Backhoe Adding a backhoe to older l2900

[Dippybird]

I recently purchase my first tractor. It is an older Kubota grand l2900 with 950 hours. I live on four acres and am just using it for landscaping, yard work etc. I am interested in getting a used backhoe but I am trying to understand what the size limitation is. I will likely dig trenches, plant trees, footings etc. I certainly do not have to have one but I have always wanted one. I I know a separate excavator would be better but I really don稚 want to maintain something else. I don稚 think I will ever mow the lawn with this machine. It would probably crush the leaching field and it only takes me 45 min with the riding mower. I think I have narrowed my choice down to woods since they offer a subframe for my machine albeit an older 3 pt one. I like the idea of the subframe even though the Kubota backhoe for this model is only available as a 3 pt hitch attachment. I have been looking for a used backhoe and have seen a couple of woods 7500 and woods 9000 for similar price around $3k here in Massachusetts with the pto pump (I don稚 have hydraulics in the back). I don稚 think I need the reach of the 9000 but the added force seems worth it to me (lots of rocks and roots here). I have spoken to woods and they have a subframe for either and they have assured me neither model would damage my tractor. I have found it very difficult to get factual information on a lot of things about this so hopefully some people here can educate me. Someone online was selling a l3010 with the woods 9000 on it. I told them I was thinking of getting the 9000 and wanted to know if they thought it was too big for their tractor. They said it was perfectly balanced. They then told me it was too big for the l2900. I told them it looked like the l2900 was the same size (same weight, same tire size, same engine size, same wheal base and same loader) I am going by the info on tractordata.com. Maybe that is not trust worthy? Anyway they told me they happen to be at their dealer and the dealer said the l2900 was too small. The l2900 is definitely older and I am sure the l3010 has improvements but what makes the l2900 too small and the l3010 a good size? I asked a dealer what made the l2900 too small. He said the loader. I assumed he meant the weight so I asked if it would help if I added weight to the loader while using the backhoe. He said nah and that was about all I got. I am not sure if it matters but the machine I have is 4 wheel drive, gst transmission, loaded turf tires (about 700lbs). I don稚 know exactly how much the loader is but I am guessing the tractor with loader and tires is 4000lbs. I am really trying learn, thank you.

 

[mikester]

I know a separate excavator would be better but I really don稚 want to maintain something else.

Rent a mini-ex. Everything else will just be a long drawn out expensive learning experience.

 

[Dippybird]

Mikester, I appreciate your response and I don稚 doubt that you are correct. This is really just kind of a hobby for me. I like tinkering around the yard and learning new things. I just tried to build a screen for sifting dirt. I am learning how to use a flux core mig welder and there are lots of metal bed frames at the dump. Then I had 20 yards of fill delivered and screened it into gravel and Loam. I think I saved about $100. I think I made about a dollar an hour for my time, but I learned a lot . Thank you

 

[Fallon]

Mikester, I appreciate your response and I don稚 doubt that you are correct. This is really just kind of a hobby for me. I like tinkering around the yard and learning new things. I just tried to build a screen for sifting dirt. I am learning how to use a flux core mig welder and there are lots of metal bed frames at the dump. Then I had 20 yards of fill delivered and screened it into gravel and Loam. I think I saved about $100. I think I made about a dollar an hour for my time, but I learned a lot . Thank you

There are 2 types of tractor owners.

Those that just need to get stuff done.
Those that want to go to Dig This Vegas – Heavy Equipment Playground for vacation.

We bought 5 acres partially because I'm in camp 2 & wanted an excuse to get big boy toys. I started doing side work to pay for a nice cabbed L4060HSTC. So to some degree I'm in both camps now.

Tinkering & puttering around can be it's own reward, so don't sell it short. Just make sure you understand how things sort out on the cost vs reward accounts. I have no regrets cashing in my "Porsche fund" on a Kubota. I probably got similar enjoyment out of the Kubota, only it pays for itself & doesn't accumulate traffic tickets.

If you want a digger, you kind of have 3-4 options in the $7-10k range.

A 3pt backhoe that may brake your tractor in half. Cheaper up front, but has obvious downsides & is the least capable.

A subframe backhoe. A bit more expensive due to the subframe, but won't break your machine in half, but a little weak but entirely sufficient for most homeowner tasks. New is around $7k.

A moderately used mini-ex. May take a bit of maintenance. Depending on the size will be equal to or significantly more capable than the subframe hoe. Probably have to hunt for a good deal for a while.

An old I industrial hoe. It will dig circles around all other options at an idle twice as deep & lift 3 times as much. Will be an old machine requiring a decent bit of maintenance. You'll probably sell it down the road for what you paid for it unless something in the transmission breaks, in which case you lost the gamble & it will get sold for scrap.

Personally I'd go the mini-ex route but the old industrial hoe would be a close 2nd. It's always nice to have a 2nd machine to rescue your main machine if something gets stuck.

 

[Dippybird]

Fallon
Think you for the reply. I don稚 doubt that you are correct. One of my coworkers has an older case 580 and loves it. I don稚 have a yard that would really support that type of a machine without ripping up the whole place. I do appreciate that a lot of people use their tractors for their lively hood and that definitely changes the equation in time and money. I got a flat tire on the back of the tractor and the tire is not in great shape. My friend who is a landscaper told me to buy new tires and have them foam filled. I called around and new tires with foam was about $2k. I know for him to not have down time is probably worth it. For me down time just means I go and work on a different project. Needless to say I bought a new inner tube for $80. I have found used subframe backhoes for about $3k and I haven稚 seen any mini excavators for anything close to that.

 

[newbury]

<snip>I live on four acres and am just using it for landscaping, yard work etc. I am interested in getting a used backhoe but I am trying to understand what the size limitation is. I will likely dig trenches, plant trees, footings etc. I certainly do not have to have one but I have always wanted one. <snip> I am really trying learn, thank you.

I don't see anything about cost effectiveness, etc. etc.

I "live" (residence where I'm taxed) on a 1/4 acre lot. 3 miles away I've a 1/2 acre property where my son, his wife and my 3 grandchildren live. I've 2 tractors, a Kubota B7610 (23HP) with a backhoe and a M4700 (50HP). A little overkill for 3/4 acre of suburbia within 10 miles of the Washington Monument.

Not cost effective at all!

But then I also have about 400 acres down in Mississippi, and the plan still is that they both get moved down here.

The main reason I bought the backhoe for the B7610 was that I'm trying to build/maintain narrow trails through the woods.

The great advantage of a backhoe on a tractor vs a mini-ex is speed of travel.

If I was stuck on only 4 acres I'd get a tow behind backhoe.

 

[Dippybird]

Newbury
Thank you for the reply. I have seen a couple of the å*µo for digger towable ones advertised around me. They cost about 2x for a well used one. They same lighter. What is the advantage (besides being able to tow it) over the tractor mounted backhoe.
I am really trying to figure out how large of a backhoe I can reasonably fit on the back of my older tractor. It seams like the b7610 is a little over half the weight of the l2900? Do you find the bh70x too big for your tractor? Or do you think it would take a larger one maybe the bh80x?
Thanks