SCUT's with backhoes

[Tractor Dell]

What am I missing about so many SCUT's being sold with a BH?

I think you pretty much got it. Do a lot of SCUT owners need one? Probably not. For the most part, most of us probably don't need more than a riding mower, Zero turn, or a garden tractor.

As far as the BH, I use mine to dig hole for trees. Dug holes for posts. Dug out a nice size fire pit. Dug out rocks and moved them from places they were causing problems. Dug a few trenches. That being said, I could have done all of that by hand. But for most of us, I think it is fun and relaxing. Nothing like being a big kid, using a big version of the Tonka trucks we all grew up with. Heck, I probably don't even need the FEL for the most part. Before I got it, I used a wheelbarrow. It was just harder, and took longer. As you get older, it's easy to justify getting a machine to do what you used to do by hand. When you are sore the next day, or get winded sooner than you used to, why not get a little tractor that can pretty much do anything you want (within reason)? As mentioned above, they are pretty much a Swiss Army Knife of tractors. The BH is just one of the tools on it.

Oh, just a thought. Check out YouTube and "Outdoor with the Morgans". He has an RK24 and you can see some of the things he does with it, including the backhoe.

 

[cdaigle430]

While I appreciate all the replies, none of them answer my question. Of course I understand that a BH of that size is gong to have a fairly limited ability compared to a full sized unit, or even a small excavator. I also understand that this size tractor is more intended for hobbyists or home owners. But why does someone who needs that small of a tractor also need a backhoe, where the person who needs or wants a larger tractor, into the CUT range, not need a backhoe as much? I doubt your average CUT buyer also buys a dedicated backhoe, or excavator. Maybe once you get into a full sized or Utility tractor you more likely have multiple pieces of equipment and that equipment becomes more specialized but at that point you are more than likely also using that equipment as a source of income either directly ( landscaping, site work, etc.) or indirectly ( farming etc)

How much backhoe work does your average homeowner do?

My wife and I own 2 properties. Our primary residence which is about an acre in the Suburbs, and 4 acres of rural property with a Barn and a small apartment we use for weekends etc. It has a small orchard, and a fairly large creek running through it and I have no use for a backhoe. Unless I am missing out on the utility of one. I can see and have used a front loader for multiple things over the years and I am always amazed at the new things people come up with to use them, but a backhoe seems to me to be much more limited to digging, and some lifting chores.

What am I missing about so many SCUT's being sold with a BH?

You dont get it-its because its handy. Its NOT a hobbyist toy as they are rugged and heavy duty-at least the one on my GC2410 is. Its usefull in so many ways-it adds weight to the tractor, the BH is small enough to get in tight places like the foundation of your house, yet strong enough to remove tree stumps. Add a thumb to it and you can move brush, rocks and wood. Its used to dig trenches, move rocks, build ponds, loosen dirt for the loader, plant trees, lift heavy items, I can go on and on. The SCUTs that come with the BH is fully warranted vs the add ons which may void the warranty. Also the ones that come with the machine are easily financed with the machine....the separate BH are financed separately at higher interest rates.
These BH are extremely powerful yet the sub frames are designed to not only handle the harshness of a BH but do so safely. They are also designed to easily remove them when you dont want it or when you want to use the 3ph.
This machine will also retain its value better than one without IMO. So as an estate tractor its the way to go....and worth the extra $$ because you will get 75% more use out of the tractor. Awlays remember the tractor is the cheapest part-its the implements that add up to big $$$$$$$$.

The tractor allows you to work smarter not harder. The old days of farmers and homesteaders are over thankfully. Less wear and tear on the body.

 

[Imold]

I bought my scut without a backhoe being I thought I would never need one on my 12.7 acres or at my home but now that I have had my scut for awhile I sure wish I would of got it with a backhoe being I just can not add a backhoe, my gc1705 would have to go back to factory to have a backhoe put on and still have a warranty the dealer will not do it, the GC scut either comes with or without a backhoe(TLB). Lesson learned.

Now that I have learned how to use the SCUT with HST I have found quite a few projects that a backhoe would be handy at doing, digging holes for trees, trenching, cleaning out ditch and a few other things, it is too expensive to send it back for a backhoe and too new to trade it in for a TLB package so now I am in the process of buying a harbor freight towable backhoe to do these jobs, in a couple years when I upgrade I will be getting a backhoe with my CUT and then selling the portable backhoe.

It was mentioned to me when I was first looking for a scut that I should get one with a backhoe(they are removable) even though I thought I would never use it and I went without, after all I was just going to mow and drag the driveway and move dirt and gravel so why do I need a backhoe, well once I started doing things I started to see things I could do only if I had a backhoe.

That is why a person should get a backhoe with their scut or buy a scut that can have a backhoe added on, it is cheaper to get it with one as a package rather then buying one later. Again Lesson Learned.

Ok I am done babbling.

 

[Mosby2015]

Tractor Dell and cdaigle430, both of you have very good points.

And maybe at this point I am beating a dead horse, so I will leave this alone after this.

But my question is why do the people who buy the smallest tractors need a backhoe, where the people who buy the next size up don't seem to need them, at least not as much, based on the way the average SCUT v. CUT is equipped on the dealer lot? So if I decide I only need an 18-20hp SCUT I need a back hoe, but if I buy a 20 or 22hp CUT all of the sudden I no longer need a backhoe? Even though based on weight, capacity etc, more than likely the 20hp CUT would be more capable than the 20hp SCUT. So why don't more people purchase a backhoe when they buy the larger sized tractors?

Seems like no real reason, maybe just a way to make the SCUT's more profit for the dealer? Or maybe a way the tractor manufacturers' make their baby tractors look more like big boy tractors? So they are more appealing to buyers who think they need or want more tractor than they actually do?

Thanks again for everyone who took the time to respond.

 

[Tractor Dell]

Tractor Dell and cdaigle430, both of you have very good points.

And maybe at this point I am beating a dead horse, so I will leave this alone after this.

But my question is why do the people who buy the smallest tractors need a backhoe, where the people who buy the next size up don't seem to need them, at least not as much, based on the way the average SCUT v. CUT is equipped on the dealer lot? So if I decide I only need an 18-20hp SCUT I need a back hoe, but if I buy a 20 or 22hp CUT all of the sudden I no longer need a backhoe? Even though based on weight, capacity etc, more than likely the 20hp CUT would be more capable than the 20hp SCUT. So why don't more people purchase a backhoe when they buy the larger sized tractors?

Seems like no real reason, maybe just a way to make the SCUT's more profit for the dealer? Or maybe a way the tractor manufacturers' make their baby tractors look more like big boy tractors? So they are more appealing to buyers who think they need or want more tractor than they actually do?

Thanks again for everyone who took the time to respond.

Just wanted to point out something on the Kubota BX. If you want a BH, you have to get the BX23S. You cannot add it to any of the other BX's at a later date. Not sure if that is true for any other brand. I wanted a Kubota, and since it was 0% financing, the extra money for it wasn't all that much per month, when spread out over 6 years. Basically I was insuring myself against wanting one later and having to purchase another tractor to get it.

 

[Diggin It]

where the person who needs or wants a larger tractor, into the CUT range, not need a backhoe as much? I doubt your average CUT buyer also buys a dedicated backhoe, or excavator.

Based on multiple threads on this and other boards, I'd have to disagree. Those with bigger machines tend to have more of them, more uses for them and more property and facilities. We with one, like to do with one. We don't have the needs, resources, or place to store more.

 

[Jchonline]

While I appreciate all the replies, none of them answer my question. Of course I understand that a BH of that size is gong to have a fairly limited ability compared to a full sized unit, or even a small excavator. I also understand that this size tractor is more intended for hobbyists or home owners. But why does someone who needs that small of a tractor also need a backhoe, where the person who needs or wants a larger tractor, into the CUT range, not need a backhoe as much? I doubt your average CUT buyer also buys a dedicated backhoe, or excavator. Maybe once you get into a full sized or Utility tractor you more likely have multiple pieces of equipment and that equipment becomes more specialized but at that point you are more than likely also using that equipment as a source of income either directly ( landscaping, site work, etc.) or indirectly ( farming etc)

How much backhoe work does your average homeowner do?

My wife and I own 2 properties. Our primary residence which is about an acre in the Suburbs, and 4 acres of rural property with a Barn and a small apartment we use for weekends etc. It has a small orchard, and a fairly large creek running through it and I have no use for a backhoe. Unless I am missing out on the utility of one. I can see and have used a front loader for multiple things over the years and I am always amazed at the new things people come up with to use them, but a backhoe seems to me to be much more limited to digging, and some lifting chores.

What am I missing about so many SCUT's being sold with a BH?

A BH on a SCUT is a glorified hand shovel. I think it makes people like you (no offense I mean small acreage suburban homeowners) get excited about owning something that feels like a real piece of construction equipment. They sell you dreams of doing all kinds of tasks with that backhoe you see on so many job sites as you drive by them. It is all marketing. The simple answer is you see them BECAUSE THEY SELL WELL.

Now you can dig the occasional trench or stump if you have 5 hours to burn.....but you are correct they arent really that productive.

As a counterpoint, check out the Youtube channel Tractor Time with Tim..he runs a JD 1025R and has a backhoe that is used for some commercial work in early videos. However now he has gotten smarter and uses a Mini-Ex.

 

[mikester]

I did search , so apologies if this is a dumb question, but why are so many SCUT sized tractors sold with Backhoes and CUT's and even utility sized tractors rarely have them, especially as standard equipment, or at least as options normally stocked by the dealer on stock units. My local John Deere dealer and the Kubota dealer both seem to have most of their SCUT stock unit's with backhoes on them.

Since these tractors, to me, seem to be more aimed at home owner or small property owners versus farmers or professional users, I am curious why it seems to be a desired option for tractors this size and not so much on the larger models.

It's the same reason why people buy huge 4WD SUV's and 4 door pickup trucks with a 4 foot bed. Then they drive the big gas guzzler around the suburbs, 98% of the time with no load or cargo and 1 person in the vehicle.

They want to feel like they have something special for those "just in case" moments where they can drive to the garden centre and pick up a bag of peat moss or chauffeur 40 screaming kids in the back seats to soccer practice. Or back into peoples cars in shopping mall parking lots with their rusty ball hitches hanging out 3 feet past the bumper because it's too rusty to take out of the receiver hitch.

While I appreciate all the replies, none of them answer my question. Of course I understand that a BH of that size is gong to have a fairly limited ability compared to a full sized unit, or even a small excavator. I also understand that this size tractor is more intended for hobbyists or home owners. But why does someone who needs that small of a tractor also need a backhoe, where the person who needs or wants a larger tractor, into the CUT range, not need a backhoe as much? I doubt your average CUT buyer also buys a dedicated backhoe, or excavator. Maybe once you get into a full sized or Utility tractor you more likely have multiple pieces of equipment and that equipment becomes more specialized but at that point you are more than likely also using that equipment as a source of income either directly ( landscaping, site work, etc.) or indirectly ( farming etc)

How much backhoe work does your average homeowner do?

My wife and I own 2 properties. Our primary residence which is about an acre in the Suburbs, and 4 acres of rural property with a Barn and a small apartment we use for weekends etc. It has a small orchard, and a fairly large creek running through it and I have no use for a backhoe. Unless I am missing out on the utility of one. I can see and have used a front loader for multiple things over the years and I am always amazed at the new things people come up with to use them, but a backhoe seems to me to be much more limited to digging, and some lifting chores.

What am I missing about so many SCUT's being sold with a BH?

It's a cool looking toy that's small enough to fit in a single car garage. They rarely get used enough to lose paint on the bucket. And they are too small and light to do any real work. Then people write in to the forums complaining how they can't get their 1,500lb machine to lift 4,000lbs and asking how to bump up the hydraulic circuit pressures to increase lift capacity.

Basically SCUTS are powered wheel barrows with a powered hand shovel on the back.

 

[MHarryE]

I was thinking of gettin a backhoe for my CUT after I had it for a few years, even had dealer order, but then I discovered for just a little more I could buy a 2 year old mini-excavator with more capability and versatility.

 

[Everhard]

I think anyone buying a bigger cut is more likely going to be doing more typical farm type jobs (field work etc) as such they are marketed at the dealer like that. The really small scut is as mentioned geared for the homeowner with a few acres that wants to be able to do more than just cut grass. By putting a loader and a backhoe on it (and often with the mower deck still on as well! ) they can market a tractor that looks like it can do it all. Don't forget the "upsell" concept. Why should I sell you just a tractor to cut grass when I can tempt you into buying one with some other cool attachments on it!
The bigger tractor buyer likely has specific tasks at mind when they walk into the dealer and generally backhoe work is not likely it. Or at least not as the main task. Also a backhoe on a larger tractor adds a lot more cost vs a smaller backhoe on a scut. Harder to upsell that! I'm sure if you look at what get's sold commonly with a larger cut it's likely something else other than a backhoe (box blade as a random example ) so it makes more sense to market the bigger cut with whatever is the biggest seller in that market area.

E.