For Those Without a BH, How Do you Do It?

[rd_macgregor]

I didn't see anybody mention grapple rake yet. Since I got mine last year, I've become an even bigger fan than I expected. I had mine made with extra spacing tines so any rocks bigger than about 5 or 6 inches wouldn't fall through (but dirt still drops out). I use it mostly for moving brush and logs, but it will grab big rocks, too.
BOB

 

[Gizmo2]

"If your asking the questioin... that means you want one.
You won't rest until you have it, Once you have it, you'll use it all the time."

That's what I love about TBN: Not just idle chatter, but in-depth analysis.

Yep, that sure made me laugh, good one. Still laughing.:laughing:

 

[grsthegreat]

We have 20 acres fully treed, and i maintained this property for 16 years now without a backhoe.

I ran the numbers, and i could not justify the (then price0 $6,000 cost of a backhoe attached to a 28 HP tractor (JD870).

Im an electrical contractor and i even ran the numbers to see if i could use it for work to help pay for it. Did not pen out.

My main problem is the underpower issue and time it takes to dig. I can rent a mini excavator in town, and can haul it with my own flatbed trailer , for $150/day. A mini ex can out dig ANY CT and most full sized backhoes. There amazingly agile and fast diggers.

In 16 years ive only needed to rent it 4 times. I do it when i have a backlog of items needing a backhoe (roots, trenches,etc). I simply wait till i cant wait any longer. And i have 20 acres of maintained trees with a trail system.


And i also wanted a CAB tractor more than i needed a backhoe. A backhoe attachment on a cab tractor is nearly useless, unless its an actual construction grade backhoe that has a reversible seat.

The Kubota dealer here in town says he tries to discourage people with cab units from adding them. For open station there more user friendly. Now if there was a way to operate forward movement and loader control from outside the cab...that would be another issue.
I guess if i had lots of cash i would own my own hoe attachment, but i have to justify all purchases. These arnt toys, there tools.

 

[Gizmo2]

Funny, It seems you never need one until you don't have one.
Bought my 1988 JD 650 new with the BH and used the h*** out of it.
When I went to trade the 650 in for the 2008 JD 2320 the decision to get a BH with the 2320 came up. Lucky for me my wife was involved and gave me a shot in the head and we got the BH. When I want to do something I want to do it now not plan on rentals, availability, delivery times and the like.
Food for thought... bought the 650 with FEL & BH for $14,500, trade in allowance on the 2320 with FEL & BH, $10,500, after 20 years of ownership that's $200.00 per year. I'd buy the BH. Just sayin!

 

[grsthegreat]

i guess i get a little confused with all the stories on how much people use or need backhoe attachments on their compact tractors.

I can hardly find an issue that i cant resolve with the loader alone, except for roots and trenches.

And i hardly ever need to deal with either. I personally HATE running my tractor arround uneven ground hauling a backhoe that rocks the **** out of the tractor all the time. I take it there not too hard to unhook and rehook.??

I can always find a rental excavator when needed myself, as we have 4 rental yards wthin 20 miles of me, and i haul with my own trailer. When i need one for a job, id rather haul it a few miles to the job then haul my own on a 40 mile roundtrip. The rental yards here are always updating their equipment every other year, so the rental fleet is in very nice shape. Ive never had a unit fail me on the job.

I include the cost of rental to a job bid, so the money factor isnt an issue. I dont have to maintain the how, bucket, digging teeth, hoses, etc. Heck, i dont even have to grease it unless i need it for more than 1 day.

I cant use the thing to move my large rocks, cause these rocks more than outweigh even my new DK45.....there huge. Ive had to get a huge excavator in here to move and place them.

The thumb is nice, but i cant move trees with them cause my trails are too narrow. I guess holding up trees while i cut them with a chainsaw would be nice, but i can cut them on the ground 1/2 through and roll them for the other 1/2 easy enuf.

oh well, some people may get alot better use of a BH than i could ever get. all the power to them. Now a TRACTOR, that i cannot live without.

 

[crash325]

Write the Check and get the back hoe. Give your check book 2 aspirin to ease its pain. :thumbsup: You will find the BH the most useful attachment that you own. Mine is only taken off when the post hole digger is installed.

With a little though you will find so many uses for the BH, you may surprise yourself. :thumbsup:

 

[KU Gator]

I have one of these. It is pretty effective on rocks. Not so much help on scrub trees. It is very heavy built.

Paumco Products Quick Spade Combo — Model# 1101-Quick Spade | Skid-Steers + Attachments | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[Mock1]

I have a GC2610 TLB. Do I need it, maybe, maybe not.. I've used it for various tasks around our property. When I asked my sons if they would like to dig a hole at the Beach without a bucket and shovel, they were ear to ear grins. We dug holes and filled them back in. I have five other implements which I use right now, everyone has it's strong point, and weak point. If I was contracting, different story, time is money. I do these things after I work, and I guess I'm fortunate enough to afford them. Life is full of choices, make your own.

 

[dangerdoc]

Such tasks as boulder/stone removal, stump removing, etc.? I currently have a Kubota B20 and am looking to upgrade however a 40hp+ tractor with a BH is expensive so I was wondering whether I could survive without one. I do have a lot of stones on my property and I have a number of stumps I need to remove (4"-10" trees - elm, ash, birch). I am currently looking at a Kubota MX4700 or a Kioti DK45SE and would purchase a BB.

Other than renting a mini-ex, any other tips if I am sans BH?

Tks.

I used to have a commercial BH. Great for building my road, I dug out a number of rocks and it worked great. I dug out a couple of stumps and frankly, I didn't really dig it, pardon the pun. It was much easier to pay for a day of track loader time and get all my stumps out at one time and piled up to burn.

I sold the BH after I built my house. I have a grapple and 4n1 loader for my tractor. Great for moving rocks. The grapple easily digs into the ground and pops rocks, I haven't tried stumps. But with stumps, I usually just cut them flush with the ground and never think about them again.

 

[Kyle241]

I have one of these. It is pretty effective on rocks. Not so much help on scrub trees. It is very heavy built.

Paumco Products Quick Spade Combo Model# 1101-Quick Spade | Skid-Steers + Attachments | Northern Tool + Equipment

Very interesting attachment. I can see where it would work well for some of the tasks I have. Other tasks that I need more precise work, e.g. digging for conduit to garage, a BH would be a better option however much more expensive. Tks. for the link, I will think about this option.

I used to have a commercial BH. Great for building my road, I dug out a number of rocks and it worked great. I dug out a couple of stumps and frankly, I didn't really dig it, pardon the pun. It was much easier to pay for a day of track loader time and get all my stumps out at one time and piled up to burn.

I sold the BH after I built my house. I have a grapple and 4n1 loader for my tractor. Great for moving rocks. The grapple easily digs into the ground and pops rocks, I haven't tried stumps. But with stumps, I usually just cut them flush with the ground and never think about them again.

Have not thought of a grapple but have seen their use. This could be another good solution, just need to price them out and see what it is. Tks.