Backhoe Backhoes--who has one? Would you buy again?

[fried1765]

+1

I have a 4700 48 hp 4x4 John Deere with the loader and frame mount backhoe and would never be without it. May not even use it every year but always there when I do. True it is not as capable as a 580 Case or mini ex, but it whas always done the job for me when I need it. It has performed many projects in the years I have owned it and I have a couple lined up this summer for it. It has definitely paid for itself.

It is not for sale.

You just debunked the rental concept.

"always there when I do (need it)".

 

[Cranblue]

Last year purchased L4701 with a back hoe attachment and have been very pleased and impressed with the combination.Ive had over twenty years in farming cranberries where I operated JD back hoe 410 and JD excavators 490E and JD 160G in New Jersey.We moved to NC two years ago bought a 18.5 acre property that was a tree farm that didn稚 sell many trees that got over grown and crowded.Trees consisted mainly of holly and cypress with some of which where 35-50 feet tall and stumps 20 plus inches.I probably took down around 400 and removed all stumps with the L4701 in red clay as southerners know well l cut most large trees off with chain saw then removed the stumps after I picked tops up with forks and piled them up to burn.For it痴 size my Kubota has impressed me knowing what larger machines can do and in faster time but my tractor has lot less ground compaction than a 410 back hoe which I like around a yard and small property lm pretty sure this is why they where invented for home owners.I have never used a tractor as a mini back hoe until a year ago but have been very surprised by its performance for its size with that said an operator will soon figure out its capabilities and time needed to perform a task .I believe my BH95 back hoe attachment was $5800 not cheap but I don稚 regret it and as many others have stated it痴 more time consuming taking off and putting on 3pt arms the back hoe is so easy and fast it痴 incredible how fast and easy it is to remove and attach to tractor.I recently rented a Bob Cat BX 85 excavator with hydraulic thumb for burning my tree piles tractor not ideal for amount I had to burn one week rental was $2200 dollars which I thought was reasonable for week full seven days.Now that my tree job is done back hoe is off and grade box is on but to me if I only use back hoe one day year it痴 worth having around I知 50 in June and shoveling is to a minimum if one stump needs out or a dog needs burying the back hoe is going on !!!I would think about what you want to spend on tractor and attachments what possible use you would have for a back hoe now and in the future I知 very pleased with mine I知 very aware it痴 not a full size back hoe but pound for pound will hold its own !!!

 

[Diggin It]

I may have to go put mine on to see if I can dig up a couple of paragraphs.

 

[polarred21]

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[Orebonder]

Hello... I have a 5220c.
Could you post a few pictures of your backhoe attachment? Do you use the ports on the back to operate your backhoe? Which ports do you use?
Thank you

 

[Orebonder]

I have a backhoe for my Branson 4220, a 42 hp tractor. It's REALLY helpful, but as you note, it has to come off in order to use three-point attachments. My backhoe is readily removable, it probably takes less time to install or remove the hoe than to install the three point components.

I can probably remove a 12" stump in 15 or 20 minutes, depending. Bigger stuff gets tough. If you start trying to dig up 24" fir stumps, as an example, you'll notice the lack of lifting power from the hoe. You'll spend a good deal of time chiseling away at the bigger roots, rocking the stump, digging under it, etc. But the hoe is worth the money. I used mine today to dig a French drain. It'll pay for itself in short order.

I always like Firebirds!

Hello...can you post a few pictures of your backhoe?
I have a 5220c with a backhoe attachment. Did you use the ports on the back of your tractor...or PTO driven hyd. Pump

 

[defranks]

Here are a couple of pics. Do you want something specific?
Yes, I use the ports in the back. The same hydraulics that run the 3-point lift get disconnected from the 3-point and attached to the hoe. I added controls for tilt & top, and that's been really handy, too.

In reading through this string I've learned that some backhoe / tractor combos allow for leaving the three-point arms attached while the hoe is in-place. I wish mine would work like that, it would make things a lot simpler to switch between the hoe and three-point implements. As it is, taking the three-point arms off and on are the worst of it by far.

 

[Orebonder]

Here are a couple of pics. Do you want something specific?
Yes, I use the ports in the back. The same hydraulics that run the 3-point lift get disconnected from the 3-point and attached to the hoe. I added controls for tilt & top, and that's been really handy, too.View attachment 644188View attachment 644187View attachment 644189

In reading through this string I've learned that some backhoe / tractor combos allow for leaving the three-point arms attached while the hoe is in-place. I wish mine would work like that, it would make things a lot simpler to switch between the hoe and three-point implements. As it is, taking the three-point arms off and on are the worst of it by far.

Ok....mine has two factory installed ports

 

[Orebonder]

Ok....mine has two factory installed ports
View attachment 644194View attachment 644193

 

[Underdog57]

I may have to go put mine on to see if I can dig up a couple of paragraphs.

No offense to the poster....... But that was laugh-out -loud funny!!!!!!