Buying Advice 40 hp-- which brand?

[4570Man]

My backhoe is 4wd so it’s over 16000. The tires are a lot bigger than my tractor and it doesn’t seem to bad on the ground.

 

[goeduck]

I agree those commercial backhoes are heavy - especially the 4wd ones. But that's not the whole story. It depends on how the tire loads the soil. Those big backhoes use a wide industrial R3 tread that really spreads the load out. The load gets spread out even better when the tire tire gets a little worn. I actually prefer to run half worn out tires on my backhoe for that reason. Unlike a tractor, construction machines never use a lugged Ag tire of the R1 type that are designed to cut into the soil for traction.

With the right tires, those industrial R3 tread are pretty easy on the turf even on a big heavy backhoe ---- just as long as it is 2WD.

In 4WD any tire or weight of tractor is going to tear the soil up. On my backhoe, the front wheels leave much larger divots in the soil than the rears. That's why I like to run really smooth wornout tires on the front.
rScotty

Maybe to some extend but I passed a Case 590 Super on a trailer today and the tires did not look that much wider than what I have on a tractor backhoe half the weight. That sure was a NICE backhoe but it is a backhoe, not a tractor. As long as everyone understands that :thumbsup:. No 3 point, very heavy, very capable at what it does. But not a tractor. Standard Rear tires on the Case 590 are 21x24. Wide, but not that wide.

 

[finn1]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

Especially when you want to move one foot to the right or the left.

We got a FEL with a sub frame, hoe and 60 HP tractor for about the same as a new FEL for the 60 HP MF 265 would have cost when we got the 1983 JD 310B back in 2010. It is hard to come up with solid mini excavator AND compact track loader for under a total of $10K.

This is why the $10K old backhoe is popular for people wanting to clear land, pull out stuck equipment, etc. Just do not try to put a 7.5' front bucket through an 8 foot opening at WOT.

For those of us started to thinking about retirement later in life it is hard to take money that may be needed for retirement to buy a lot of specialty machines when an old backhoe can do it all sooner or later. At 67 I realize life itself is a compromise.

There is a market place for most everything. There is a JD 110 backhoe for sale near here that would be of interest if we did not have the heavy 310B.

 

[atsah]

I got rid of my tractor and got a backhoe. The breakout force on the loader is 8500 pounds and full height lift is 6500 pounds so significantly better than a regular tractor. I don稚 know the backhoe specs but it blows a tractor backhoe out of the water. View attachment 567934

That's my next purchase, I'm on the look out all the time.

 

[YardBikeBob]

Would you consider a used tractor?

I own a 2013 LS R4041. Going on 500 hours and never been back to the dealer. I'd say I do all my own repairs, but there haven't been any other than operator errors.

This is a teir 3 tractor -- no computer and no turbo. It uses a Mitsu designed 4-cyl, 2.5 liter motor (which now is considered big). Simple, reliable, and powerful enough to spin all 4 wheels before getting stuck. Loader lift is plenty. Run the RPM needed for the job, not the silly high RPMs of new stuff.

No advise on a backhoe. I rented a JD 110 and it was 'perfect' for the task and when I need more backhoe work I'll rent it again. CUT backhoe attachments are a poor comprimise IMHO.

If you fail to believe that I have all the right answers, at least consider 2013 and older tractors before the computers took over. I believe they are much more likely to last 'forever' as there is much less computer stuff to crap out. And they will. And when they do the parts will be scarce, obsolete, and dear.

Paid $19k for mine 5 years ago and it is definately not for sale.

~Bob

 

[4570Man]

Especially when you want to move one foot to the right or the left.

We got a FEL with a sub frame, hoe and 60 HP tractor for about the same as a new FEL for the 60 HP MF 265 would have cost when we got the 1983 JD 310B back in 2010. It is hard to come up with solid mini excavator AND compact track loader for under a total of $10K.

This is why the $10K old backhoe is popular for people wanting to clear land, pull out stuck equipment, etc. Just do not try to put a 7.5' front bucket through an 8 foot opening at WOT.

For those of us started to thinking about retirement later in life it is hard to take money that may be needed for retirement to buy a lot of specialty machines when an old backhoe can do it all sooner or later. At 67 I realize life itself is a compromise.

There is a market place for most everything. There is a JD 110 backhoe for sale near here that would be of interest if we did not have the heavy 310B.

I was having a hard time finding a nice mini for what I could buy a nice backhoe for. I have access to a CTL which would have probably made a mini a better choice but I don’t have the ability to haul a mini of equal strength of my backhoe and the CTL at the same time. The time required to make another trip coming and going more than off sets the time savings with the more efficient tools. And I don’t own the CTL so it’s use isn’t guaranteed.

 

[GFirkus]

I picked a few comparable brands and models and need to get pricing next. On paper the branson 3725h looks the best. (besides nx4510 hst) I compared loader and backhoe specs. I will have to find some time to go test drive.

 

[goeduck]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

In many cases, yes. In many others where mobility is paramount, an excavator is not the best choice. A backhoe can esaisly move from one corner of the property (or next property) to the next, dig a hole and be back to the barn before an excavator can be loaded on a trailer and hitched up. For maintenance digging, I much prefer a backhoe. For serious digging, an excavator wins out.

 

[goeduck]

My conclusion is that mini excavators and compact track loaders are taking over the full sized backhoe and rubber tired skid steer market.

The cut backhoe has a niche market because of the relatively low cost for the attachment, but they are, at best, a compromise.

In many cases, yes. In many others where mobility is paramount, an excavator is not the best choice. A backhoe can esaisly move from one corner of the property (or next property) to the next, dig a hole and be back to the barn before an excavator can be loaded on a trailer and hitched up. For maintenance digging, I much prefer a backhoe. For serious digging, an excavator wins out.

A backhoe is much less destructive to the turf when moving without a trailer as well.