Anybody here have much experience with either 3 point or tow backhoe?

[rScotty]

After reading the many replies (Many Thanks!) I have decided to look for a backhoe with a thumb that I can attach to a sub frame. It looks like the tow behind diggers are just way too light for the ground I have here and 3 point units are too risky.
Looking at my tractor I can see how to attach a sub frame unit such that it will not put the kind of load on the tractor that causes breakage.
In the mean time I'll just rent a mini excavator with a thumb for the places it can be used. The thumb is a super time saver when dealing with the kind of rocks we have.
I'm pretty sure that once I start to seriously look for a small add on hoe I'll be able to find one at a price I can afford.
Thanks Again Everybody,
Eric

Agree. Having been where you are headed, the 3pt backhoe is OK if you are careful. The pull behind is too light.

What you are describing is a pretty common evolution for tractor guys. I see that lots of us started with a compact tractor&FEL then eventually added a 3pt backhoe before ending up with either a newer TLB or mini.

My old 3pt backhoe sat unused for a couple of years after we got the TLB. Then one day an old buddy asked if it would fit his tractor..... so he used it a few years and then FFWD another ten years and I noticed that old 3pt hoe sitting unused in his barn while he was playing with his new TLB. He eventually passed it along to a neighbor.

rScotty

 

[etpm]

I’ve seen some mini excavators in the 10k range. I think if you had one you’d be impressed and kick yourself for not doing it sooner. I have a Deere 410 and a 4.5 ton mini excavator. The Deere will out muscle the mini but for everything else the mini is way better.

I rented a mini with a thumb years ago to do some ditch digging. That's how I know how useful the thumb is and how much they tear up lawns and such. Even my Case 580CK backhoe is easier on the ground than a rubber tracked mini excavator.
Eric

 

[ovrszd]

I’ve seen some mini excavators in the 10k range. I think if you had one you’d be impressed and kick yourself for not doing it sooner. I have a Deere 410 and a 4.5 ton mini excavator. The Deere will out muscle the mini but for everything else the mini is way better.

I don't need a mini but I sure want one to compliment my Ford 555.

 

[etpm]

I think that "doing the math" will lead to the conclusion that renting is cheaper than owning every time, for every implement, and for every job. That's simple enough, but clearly not right.

If it was, we wouldn't need to have compact tractors, do it yourselfers, tailgate parties, or TBN.

I always suspected that math was wrong; now I know why.
rScotty

When I put in my septic system I bought an old Case 580CK backhoe for 5 grand. That was about 15 years ago. My neighbor tried his best to convince me to rent one. I still have the 580 and I still do work with it. But it is really big when working in close quarters. And the bucket is 2 feet wide. And it doesn't have a thumb. I know, I can buy or make a narrow bucket, and I can buy or make a thumb. But it will still be too big for lots of the places I need a hoe for.
Eric

 

[PILOON]

While not a pro, I've operated all 3.

Typical tractor backhoe, small tracked hoe's, mid sized and large tracked hoes.
I owned a small towed hoe as well.
They all have their place.
My 'toe hoe' was called a 'cricket' as it hopped around as it moved.

That 'cricket' tow hoe could actually be quite a performer once U learned its tricks.
It was great for trenching, like pipe lines and electric burial and shone to trench for hedges.
The main downside was displacement otherwise it was quite powerful considering mine only had a 5 hp motor. I actually more than a few times extracted almost yard sized rocks with it.
You develop/learn techniques as you progress.
Heck I even learned how to 'hop' over a trench that I had dug.
The biggest downside is the work radius as U can't swing 180 deg's nor load a truck.
You are limited to stacking each side of that trench you dig and U don't have the capability of easily backfilling your trench.
Mini's shine as they always have a blade that serves for stability but also is excellent for backfilling.

All in all each one is lots of fun to operate, occasionally, as I'd go nuts doing that 40 hrs/wk.

 

[ovrszd]

When I put in my septic system I bought an old Case 580CK backhoe for 5 grand. That was about 15 years ago. My neighbor tried his best to convince me to rent one. I still have the 580 and I still do work with it. But it is really big when working in close quarters. And the bucket is 2 feet wide. And it doesn't have a thumb. I know, I can buy or make a narrow bucket, and I can buy or make a thumb. But it will still be too big for lots of the places I need a hoe for.
Eric

Six years ago I bought a Ford 555 TLB for $6,500. I spent $1,500 fixing minor things. Since that time we've built a new house and shop on our farm. My hoe owes me nothing. Has a dry parking spot in the machine shed. I doubt I'll ever sell it. spent two days on it last week doing work in the timber.

I'd like a mini to supplement the TLB. But so far I can't justify the $15K that it would take to buy one that would satisfy me.

 

[4570Man]

I don't need a mini but I sure want one to compliment my Ford 555.

If I had to pick between selling my KX040 or Deere 410 the Deere is finding a new home. The mini is my favorite digger I’ve ever had.

 

[4570Man]

I rented a mini with a thumb years ago to do some ditch digging. That's how I know how useful the thumb is and how much they tear up lawns and such. Even my Case 580CK backhoe is easier on the ground than a rubber tracked mini excavator.
Eric

The mini isn’t bad on the grass if you know what you’re doing. I cleared all of this brush off the yard with my mini. As soft as it was my 420 would have been far worse. And that one set of ruts was from the lift not my mini. A skid steer on the other hand is brutal on grass and there’s no way around it.

 

[ovrszd]

If I had to pick between selling my KX040 or Deere 410 the Deere is finding a new home. The mini is my favorite digger I’ve ever had.

Last week I drove my 555 3 miles to the local Cemetary and put in a driveway culvert for them. I'm selfish. I'd keep both.

 

[rScotty]

If you had taken a mini 3 miles you would still have been back in time for Christmas. The 555 probably carried the culvert as well.
I just put in an 8 foot concrete culvert on the far end of our property. The JD310 carried it half a mile and put it into place without really noticing the weight. 4500 lbs.