1430 mini-hoe (Lackender vs PT)

[IrTxRx]

Thanks all,

Rip said that the babyboomer is not 500# (must be the boomer that lackenders has listed that = 500) and can be manuevered by one individual.

I don't know if the mini-hoes are great, OK, below average but I am fairly certain that even the worst is WAY better than a shovel, lol.

 

[ponytug]

I guess that my point is that it is great to compare it to a shovel, but you might want to compare it to
a) Rental equipment (e.g. Ditch witch, Toro Dingo, backhoe)
b) Contractor
c) Good old fashioned shovels. (Hired hands, or otherwise)

It is all about marginal cost/ marginal benefit, and what pencils out great for you is what matters!

All the best,

Peter

Thanks all,
...
I don't know if the mini-hoes are great, OK, below average but I am fairly certain that even the worst is WAY better than a shovel, lol.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am very glad I bought the hoe, and the thumb feature as well. Pony is right thought, at $2K or so (I forget how much it was) it may make more sense to rent depending on your needs. But it, and the PT have paid for itself this year. My property jumped in value significantly with using the PT to clean it up.

 

[MossRoad]

There is something to be said for having the attachment at home whenever you need or want it. If you can afford it and want it, get it. If you are tight on money and don't think you will use it often, rent.

If it is a one time deal, I would get all the jobs lined up and rent a small excavator for sure.... a few hundred dollars for a weekend rental VS a few thousand dollars for a one time use. An excavator will do a great job in very little time compared to a backhoe on a tractor. And a backhoe on a tractor will do a lot more work than the mini hoe in tasks like trenching, ponds, etc...

The mini-hoe, in my opinion, is meant for holes, not trenches. Holes like bushes, stumps, pits, etc.... Also great for placing landscaping when used with a thumb. Probably very productive in that capacity compared to an excavator or backhoe on a tractor.

I've rented a mini excavator and was just plain amazed at the amount of work that it could do in a short amount of time. Perhaps you should test drive a mini excavator and then test drive a pt with a mini-hoe. That would be a real test conducted by your hands.

 

[IrTxRx]

OK all with regards to wether or not I should purchase A mini-hoe... Please don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up.

Just kidding, thanks for trying to save me some money and not get a tool which I will be dissappointed with.

I have put pencil to paper many times and have concluded without doubt that I could contract out all the projects I have in mind for WAY less than the $25K it is going to cost to buy the 1430 and implements. But I want the tractor and I want to do those projects myself and who knows what else I may find that needs doing. Also, if I don't buy the minihoe, I know I'm always going to be wondering if I should have.

I forgot to include in post #1 that another main use will be in digging holes to plant about 30 trees around our property.

thanks for all the input and feedback, keep it coming

 

[MossRoad]

...
I have put pencil to paper many times and have concluded without doubt that I could contract out all the projects I have in mind for WAY less than the $25K it is going to cost to buy the 1430 and implements. But I want the tractor and I want to do those projects myself and who knows what else I may find that needs doing...

Fair enough!

 

[KentT]

Though I've hired out both excavator and dozer work, don't overlook the usefulness of having the minihoe on hand, when the need (i.e. project) arises.

It is NOT a viable substitute for a trencher or mini-excavator, if you have a lot of digging to do, but having such a versatile tool on hand (especially with the thumb on it) when I need it, and the ability to mount it in no more than 2 minutes, is as the commercials state.... PRICELESS!

My PT normally goes out of the shed with the grapple bucket mounted, with the mini-hoe inside the bucket...

Those two attachments probably account for 80% plus of the hours put on my machine to date. I'd give up all the rest of my attachments before I'd let these two go...

 

[MossRoad]

Though I've hired out both excavator and dozer work, don't overlook the usefulness of having the minihoe on hand, when the need (i.e. project) arises.

It is NOT a viable substitute for a trencher or mini-excavator, if you have a lot of digging to do, but having such a versatile tool on hand (especially with the thumb on it) when I need it, and the ability to mount it in no more than 2 minutes, is as the commercials state.... PRICELESS!

My PT normally goes out of the shed with the grapple bucket mounted, with the mini-hoe inside the bucket...

Those two attachments probably account for 80% plus of the hours put on my machine to date. I'd give up all the rest of my attachments before I'd let these two go...

If I'm not mowing, I take two buckets, the forks and my home made sod slitter/trailer hitch with me everwhere I go. The grapple bucket/mini-hoe combination sounds ideal for getting a lot of work done in short order.

 

[RegL]

Just noticed on the PT site their now selling a bolt on thumb for the minihoe. Does anyone have one of their's? I didn't see a price. Also , it doesn't look like it will fold back out of the way when you don't want it. If any body has one, how do you like it and how much do they cost?

 

[SpringHollow]

Using the existing auxillary lever did not bother me as much as I thought it would but still could be better located.

I can not believe a trencher would dig 4' deep here - way too much rock/shale.

The first time I used the mini hoe, I dug 130' of 3' deep trench in 8 - 9 hours. The ground was very rocky. The part not near buildings went much faster but lots of the trench was with the PT a couple of inches away from a building so I had to be real careful.

I had excellent visibility with the Lackender and the 1850 but I replaced my seat witha suspension setup so my seat is higher which might account for the difference.

My back hoe experience was in much different terrain so I can not compare the amount of time.