Considering a Backhoe Purchase

[PrevNuru]

Hello All, I am looking to purchase a used 375 backhoe or a new Titan Implements 3PT Backhoe. I am looking hard at the 375A, as those are the ones I am seeing available for sale, even though they were not designed specifically to installation the 3520, I have observed a couple of posts on these forums where members indicated that they were able to get them installed on the 3x2x series tractors. I also am looking at the Titan implements 3PT Hich attachable Backhoe products. - I have seen a couple of videos expressing concerns about 3 PT hich mounted backhoes and the strain they can put on the frame when the loader is also on the tractor, and some that indicate they put a strain on the frame regardless depending on the weight of the product and the size of the tractor.. Looking for inputs from the forum members on this decision!

Regards and Thanks

nuru

 

[fried1765]

Hello All, I am looking to purchase a used 375 backhoe or a new Titan Implements 3PT Backhoe. I am looking hard at the 375A, as those are the ones I am seeing available for sale, even though they were not designed specifically to installation the 3520, I have observed a couple of posts on these forums where members indicated that they were able to get them installed on the 3x2x series tractors. I also am looking at the Titan implements 3PT Hich attachable Backhoe products. - I have seen a couple of videos expressing concerns about 3 PT hich mounted backhoes and the strain they can put on the frame when the loader is also on the tractor, and some that indicate they put a strain on the frame regardless depending on the weight of the product and the size of the tractor.. Looking for inputs from the forum members on this decision!

Regards and Thanks

nuru

JD 375 3pt. hitch backhoe....looks great.
A fun toy.
Lots of info here on TBN just why.......a 3pt hitch hoe (by definition a 3pt hoe fits on the 3pt., and does not have a subframe) is a poor idea!

 

[dodge man]

I think 3 points backhoes are fine as long as they are mounted using a subframe. I'm not sure if the backhoes you are looking at include a sub frame or not. Without the subframe they can be hard on the back of the tractor and cause it to break.

 

[hawkeye08]

I have a 3pt backhoe for my Kubota L3130 and it works fine for what I do. I use it gently (I go slow since I am not an expert) and I don't have any rocks or tree stumps. I do have clay though and when it is hard can cause some stress on backhoe, so I make sure to take it easy. I don't get in a hurry when I am using it, run at less throttle than 540rpm. My use is 1 or 2 times per year.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I see them fairly often around where I live as there were a couple of companies that used to make them locally.
What I have seen is work well for light / careful use which they are designed for I think. Light duty use by people who know what light duty is.
Although if you push them hard, make a dumb mistake, etc... or generally think and try to use them like a frame mount, medium duty or commercial unit, etc... they will break stuff for sure.
Its all a matter of budget, what you intend to do with them and knowing AND STAYING within their limits is correct.

definitely not a tool I would lend to someone I don't trust 100% to use lightly only cause stupid use would get expensive fast.

 

[TnAndy]

Question comes up regularly.

Except in a very few instances, mostly a waste of money. Either rent or subcontract a full sized backhoe or small excavator. Spoken by one that had one, was glad to see it go, and now has a mini-excavator.

Your Mileage May Vary

 

[PrevNuru]

JD 375 3pt. hitch backhoe....looks great.
A fun toy.
Lots of info here on TBN just why.......a 3pt hitch hoe (by definition a 3pt hoe fits on the 3pt., and does not have a subframe) is a poor idea!

Thanks, i do understand the potential issues with the 3PT hitch versions, and I was not able to find a used 375, but I was able to find a used 375A. I looking up shipping and the cost of the subframe kit, and how to get the 375A installed on the 3520, as it was design for the new model tractors, but I did see a few posts where some of the fellow posters had successfully installed the 375A BH on a 3520. There are some differences in the subframe kits and that is where the challenge actually is.

 

[PrevNuru]

Thanks for your response TNAndy! Yeah, i am starting to feel that the 3PT is not the way to go.

 

[PrevNuru]

I see them fairly often around where I live as there were a couple of companies that used to make them locally.
What I have seen is work well for light / careful use which they are designed for I think. Light duty use by people who know what light duty is.
Although if you push them hard, make a dumb mistake, etc... or generally think and try to use them like a frame mount, medium duty or commercial unit, etc... they will break stuff for sure.
Its all a matter of budget, what you intend to do with them and knowing AND STAYING within their limits is correct.

definitely not a tool I would lend to someone I don't trust 100% to use lightly only cause stupid use would get expensive fast.

Thanks Boakely

 

[PrevNuru]

JD 375 3pt. hitch backhoe....looks great.
A fun toy.
Lots of info here on TBN just why.......a 3pt hitch hoe (by definition a 3pt hoe fits on the 3pt., and does not have a subframe) is a poor idea!

Yeah, that is the general opinion on the forum and on YouTube

 

[PrevNuru]

I think 3 points backhoes are fine as long as they are mounted using a subframe. I'm not sure if the backhoes you are looking at include a sub frame or not. Without the subframe they can be hard on the back of the tractor and cause it to break.

Hello Dodgeman, 3PTs do not typically have a subframe, and the 375A does have a subframe kit.

 

[PrevNuru]

I have a 3pt backhoe for my Kubota L3130 and it works fine for what I do. I use it gently (I go slow since I am not an expert) and I don't have any rocks or tree stumps. I do have clay though and when it is hard can cause some stress on backhoe, so I make sure to take it easy. I don't get in a hurry when I am using it, run at less throttle than 540rpm. My use is 1 or 2 times per year.

Thanks Hawkeye.

 

[PrevNuru]

Geez, i just realized I posted this to the wrong forum, I should have posted to the the JD Buying/Pricing!

 

[fried1765]

Geez, i just realized I posted this to the wrong forum, I should have posted to the the JD Buying/Pricing!

No matter which heading you post under, it will come up on "Todays Posts".
That is a good thing!

 

[Richard]

Thanks for your response TNAndy! Yeah, i am starting to feel that the 3PT is not the way to go.

A setup like that might be a poor use of funds (I can't speak to that) but the idea of getting/having a backhoe itself is something that I greatly agree with. I've done all sorts of odd things with mine (which admittedly might be a bit larger than some found on this forum)

To be a bit blunt, I find my backhoe itself near indispensable. I probably use it 70/80% of the time over my loader.

 

[ericm979]

See if your dealer has a used BH with the Deere subframe that fits your model. Sometimes people trade in tractors with backhoes and the dealer splits them, or they trade in backhoes that they bought and wern't using as much as they thought they would. I got a used Branson-specific BH from the dealer. It cost about the same as the cheapest Chinese 3pt backhoe I could find.

It's not as good as a real excavator, at least not the midsize Kubota one I got to try briefly. That had much better controls and was much more powerful. But even used it would cost far more. It all depends on what you're using it for and how much you'll be using it.

 

[PrevNuru]

No matter which heading you post under, it will come up on "Todays Posts".
That is a good thing!

Yep, i have to agree.

 

[PrevNuru]

A setup like that might be a poor use of funds (I can't speak to that) but the idea of getting/having a backhoe itself is something that I greatly agree with. I've done all sorts of odd things with mine (which admittedly might be a bit larger than some found on this forum)

To be a bit blunt, I find my backhoe itself near indispensable. I probably use it 70/80% of the time over my loader.

Yeah, i am quicklu moving off the 3PT hitch versions at this point, and I m looking for a used 375 or 375A (with this one I have read that it can be installed on a 3520, even though it was not specifically designed for the 3x2x series)

 

[PrevNuru]

See if your dealer has a used BH with the Deere subframe that fits your model. Sometimes people trade in tractors with backhoes and the dealer splits them, or they trade in backhoes that they bought and wern't using as much as they thought they would. I got a used Branson-specific BH from the dealer. It cost about the same as the cheapest Chinese 3pt backhoe I could find.

It's not as good as a real excavator, at least not the midsize Kubota one I got to try briefly. That had much better controls and was much more powerful. But even used it would cost far more. It all depends on what you're using it for and how much you'll be using it.

Yep, been looking locally first - nothing yet.

 

[tradosaurus]

Question comes up regularly.

Except in a very few instances, mostly a waste of money. Either rent or subcontract a full sized backhoe or small excavator. Spoken by one that had one, was glad to see it go, and now has a mini-excavator.

Your Mileage May Vary

I was inquiring about having a backhoe installed when I bought my tractor new and the Kubota salesman pointed me at a backhoe they rent and said "I would love to sell you a backhoe for $9k but you can rent that one over there for $300 for the weekend"