Anyone plow with your backhoe?

Shett · Feb 27, 2013

Backstory: So I used my box blade on my BX25 to dig a 5-foot wide shallow trench down the side of my yard to keep the monsoon rains from washing my yard out. Initially I was planning to just put some grass in it, but once I had it dug I thought "why not plant crops in there instead". Problem is that our ground out here is pretty hard packed and full of rocks, so I couldn't just plant stuff and expect any kind of decent results. I've been bugging my wife to let me get a plow but she keeps a tight leash on the discretionary funds these days. So then it hit me: Could I just stick my backhoe scoop down enough to get into the dirt and then drive forward using it like a plow?

Turns out that worked better than I thought. Plowed straight the first pass, then just tilted the bh to the left for another pass, and right for a third. This was the result:

It tore stuff up deeper than it looks in the pic (probably a good 8-10"). I'm sure there's some cautionary guidance against doing this but I figured I have enough power with the scoop to pull the tractor backwards, so at worst if I hit something big it should just stop me and not rip the scoop off. I did get stopped a couple of times, then re-adjusted the scoop, and continued on. Here's a closer pic of the ground after:

It did leave the path quite rugged so I ran it over a couple of times with a walk-behind tiller. It's still not quite right, I'd like to add a bunch of compost to it to get some organics in there but I might just do that after trying it out this year.

hosspuller · Feb 27, 2013

I've "plowed" with an outrigger foot that I forgot to lift ...lol

David_Kb7uns · Feb 27, 2013

Be careful not to bend the dipper or the ram, you will not be happy if you do.

David Kb7uns

DB Pilot · Feb 27, 2013

Last year I plowed with my back blade/scraper blade. Turn it to it steepest angle and then tilt so just the first 6 inches bites into the soil. You can move right along turning the soil over. you can then decide whether to turn it back on itself or cut another row. I plowed up about a 1/4 acre for a deer food plot. The few people who saw it thought I had bought a plow. It took about 45 minutes but it was my first time. I think for a small garden it is all you really need. especially if you then use a disc or drag harrow to smooth things up.

rbarker · Feb 27, 2013

I'm no expert but I would be concerned that you could put a lot more force on the unit than it was designed to handle thus putting your dipper and cylinders at risk. I think the weight of the tractor and forward momentum would exceed the break out force that the hoe is rated for which could cause damage. I'm curious to know what some of the experts here think?

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JOHNTHOMAS · Feb 28, 2013

My brother lives next door. He has the yard that looks like it should be in a magazine. He's doing all borders with brown pebbles to cut down on his trimming. He asked me a couple of weeks ago if my BH could be used to drive down the side of his drive way and peel off the grass and leave a shallow trench for pebble edging. Told him I wasn't sure but would try it when I bring my B2620 home. Looks like you've answered the question .:thumbsup: :cool2: :thumbsup:

radioman · Feb 28, 2013

From the pictures - it look like you have soft easy soil without too many rocks. Its not the scoop or boom arm I am worried about for you. Its the seals in the ram I that could be ruined since there is no shick protection in those seals. Its easy to replace - but can be time consuming.

crash325 · Feb 28, 2013

I have done that several times for trenching. It is nice if someone else drives the tractor (very slowly) while I make sure the backhoe doesn't dig in too deep. A few shallow passes are better than digging too much & straining the hoe.

PAPPASMURF · Feb 28, 2013

rbarker said:
I'm no expert but I would be concerned that you could put a lot more force on the unit than it was designed to handle thus putting your dipper and cylinders at risk. I think the weight of the tractor and forward momentum would exceed the break out force that the hoe is rated for which could cause damage. I'm curious to know what some of the experts here think?

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rbarker.....I couldn't agree more. This all sounds like a good Idea, but one bad pass where you snag a large rock, or hit something too hard its going to ruin your backhoe. $$$$$$$$$$ at stake if you ask me. I would think it would be much more safe to use the backhoe like its designed to be used and just take your time 6 to 7 feet at a time. I don't believe the Cylinders or dipperstick can handle that much force and if not right away....eventually its going to cause problems. I would also be concerned about snagging a water line, gas line or anything else unexpectedly and causing a lot of damage if you are not absolutely positive where all lines are located. I HAVE seen that happen several times using a backhoe as a plow. Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. :smurf::2cents: