Buying Advice Buying backhoe with the tractor upfront.

[rScotty]

I have done the very same, when an area is too small for a tiller.
I am too old for a shovel!

So do I.

 

[shooterdon]

I have both forks and a grapple.
How should I use them to replace my two rusting 5' deep yard hydrants?

I do not have that challenge. But if I did, I can dial the phone and get them dug out...might cost $150. My BH guy lives 4 miles away....BTW, he was my advisor when I looked at buying a tractor. Told him I was going to get a BH and he talked me out of it. He asked me “What the hell are you going to do with it?”

He was a greedy ******* for giving me such bad advice. I have had to pay him $600 in the last 9 years for BH work.

Look...i know my needs....you know your needs...they are different. We are trying to help another fellow with his needs. At this point he has had a lot of opinions and he can decide for himself.

I am done

 

[fried1765]

I do not have that challenge. But if I did, I can dial the phone and get them dug out...might cost $150. My BH guy lives 4 miles away....BTW, he was my advisor when I looked at buying a tractor. Told him I was going to get a BH and he talked me out of it. He asked me “What the hell are you going to do with it?”

He was a greedy ******* for giving me such bad advice. I have had to pay him $600 in the last 9 years for BH work.

Look...i know my needs....you know your needs...they are different. We are trying to help another fellow with his needs. At this point he has had a lot of opinions and he can decide for himself.

I am done

The final point I would make here, is that most folks have absolutely no idea how truly useful a BH is, until they actually have one, just steps away.

 

[Williy]

Some of us are old very difficult to use a shovel because of
our age and we don't have the big bucks like some of y'all
So we are happy to take our time and putter around with our
little tractors with backhoes, we are not on a time frame so
who gives a sh*t if it takes us two days or more to do some
digging with our little backhoes we don't!

willy

 

[4570Man]

Why, so I can have another machine to maintain.
No thanks, I'll keep my backhoe.
Takes me 10 minutes to install and 5 minutes to remove

2 machines with half the run time each is still roughly the same amount of maintenance.

 

[RickB]

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?

The OP’s question is about resale. Not who can dig the deepest hole.

 

[fried1765]

2 machines with half the run time each is still roughly the same amount of maintenance.

Kinda true,.....except for batteries, oil & filter changes, and tires, but tires usually do go for many years without issues.

 

[check]

I would say that $4600 for a backhoe on on a new tractor is a good price. Also, don’t forget that you can get A ripper tooth to swap out the backhoe bucket with, and a quick attach to make it easier. As well, a thumb is very useful for helping you hold logs for sign and or put things on a trailer that are too heavy. The thumb it makes it kind of like a claw.

I have all of those things on my Kubota BX25, and I would not be without them.

 

[Ishkatan]

Can you retrofit a backhoe onto a tractor? For example, if you get an RK37 can you buy the backhoe later....

For OP - how about a tow behind back hoe if you have small jobs for one? Like the Harbor Freight. $3,300 9 HP Towable Backhoe.

As a potential buyer I don't like the idea of taking a BH off the tractor. Yes, the power/speed/depth is different but I only have one light job for a BH right now.

 

[paulfun9]

Can you retrofit a backhoe onto a tractor? For example, if you get an RK37 can you buy the backhoe later....

For OP - how about a tow behind back hoe if you have small jobs for one? Like the Harbor Freight. $3,300 9 HP Towable Backhoe.

As a potential buyer I don't like the idea of taking a BH off the tractor. Yes, the power/speed/depth is different but I only have one light job for a BH right now.

Most of the backhoe attachments for tractors today are very easy and quick to mount and dismount. Maybe asking for the dealership to demonstrate or show you how one goes on and off before buying would make you a little more at ease with the idea. On my Kioti I can mount and dismount the hoe in less than 5 min.

Can’t give any feedback on the tow along hoe!

 

[Avi8or]

After much thought, I went with a larger tractor with only the FEL.

The backhoe was only a nice to have to me and not necessary. Figured can always ad a backhoe later to a larger tractor.
Went with a 2610H. Great tractor. Very happy with it.

 

[RickB]

Good luck with your new tractor.

 

[Ishkatan]

Most of the backhoe attachments for tractors today are very easy and quick to mount and dismount. Maybe asking for the dealership to demonstrate or show you how one goes on and off before buying would make you a little more at ease with the idea. On my Kioti I can mount and dismount the hoe in less than 5 min.

Can’t give any feedback on the tow along hoe!

I think you need a backhoe mounting frame that is bolted on and then you remove the backhoe from the frame but leave the frame on. The real question should have been how hard is it to add the frame after the tractor leaves the factory. You also need remote hydraulics. If the frame can be bolded on easily then waiting makes a lot of sense, except you are likely to pay for labor.

 

[paulfun9]

I think you need a backhoe mounting frame that is bolted on and then you remove the backhoe from the frame but leave the frame on. The real question should have been how hard is it to add the frame after the tractor leaves the factory. You also need remote hydraulics. If the frame can be bolded on easily then waiting makes a lot of sense, except you are likely to pay for labor.

Unsure at what point of the conversation you are at but I am talking about the mounting and dismounting of a backhoe that comes with today’s tracktors at purchase time.
Most these days are very easy to put on or take off and some brands have designed them so you don’t even have to remove the 3 point Arms when you do.
My Kioti is like this and a portion of the subframe goes on and off with it, which is also a plus for days like yesterday when ground clearance was a very big concern.
My older JD compared is a nightmare as I have to remove things, place them aside, then install the hoe which takes considerably more time about a half hour compared to the 3 to 5 min it takes for the Kioti.
Yes if your talking about adding one after purchase! Then you will most likely need to change things by unbolting parts and adding the subframe or subframe connectors to the tractor and in some cases adding the remotes to power one.
Also need to ask the question before final decision because some models are actually built differently from the start at the factory, and I am told you can’t just add a backhoe to a non backhoe model. Myself I haven’t really researched into this but most who have stated so, seem fairly reliable in thier statements.
I would also assume as with everything there is always a way to build or modify an aftermarket unit to work as I have done to some in the past, but not everyone is going to have the tools needed or even the skills or friends with skills to do it right.
As I stated I don’t know much about the tow along, I have seen them advertised and over the years seen 2 in tow behind pick up trucks on the highway but have never seen one actually doing any work. I would ponder if your digging in real good dirt and not going too far down they may work for some things. I myself would most likely choose to rent something before spending any real money on something that reminds me of a child’s toy.