Logistics Question: Local Pickup of a Backhoe and Getting It Home

[VaBeekeeper]

Hey folks,

So I'm considering buying a used backhoe attachment for my Kubota, and there are a number of possibilities on Ebay from sellers in my region. Most of them specify "free shipping," but when you look closer, they stipulate "local pickup only." Which presumably means that if I buy the thing, it's on me to find a way to get it from their home to mine. But I don't have a trailer, and even if I did my Dodge Dakota is only rated at a towable load of 1000 lb. Also, there's the matter of getting the backhoe loaded and unloaded.

Any suggestions as to my options, keeping in mind that I'm not prepared at this time to plunk down the money for a new truck and trailer?

 

[smstonypoint]

Once you find a suitable backhoe, try:
1. posting a "want hauled ad" at Hauling Ads - Yesterday's Tractor Co. or on craigslist, or
2. contact uShip | The Online Shipping Marketplace.

Steve

 

[JPRambo]

tow truck?????

 

[KYErik]

Ask the seller to put it on a pallet (or even straddle 2 pallets) and then a rollback wrecker could likely slide it up onto the bed with a couple of strategically placed straps. For extra insurance, bring a long 6x6 to strap onto the bottom of the hoe to be sure it doesn't turn over as the rollback winches it up onto the tilted bed.

 

[George2615]

I second contacting some local wrecker companies with a rollback and get some prices. You can drag or lift it off with your tractor once its home.
Cheaper would be to have a friend with a truck and trailer with a winch take you there to get it and load. Hard to believe you don't know someone with a truck and trailer willing to help or even make a few bucks.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I cant believe your Dakota is only rated at 1000#????

My Honda is rated at 2000# and we yow a small 10' trailer with it weekly. Trailer weighs 710# leaving us 1300# for payload.

You could rent a trailer from Uhaul and simply chain it off to a tree and pull it off or use your tractor to drag it out.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I cant believe your Dakota is only rated at 1000#????

Yeah, I'm having trouble with that myself. My Jeep Cherokee is rated at 3500 with no weight distributing hitch, and 5000 without. If that Dodge is really rated that low, it's down there with something like a Yugo.

I suggest you double check that rating. I think you have been badly misinformed.

Dodge Towing Guide - By Vehicle

 

[bspeedy]

I just sold a Woods Groundbreaker 6500 backhoe attachment. Loaded it onto the guy's 5x8 trailer with the forks on my Kubota L3710. A pallet might have been easier still. I assume if you have a loader, you have a way to unload it at home. Small u-haul car hauler would be my pick. Load it onto the car hauler with the attachment facing out and back the tractor on to unload (or unload with bucket). Your Dakota will certainly tow more than 1k, rated for it or not.

 

[Stimw]

I've had half dozen forklifts moved with rollback wreckers.
My current forklift I had moved about 100 miles to me and it cost $400. and it weighs 8800 lbs. !

 

[MossRoad]

I thought Dakota's had at least 4000# towing capacity. :confused3: