Witch Woods backhoe should I go with....

[Richard]

Just to throw ideas onto the wall.....

What if instead, you bought a used industrial backhoe/loader???

I'll pick on mine for example... I have a JCB 1550B. Digging depth is 15 1/2'. Breakout force is large (don't remember) and it will lift a couple tons in the front bucket, I think 6,000 pounds.

Picking on mine specifically, it has some drips and the hoe drifts to one side. The stabilizers also drift down over several days.

BUT... I doubt that it's worth say, over 10K??? Perhaps even less.

So the thought I have is get something like this for when you want to really dig something and have your other tractor there as little brother to help.

After having this thing, I can't fathom the idea of having to get out of the seat (verses simply turning around) to get onto the hoe controls.

I guess there are 12,000 reasons why someone might not want to do something like that however, I think the idea has some merit in it.

$8K or even $10K for a new Bradco with (comparitively) limited reach & digging force verses similar dollars for something dedicated to that task.

 

[Bswope]

I'd agree with what BillHall said. The Kubota 9ft. hoes have always been very strongly built and good performing hoes. Until recently at least, they were better integrated into the tractor than others (my opinion)... heavier subframe and didn't hang out so far off the back of the tractor since they were specifically designed for the Kubota and not a generic hoe adapted to particular tractors. I think the newer hoes from Woods and others have improved quite a bit on those things and are very much equivalent to the factory BH90 ... actually in some respects better.

It's a mistake to dismiss the Kubota product out of hand, though. Remember, Kubota not only makes the small hoes like you saw, they also make commercial mini-ex's and TLB's, and I don't think anyone would say those BH's are wimpy. The backhoe market for the large frame CUT's like the Grand L's is very competitive. The manufacturers are constantly trying to out-do the others, which is good for us customers . Kubota's BH92 is the newest one in the market now, and probably one-ups the competition in a few areas... at the moment. You really would not get a bad product from either Woods or Kubota or several other brands.

VERY well put sir!!
This is the kinda info I like to get when asking a question like this and this is the reason I signed up on TBN. Looks like Ill be heading back to the dealer to look at other options!

Thanks for all the advice guys!!

 

[Bswope]

Just to throw ideas onto the wall.....

What if instead, you bought a used industrial backhoe/loader???

I'll pick on mine for example... I have a JCB 1550B. Digging depth is 15 1/2'. Breakout force is large (don't remember) and it will lift a couple tons in the front bucket, I think 6,000 pounds.

Picking on mine specifically, it has some drips and the hoe drifts to one side. The stabilizers also drift down over several days.

BUT... I doubt that it's worth say, over 10K??? Perhaps even less.

So the thought I have is get something like this for when you want to really dig something and have your other tractor there as little brother to help.

After having this thing, I can't fathom the idea of having to get out of the seat (verses simply turning around) to get onto the hoe controls.

I guess there are 12,000 reasons why someone might not want to do something like that however, I think the idea has some merit in it.

$8K or even $10K for a new Bradco with (comparitively) limited reach & digging force verses similar dollars for something dedicated to that task.

Kicked this Idea around as well but have no where to park the thing!

 

[Richard]

Pfffft... that's easy... your wife has a parking spot, doesnt' she?

:thumbsup:

 

[Bswope]

Pfffft... that's easy... your wife has a parking spot, doesnt' she?

:thumbsup:

Sure dose but I dont think a backhoe will fit in the 7' garage door we have! :laughing:

 

[crazywolf]

Sure dose but I dont think a backhoe will fit in the 7' garage door we have! :laughing:

Time to build a bigger garage....a new to you backhoe would make that job easier. :laughing:

 

[jdtractor]

hi ive been reading along and i have to say ive been looking at a different brands of backhoes and what you said Richard makes alot of since to me also. i think im going to consider a full size machine instead of the 3pth style.i think i will get more for my money and be able to do more work easier , good point you made indeed. glad i checked back in to this site. take care

 

[Grandad4]

Just to throw ideas onto the wall.....

What if instead, you bought a used industrial backhoe/loader???

I'll pick on mine for example... I have a JCB 1550B. Digging depth is 15 1/2'. Breakout force is large (don't remember) and it will lift a couple tons in the front bucket, I think 6,000 pounds.

Picking on mine specifically, it has some drips and the hoe drifts to one side. The stabilizers also drift down over several days.

BUT... I doubt that it's worth say, over 10K??? Perhaps even less.

So the thought I have is get something like this for when you want to really dig something and have your other tractor there as little brother to help.

After having this thing, I can't fathom the idea of having to get out of the seat (verses simply turning around) to get onto the hoe controls.

I guess there are 12,000 reasons why someone might not want to do something like that however, I think the idea has some merit in it.

$8K or even $10K for a new Bradco with (comparitively) limited reach & digging force verses similar dollars for something dedicated to that task.

That's also a good way to go. Depends on the situation whether it makes sense to buy a new attachment or an old war horse TLB. There seem to be plenty of full-sized TLB's for sale these days, so that does offer good value on the $. I bought a new Kubota BH several years ago, and it has more than paid for itself. I dp have to admit that changing seats is, well, a pain in the seat!:laughing:

 

[newbury]

Another tradeoff to consider is speed of moving the implement around. I haven't tried one but it seems the tracked mini-ex moves a lot slower to the site.

I had been advised to get a mini-ex for my uses - trail/ditch improvement in the woods, but the travel speed of the tractor FOR me was important. 10mph is no record, but 3mph crawls. Depends on your applications.