Buying Advice End Loader, Backhoe, or ???

[LibraryMark]

You would be better with a 4wd TLB extendahoe in the 15K lb, 60HP range. I think that would fit your needs pretty well.

Thanks! Information I can use!

 

[4570Man]

99 percent of the old TLBs are 2wd. I think that’s still the hands down best tool for the job. A 4-1 bucket would be nice if you could find one. I have a 4wd backhoe and of course it helps but it’s nowhere close to the difference it makes on a smaller tractor. A smaller tractor probably has 50-50 weight distribution. My machine has 7/8 of the weight over the back axel.

 

[wagne223]

My mistake was mentioning my budget. I truly did want to know what people thought was the most useful machine for what I laid out I would be using it for. Little did I know this forum was filled with people far more affluent than I am.

I dont think responders intended to insult you. Many new people sign up and ask questions about getting a low cost machine but they do not have to ability or patience to perform the constant repairs that go along with a low cost older machine.

Because you are new, assumptions are made.

Also, in our defense, this board is on the internet. It is accessed on a computer, tablet or smart phone. All these devices cost $300 - $1000 or more and require some type of monthly service that typically costs $60 (just for internet) to $200 or more for phone, internet, TV, wireless, ect.

So, in general people that are willing and able to spend that on access typically are not the type to buy cars or equipment at low price and make constant repairs.

With that said, from your original post I assumed (as I'm sure others did) that you were expecting to find a machine to fit your needs and did not require major repairs for $5000.

In the utility tractor market, that just does not happen.

Hopefully you get some answers that help you.

 

[rScotty]

My mistake was mentioning my budget. I truly did want to know what people thought was the most useful machine for what I laid out I would be using it for. Little did I know this forum was filled with people far more affluent than I am.

Doesn't sound like a mistake to me. All it means is probably just what you expected. Just looking around, there are lots of good basic machines available. And more coming along every day. All a budget like yours means is that you will spend some time with an older machine and probably need to do some work on it. The trick is to buy one that is worn instead of beat up.

Looking at the price of new tractors, anyone with a set of wrenches could get a good older one and afford go through it from end to end. Probably end up with something as good as new and still save lots of money. Older tractors were built to last and to be rebuilt.
rScotty

 

[4570Man]

I dont think responders intended to insult you. Many new people sign up and ask questions about getting a low cost machine but they do not have to ability or patience to perform the constant repairs that go along with a low cost older machine.

Because you are new, assumptions are made.

Also, in our defense, this board is on the internet. It is accessed on a computer, tablet or smart phone. All these devices cost $300 - $1000 or more and require some type of monthly service that typically costs $60 (just for internet) to $200 or more for phone, internet, TV, wireless, ect.

So, in general people that are willing and able to spend that on access typically are not the type to buy cars or equipment at low price and make constant repairs.

With that said, from your original post I assumed (as I'm sure others did) that you were expecting to find a machine to fit your needs and did not require major repairs for $5000.

In the utility tractor market, that just does not happen.

Hopefully you get some answers that help you.

I don’t think it was an assumption. He said he had $5000 to spend not 5000 to spend plus a other 5000 to spend for repairs. Repairs add up quick on old machines quick. I wouldn’t doubt if the tire on the OPs loader would cost more than the loader did.

 

[nards444]

I don稚 think it was an assumption. He said he had $5000 to spend not 5000 to spend plus a other 5000 to spend for repairs. Repairs add up quick on old machines quick. I wouldn稚 doubt if the tire on the OPs loader would cost more than the loader did.

Well said. Everybody is on a budget some less some more. But I think all kinds tend to wrap their heads around up front cost and what they think they need the machine to do, but what they fail to think about is legacy cost and their true needs. 5k for this application frankly wont get much and money and or time will be had into the old machine at some point making the 5k up front cost not really a true cost of the machine. Maybe not the case of the OP but from my experience budgets like this tend to cost people more money in the long run or tend mean asking for help or burdening other people. End game for situations like this might mean to hire out pieces of it and or not deal with some of it. Or cash some of it finance some of it to get into a better machine that can do what you need it do. Realistically seems as if its just a lot of junk hanging around and maybe priorities need to be re-arranged to either eliminate some of the work requirement or to purchase the correct machine

 

[widefat]

Folks -

I am trying to decide what type of machine to get, I've got about $5K to spend. We own 17 acres of mostly woods, and I would like to clear a little more of it. I also need a machine that can lift heavy objects (old milling machines, lathes, boulders, etc.) from time to time. One that can move snow and dirt pull small stumps. As I work by myself, I need something that I can get in and out of when the bucket is in the air. That rules out a skidsteer.

I have an old Michigan 175 loader - it's strong as heck, but the tires do not hold air longer than a day, The Detroit 4-71 in it is really tired, and it's so heavy (24K Lbs), it leaves awful ruts in the yard and takes an acre to turn around with. Even with all that, it was really handy. Currently it's yard art because one tire has a gash in the sidewall. Before the 175 I had a Case W5 and that was handy and a good size but not being 4WD made it useless in some situations.

I figure my choices are another (smaller) end loader like maybe a Case W7 or similar, or a backhoe or a tractor with a loader.

What's the best choice given my meagre budget? Anyone know of something near SW Michigan?

Thanks -

Mark in SW MI.

I thought I knew a thing or two before I joined this forum. What I quickly discovered was a lot of individuals posted here that knew significantly more than I did.
Now, you have just about all of them telling you $5k probably wont buy what you really need. Affluent? Non sequitur.
But, you seem to have a good handle on what you need, and seem sure you can find it - so why bother with advice? March smartly forward young man!

 

[finn1]

There’s a 1974 Case Construction King 2wd backhoe for sale on our local Craigslist with an asking price of $7500.

That’s 50% more than the op wants to spend, for a 45 year old 2wd machine.

I don’t know if the sellers will get anywhere near his asking price, but I suspect there is going to be some difficult searching required by the op to fulfill his wants.

 

[4570Man]

 

[ovrszd]

View attachment 607944

I paid $6500 for a 1984 555A with extendahoe and 4 way front bucket.