be in fine working order. The $14K was a reference to how much it would cost to do a tractor with both FEL and BH, AND they will be way underpowered, smaller and under reached than the Case 580 or similar. Just doesn't make much sense to me.I have many project for a backhoe, so I am not worried about lack of use. The only concern would be that once all the projects are done (a few years from now) and I sell the TLB for pretty close to what I paid, I would then not have an FEL for the tractor. So in that scenario, I would need to keep it.

I appreciate all the opinions from the board as it gives me a lot of insight.

In this post I think you have answered your own question.

 

[dangerdoc]

Going to be getting a 35+hp tractor (think Kubota L4400 or so) and when comparing the prices of a base tractor for doing mowing, hogging, post holes, etc., versus the base tractor and then adding the FEL, quick release, and backhoe the price skyrockets another $12-14K.

Doesn't it make more sense to just get a used TLB for say $8-10K?

TLB would have much greater reach and capacity, no?

What would be the pros vs cons of getting a tractor set up or the used TLB?

Tractor would likely be new as I would keep it for a long time.

I bought a commercial backhoe, when money was available, I bought a tractor with FEL. When I was finished with the backhoe, I sold it for what I paid and bought a Zero turn mower. I couldn't live without the tractor or the mower.

I had a water line break and paid $200 bucks for somebody else to use their backhoe, slog through the mud and fix the line. It would have been worth it even if I still had the backhoe.

I got a lot of use out of the backhoe and finished a whole list of projects, after that it just sat in the barn most of the time.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Buy the 580 or 310. Way better than one of the little hoes. It's not that hard to find a good full size TLB for 10k. My first 580 had over 12,000 hours on it when I got rid of it. It still had plenty of power, but needed all new hoses and some of the cylinders were leaking and needed to be rebuilt. Replaced it with a 1984 580E with 7k hours for a cost of 9k. It had been well maintained and is a very good tractor. Only now after 7-8 years of work some of the cylinders are starting to seep. Still works fine and has been trouble free other than I did buy all new tires for it at right around $1100.

If I were you, I would still get a loader with the new tractor. It's always nice to have a smaller loader, bigger is not always usable. We have 3 and we use them all. :thumbsup:

 

[Ken45101]

I need a bucket that can get down 10-12 feet into the ground to expand a pond. Don't know if a mini can do that, plus the mini bucket would take a year to pull all the dirt and move it.

I don't know your situation, but I doubt that a backhoe is going to do that job for you. Remember, even if a bh can dig to 12', it can only do that over a very short distance, only a couple of feet.

BTW, I was suggesting the mini ex as an alternative to the bh, not to the tractor with a loader.

Ken

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I don't know your situation, but I doubt that a backhoe is going to do that job for you. Remember, even if a bh can dig to 12', it can only do that over a very short distance, only a couple of feet.

BTW, I was suggesting the mini ex as an alternative to the bh, not to the tractor with a loader.

Ken

A std Case backhoe is good for 14 feet deep, an extendahoe will go another 4 feet. I'm guessing that you would have to get a fair sized excavator to be digging 12 feet deep and not be moving anywhere as much. One way or another, you aren't going to dig a 12' deep trench with any compact or utility tractor backhoe. He can hire it out and get it done with a big machine or buy a full size 580-310 etc and do it himself. I would do it myself, but maybe that is just me.

 

[robertwhite]

A std Case backhoe is good for 14 feet deep, an extendahoe will go another 4 feet.

I need to have the 12-14 foot reach to be able to stay far away enough from the edge and still be able to enlarge the pond, not dig it to 12-14ft deep. I guess I should have explained it better.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Sorry for my misunderstanding. :ashamed: Our Case 580E Extendahoe reaches 22'. I would think that a 30" or 36" bucket would work good for you. Again, a full sized machine is the way to go.

 

[robertwhite]

Sorry for my misunderstanding. :ashamed: Our Case 580E Extendahoe reaches 22'. I would think that a 30" or 36" bucket would work good for you. Again, a full sized machine is the way to go.

No, I probably should have been clearer. No biggie.

Any idea as to the weight of a 580E. I have some concern about not only sinking into the field (clay earth) but caving in the existing earth walls of the pond from getting too close. I guess I would have to wait until winter time (TN, so it doesn't freeze below a few inches)

 

[MtnViewRanch]

No, I probably should have been clearer. No biggie.

Any idea as to the weight of a 580E. I have some concern about not only sinking into the field (clay earth) but caving in the existing earth walls of the pond from getting too close. I guess I would have to wait until winter time (TN, so it doesn't freeze below a few inches)

I believe that they are around 16,000 lbs. A couple of things that I wish that we would have looked for and gotten is 4x4 and a 4n1 bucket. We have a lot of soft ground and the 4x4 would be really nice. Don't know what your budget is, but for a little more $$$$, you can get one nice machine.