Excavator v. Skid Steer for Hobby Farmer?

[Carl_NH]

I think I misunderstood the meaning of "TLB." I thought it just meant "backhoe," but it apparently means a tractor with an attachment.

Tractor-Loader-Backhoe

 

[Hay Dude]

One compact telehandler is all you need. There are many brands to choose from.

This big?
View attachment 753948View attachment 753949

This is a 7' brush hog, so much better out front:
View attachment 753951View attachment 753952

42 inch pin top forks:
View attachment 753954

48 inch block forks:
View attachment 753955

6' heavy duty forks:
View attachment 753956

I am convinced this is the way to go if you want a swiss army knife.
Other than the size, which really isn’t THAT big of a deal, this would be great for moving bales, loading, scooping and yes, even mowing! Especially in hard to reach areas!

The big bonus is it can be also used for construction, which was it’s original purpose.
I will have one of these someday.

The only thing one could ask for on those as the icing on the cake would be a 3 point and PTO. Yes, I know they make them, but they aren’t very popular as used units.
I am interested in the Manitou units.

 

[M59]

I think I misunderstood the meaning of "TLB." I thought it just meant "backhoe," but it apparently means a tractor with an attachment.

I started looking for backhoes for sale, and the loaders were not the SSQA-ready gadgets I expected.

TLB - Tractor Loader Backhoe
The Tractor is the core onto which you hang implements for accomplishing different work objectives. In this case the Loader ( aka FEL/ Front End Loader) is standard equipment on the TLB. The Backhoe is also standard on the TLB.
The Loader uses SSQA/ Skid Steer Quick Attach attachment point to attach/ detach the bucket onto the loader arms. Removing and adding implements at the SSQA takes 1-5 minutes depending upon number of connections including hydraulic hoses. Pic attached of grapple attached to SSQA instead of the 84 inch wide bucket capable of carrying 1 yard heaped. Also attached SSQA attached McMillen auger capable of running augers up to 40 inch in dia. ( Not a great pic but what I had)

A commercial backhoe such as a John Deere 310, 410, etc is a dedicated backhoe and does not use SSQA since the loader with bucket and the backhoe are intended to be permanently attached to the machine ( unless performing maintenance ).

The SSQA fixture was developed by the skidsteer/ trackhoe community to enable multiple tools to be used by the core power plant and other equipment manufacturers accepted and use this standard.

The tractor core also has PTO ( Power Take Off ) at the back and some at the mid point. The PTO and the 3 Point Hitch allow adding additional implements like brush mower, flail mower, power rake ( pic below), chain trencher ( pic attached).

The 3 Point Hitch by itself can pull a box blade or landscape blade or rake or disc harrow, etc.

Tractor also have a drawbar for pulling wagons, trailers, etc ( I prefer the CL Fab SSQA hitch for moving trailers since it gives better control and easier to see trailer)

pic: disassembling a 15 ton rock in creek bed into 2 ton bits so I can move them out of creek with backhoe.

 

[Xfaxman]

Pic attached of grapple attached to SSQA instead of the 84 inch wide bucket capable of carrying 1 yard heaped.

Speaking of buckets, full size telehandlers are not made to dig in the dirt.
Compact telehandlers will out dig a skid steer, or a compact track loader (CTL).

My 6' wide 1 yard bucket with teeth:

 

[LoneStarLandMan]

....Most of what I do is general property maintenance. I cut and move trees. I bush hog when I have no choice. I use the tractor for lifting stuff. I move dirt with it.
....
The Kubota has been marginal for moving rocks because it has a low lift capacity. It can't dig narrow holes, so removing dirt around rocks and stumps is not practical. It would be neat to have a machine that would dig around these things in a hurry.

I'd also like to be able to shove medium-sized trees over and then buck them instead of felling them and then trying to get the stumps out the hard way.

So what's the better second machine for a gentleman farmer who doesn't grow anything but needs to dig and move stuff?

Backhoe all day long for all the chores you listed- and a EA WickedRoot Grapple for your tractor

 

[Xfaxman]

Backhoe all day long for all the chores you listed- and a EA WickedRoot Grapple for your tractor

But that is two machines to do what one air conditioned cabbed compact telehandler can do with a swing arm back hoe and grapple:

The 6' wide Monster Grapple:

 

[4570Man]

I think I misunderstood the meaning of "TLB." I thought it just meant "backhoe," but it apparently means a tractor with an attachment.

I started looking for backhoes for sale, and the loaders were not the SSQA-ready gadgets I expected.

Virtually none of the older value priced backhoes have quick attach buckets. It’s not very common even on newer machines. That’s the leading reason why I don’t have a backhoe anymore.

 

[M59]

But that is two machines to do what one air conditioned cabbed compact telehandler can do with a swing arm back hoe and grapple:
View attachment 754365View attachment 754366

The 6' wide Monster Grapple:
View attachment 754367View attachment 754368View attachment 754369

We all appreciate the V417 telehandler is a versatile machine and should be considered when looking for an all around machine BUT it is not comparable to a backhoe when a user specifically needs more weight, more loader capacity and more digging capacity. Time on job is important.
LonstarLandMan's Komatsu is entirely different class of machine than the V417 when user needs both digging and carrying capacity available at all times.
A quick check of Komatsu WB140 finds a machine weight of 19,731 Lbs with a loader with 1.25 yard bucket dump height of 9+ feet, capable of lifting 8270 Lbs to full height, a breakout force of 12,790 Lbs. The hoe reaches 12+ feet on horizontal, Digs to 18+ feet, and dumps at 9+ feet.

In one of my earlier posts this thread, I indicated every machine has its pros and cons according to where it is being used, the user's objectives, and the amount of money available to purchase available machinery.

I chose the Kubota M59 because it was the "heaviest" TLB available at the time, could be trailered under the 26,001 Lb combined gross weight before needing a commercial license, gave me access to the greatest range of tools meeting the greatest range of current and future project needs at a cost ( $38K ) for a 230 hour machine. However, it is not perfect at some of the projects I have. I am looking for an excavator because they swing 360 degrees, have tracks that generally do not sink in the mud, has reach and lift capabilities at reach the M59 does not have, a dozer blade to level work area, and very importantly a very low center of gravity for slope work. Does a excavator make a great loader? NO, it doesn't. I have pushed and continue to push the M59 to do more and at 11-12K Lbs it is a great working machine but it has its limits.

I also need a light dozer of 10-12K Lbs, but that is another story.

 

[4570Man]

We all appreciate the V417 telehandler is a versatile machine and should be considered when looking for an all around machine BUT it is not comparable to a backhoe when a user specifically needs more weight, more loader capacity and more digging capacity. Time on job is important.
LonstarLandMan's Komatsu is entirely different class of machine than the V417 when user needs both digging and carrying capacity available at all times.
A quick check of Komatsu WB140 finds a machine weight of 19,731 Lbs with a loader with 1.25 yard bucket dump height of 9+ feet, capable of lifting 8270 Lbs to full height, a breakout force of 12,790 Lbs. The hoe reaches 12+ feet on horizontal, Digs to 18+ feet, and dumps at 9+ feet.

In one of my earlier posts this thread, I indicated every machine has its pros and cons according to where it is being used, the user's objectives, and the amount of money available to purchase available machinery.

I chose the Kubota M59 because it was the "heaviest" TLB available at the time, could be trailered under the 26,001 Lb combined gross weight before needing a commercial license, gave me access to the greatest range of tools meeting the greatest range of current and future project needs at a cost ( $38K ) for a 230 hour machine. However, it is not perfect at some of the projects I have. I am looking for an excavator because they swing 360 degrees, have tracks that generally do not sink in the mud, has reach and lift capabilities at reach the M59 does not have, a dozer blade to level work area, and very importantly a very low center of gravity for slope work. Does a excavator make a great loader? NO, it doesn't. I have pushed and continue to push the M59 to do more and at 11-12K Lbs it is a great working machine but it has its limits.

I also need a light dozer of 10-12K Lbs, but that is another story.

Agreed. Maybe that backhoe attachment would be ok for digging out a rock or a drainage ditch but almost worthless for most digging. I’d just assume have a stump bucket at a fraction of the cost. I used to have a M59 and I previously had 2 full size Deere backhoes a 310 and a 410. I currently have a KX-040 mini x. I thought I’d be disappointed with a 10k mini x but it packs a lot of punch for its size. It’s way stronger than the M59 backhoe. It’s not as strong as the Deere not surprisingly but it makes up a lot of ground with 360 swing, a hydraulic thumb and just all around better hydraulics. I never realized it at the time but sitting behind the boom on a backhoe is garbage. The mini has way better visibility. And like you said the stability and mud going ability is much better. All around I’ve very satisfied with selling the M59 and getting a mini x and CTL.

 

[DieselBound]

I am convinced this is the way to go if you want a swiss army knife.
Other than the size, which really isn’t THAT big of a deal, this would be great for moving bales, loading, scooping and yes, even mowing! Especially in hard to reach areas!

The big bonus is it can be also used for construction, which was it’s original purpose.
I will have one of these someday.

The only thing one could ask for on those as the icing on the cake would be a 3 point and PTO. Yes, I know they make them, but they aren’t very popular as used units.
I am interested in the Manitou units.

Telescopic Tractor | Multifarmer | Merlo S.p.A.

Have a local hay farmer who has a couple that he rents out: talked to one of his staff and was told that they were thinking about switching to them, ditching some (all?) JDs.

I can't justify anything like this. And, my ground is way too soft for heavy machines like these.