Buying Advice Buying backhoe with the tractor upfront.

[Avi8or]

Looking at a Branson 2505H with and without a backhoe.

I wondered if you all think the tractor would be easier to sell down the road with a backhoe?

Maybe hold a bit more residual value with backhoe vs with just a FEL?

 

[Have tractor did travel]

Anytime you can differentiate what you have for sale, from what everyone else has for sale, you can get a higher price. However, there are fewer people looking for something "different". The more different, the fewer the customers.
Dealing in backhoes is not your business. I recommend you stick to the business you know, whatever it is. Leave the backhoes to the dealers, unless you have a use for it.
All that said - I bought my first tractor with a backhoe. Tractor was used, had 39 hours on it, and I got the backhoe for $3K more than what I was going to pay the dealer for the tractor with no backhoe. I didn't use the backhoe for 9 years. Now, with new property, I use the backhoe every day - couldn't operate this property without it.
Hope that helps.

 

[Avi8or]

Backhoe is not a need for me, but would be a nice to have. I’m sure I’ll regret not getting it if I skip it.

 

[rScotty]

We use our backhoe as much as we do the tractor, but that's only because the M59 came with a thumb for the bucket.
We got the thumb because it was part of the BH. It was a promotional deal from Kubota 2007/8. Having never had a backhoe with a thumb, I didn't even realize what I was getting.

Today for example we needed to cut up some downed trees. Since the FEL has SSQA, we drop the FEL bucket next to a tree, then turn around and use the backhoe & thumb to grab a tree, lift it to waist level over the FEL bucket, and dice it into firewood.
When we are done we turn back around, hook up to the FEL bucket and drive home.
We use the backhoe a lot, but haven't used it to dig a trench in the past three years. We did use it to transplant some trees and also restacked the rock wall leading to a small farm pond...er...mosquito pond.....
rScotty

 

[fried1765]

We use our backhoe as much as we do the tractor, but that's only because the M59 came with a thumb for the bucket.
We got the thumb because it was part of the BH. It was a promotional deal from Kubota 2007/8. Having never had a backhoe with a thumb, I didn't even realize what I was getting.

Today for example we needed to cut up some downed trees. Since the FEL has SSQA, we drop the FEL bucket next to a tree, then turn around and use the backhoe & thumb to grab a tree, lift it to waist level over the FEL bucket, and dice it into firewood.
When we are done we turn back around, hook up to the FEL bucket and drive home.
We use the backhoe a lot, but haven't used it to dig a trench in the past three years. We did use it to transplant some trees and also restacked the rock wall leading to a small farm pond...er...mosquito pond.....
rScotty

I need to remove an old landscaping tie wall.
I could do it with my forks, but I think it will be much easier doing the job with my BH and thumb.
New RR ties will be placed with my BH and thumb.

 

[paulfun9]

Looking at a Branson 2505H with and without a backhoe.

I wondered if you all think the tractor would be easier to sell down the road with a backhoe?

Maybe hold a bit more residual value with backhoe vs with just a

Looking at a Branson 2505H with and without a backhoe.

I wondered if you all think the tractor would be easier to sell down the road with a backhoe?

Maybe hold a bit more residual value with backhoe vs with just a FEL?

I can’t speak for everyone or everyplace, but it seems that tractors with backhoes sell quicker than those without. Myself, I won’t even entertain the thought of buying one without when it comes to a utility size down to a compact. Most people I know would also opt for having the hoe over not having it.
So would it be worth more having it? My answer is most definately Yes.

 

[mikester]

It will sell much quicker with the backhoe. If you sell privately you will get thousands of lowball offers for the tractor and want you to give them the BH free.

 

[RickB]

Buy your tractor and attachments to suit your needs. Buying in anticipation of the next owner's needs is a fool's errand.

Depreciable assets are not investments.

 

[jeff9366]

Backhoe is not a need for me, but would be a nice to have.

Backhoes are designed for trenching.

How much trenching do you anticipate relative to the inconvenience of not having the TPH available for implements when the Backhoe is on the tractor?

 

[old and tired]

If you're really worried about resale... I would not look at that brand, but that's just me. (I do drink the orange koolaid!)

Also, that is a very small (1,638 lbs) tractor. What's the price of the tractor, with and without a backhoe?

 

[Torvy]

Backhoes are designed for trenching.

How much trenching do you anticipate relative to the inconvenience of not having the TPH available when the Backhoe is on the tractor?

To that end, is it rational to plan/expect to be able to rent a backhoe to use when needed? Are they considerably more expensive to add after the initial tractor purchase?

 

[fried1765]

Backhoes are designed for trenching.

How much trenching do you anticipate relative to the inconvenience of not having the TPH available for implements when the Backhoe is on the tractor?

It is true that backhoes are "designed for trenching", but there are MANY other applications!
My Kubota (11' backhoe) TLB, with hyd. thumb, is most often used as my highly mobile portable crane.
Owning a BH means it is ALWAYS at my immediate disposal, and I never remove it from my tractor!
I NEVER want to be without a BH, and thumb!
I have an older FEL tractor for TPH use.

 

[jeff9366]

To that end, is it rational to plan/expect to be able to rent a backhoe to use when needed? Are they considerably more expensive to add after the initial tractor purchase?

No. You rent a tracked mini-excavator complete, not a rental backhoe for the tractor. You can rent a much more efficient mini-excavator multiple times for the cost of a $5,000 backhoe.

shooterdon:​

Easier and cheaper to get a local guy to do my BH work and pay him $100/hr for small jobs.

Yes. Perhaps $2,000 dollars more purchased after the tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

Looking at a Branson 2505H with and without a backhoe.

Branson 2505 Series Subcompact Tractor Dimensions
• Wheelbase: 57.5”
• Length: 104”
• Width: 45.8”
• Height with ROPS: 91.3”
• Ground clearance: 9.4”
• Weight: 1610 lbs.

A subcompact tractor is suitable for yard work on one to three fairly smooth acres in my opinion, though some use subcompact tractors on five acres.

Your expectations for subcompact category tractor performance should be restrained. Adding a Backhoe will not make this very light tractor a Big Boy's tool.

Tractor Sizing - Almost Daily Thread: SUBCOMPACT or COMPACT TRACTOR?

Repetitively typing almost the same advice on the Topic: SUBCOMPACT or COMPACT TRACTOR? is not that interesting. I am going to accumulate some well considered, well punctuated standard replies, then refine the advice. Everyone is welcome to contribute.

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[fried1765]

It is true that backhoes are "designed for trenching", but there are MANY other applications!
My Kubota 11' backhoe (with hyd. thumb) is most often used as my highly mobile portable crane

I NEVER want to be without a BH!
I have an older tractor for TPH use.

Looking at a Branson 2505H with and without a backhoe.


Branson 2505 Series Dimensions
• Wheelbase: 57.5”
• Length: 104”
• Width: 45.8”
• Height with ROPS: 91.3”
• Ground clearance: 9.4”
• Weight: 1610 lbs.

A VERY small tractor to be considering a BH!

 

[shooterdon]

IMO a BH on that small tractor is a waste of money and hurts resale value. I walked away from a lot of small used tractors that had the BH and the owner thought they should get most of their investment back.

BH's are a PITA at least for me. Cannot leave it on and then need a place to store the samn thing. Easier and cheaper to get the local guy to do my BH work and pay him $100/hr for small jobs.

 

[fried1765]

IMO a BH on that small tractor is a waste of money and hurts resale value. I walked away from a lot of small used tractors that had the BH and the owner thought they should get most of their investment back.

BH's are a PITA at least for me. Cannot leave it on and then need a place to store the samn thing. Easier and cheaper to get the local guy to do my BH work and pay him $100/hr for small jobs.

I would not own my Kubota L48 if it did not have the "PITA" backhoe!

 

[Williy]

My PITA backhoe has been used everyday that I have had my tractor. You think a backhoe is a PITA explain why so many small tractors are being sold with a FEL and BACKKHOE? and if the tractor does not have the backhoe they order one or order the tractor with a backhoe so all cables etc pertaining to the backhoe are factory installed?????? For the time to remove and install a backhoe takes approx 15 minutes each. My PITA backhoe can dig more holes in an hour than I can with a shovel all day! Also when I operate my PITA backhoe it gets to hot I can climb in the CAB and cool off, have a nice cool drink and then back working my PITA backhoe! I wonder how many small tractors with PITA backhoes have been sold here in the U.S.A this past year alone???? And that's if a dealer can get a small tractor with a PITA backhoe on it because they can't keep them in stock!


willy

 

[shooterdon]

Enjoy your BH’s gentlemen. I think they are not very useful on a little tractor that weighs less than 2000 lbs. We can agree to disagree

The used machines I have seen in that size range have BH’s that look like new. Once most people dig a trench or two and plant a few dozen trees they sit idle. That is a lot of $$$ doing nothing.

I have owned 20 acres for 9 years and had $600 of BH work done.

 

[Torvy]

I can see situations where I may which I had one, but for an extra 7-10K, I am not going to be able to justify the expense to the home boss...did I mention she has an MBA and does financial work? Cannot sneak expenses by her...she works in a manufacturing business.

For me, it sounds like I will get no BH to start and rent a dedicated tool or hire someone for that work. If it starts to add up, we can revisit and purchase an add-on. I highly doubt we will ever have more than one tractor on our small place, but I am learning to avoid the word never. Thanks for the insight!