Backhoe Are you happy with your small backhoe

[Ledgemere Farm]

I think you are wrong to make this general statement. It's just not true. For your work it may be true, but it's not true in general.

I think we should just agree to disagree. You use the 4110 and I will use the 555. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[keeney]

I was looking at putting a small backhoe on my 4100. I am glad I decided against it based on cost. Yes, if it was free, I would want one (I would still have to find a place to store it), but I made do with hiring/renting for all the big digging and the FEL, a subsoiler, an auger, and a trencher for the rest.

What I think I still do want now is one of those mini-hoe things that will go on where the loader bucket goes. A 4' dipper sticking straight out from a plate with a 12 to 18" backhoe bucket and curl cylinder on the end. No swing, and the loader arms are the boom. Just for all those times you need to dig a bit where it would take about the same amount of time to do it by hand as it would to run off and rent a machine to do it.

I agree with another poster that a 24" or 30" auger will do a better job for planting trees.

A trencher is better for putting in pipes and drains, except for those tricky spots the trencher doesn't work like corners, or sandy spots where the trench caves in after you dig it, or you find a big rock in the way - then you need a backhoe to clean up the mess.

A vibratory-plow or even a subsoiler setup is better for pulling wire or sprinkler lines, but you might need some starter holes, or maybe have to dig out some rocks.

- Rick

 

[PineRidge]

I would say that if you are not pressed with a deadline, if time is on your side, and you enjoy good quality seat time then a BH on a smaller cut shouldn't be ruled out. A lot of guys here at the TBN site including myself get a lot of pleasure out of working with their tractors and equipment however big or small. I'm sure it would be faster hiring a track-hoe to do the digging for you and in some cases maybe cheaper than the cost of a BH but if we started adding up the costs of our toys, er tractors and other implements a lot of us couldn't justify what we get out of them versus what we put into them in the first place. Just be realistic and don't expect to move mountains, at least not in the first 24 hours... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DannyD]

I traded my 1 year old 2200 for a new bx23, for the bh. First thing I did was go dig out an apple tree stump that had been in the way for a few years. I tried this with the FEL on the 2200, not happening. 10 minutes on the hoe, done. Then I dug deeper and buried the thing right where it was.

Dug the stump from a very old cedar tree out in about 20 minutes, buried it right there also.

Dug out the neighbors flower bed that I had to mow around for 12 years....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif......now I dont have to mow around it anymore..........I even dug the new holes in her from yard to put them back in.

Lets see, dug the drain field around my barn after the guy who wanted the job never showed back up with his "real hoe", and saved 350.00 in the process. Dug a 3.5 foot hole in the yard for a pole mounted birdhouse/feeder........never broke a sweat.


Dug out the nasty stuff in the wifes flower beds at the front of the house..........down to the foundation bottom. Now we have plants that are living........never broke a sweat.

My "non-real hoe" gets a workout plenty, and it does the job well. It is not called on to do more than it should, but then when I am on the seat working it, I am ENJOYING it, and dont give a squat if it takes till dinner.............I will be back after dinner to finish.

Oh next year, new pond, bigger, new fence in back to keep the $%%$#%^&$%& 4 wheeler out and his noisy thing muffled some, then maybe bury the downspout runs, dig the new ditch from the patio to the ditch that goes down to the road. There will be lots of trees on the new fence too!

At my age, and with my back, NONE of this would be done unless I hired it done, or rented, niether of which makes sense to me.

My hoe has it uses and it is used, I like it.

 

[DannyD]

chocolate chip, chocolate with swirls, and cookies, or M and M's, better get the FEL for me!

 

[DannyD]

With a 4' stump I could use the FEL, get against it and push it out. My Tempo could pull it out even.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

With a 4' stump I could use the FEL, get against it and push it out. My Tempo could pull it out even

That's the point!!!

 

[KiotiJohn]

I have a Kioti CK20 with a loader and bacihoe. I bought the backhoe because I could, and it's been well worth the money as far as I'm concerned.
Bob Shurka's unhappiness with his purchase notwithstanding, the rmall backhoes do have a place for many small property owners, and if you can afford to spend the money, I think you'll generally be happy you did. Bob is correct about larger jobs and the need for a dedicated, larger machine to get it all done, but we've had posters that have used small backhoes to do much more than Bob would even consider trying tl do.
After all, not everyone has the time to wait for delivery of a rentad, and then again to have it returned and still have all the time to use it. Having the small backhoe at your beck and call can be very satifying, and can also be a lot of fun,
Never try to put a 3pt backhoe on your tractor though, you need a subframe model to avoid breaking your tractor.
Many 3pt backhoes are just too rtressful for a small frame CUT. John

 

[RoyJackson]

If one looks at Return on Investment (ROI) and amortization of the equipment, I'm sure most of us (I'm talking about residential users with less then 10 acres) couldn't even justify the tractor.
Then, you get into the intangible benefits of owning the equipment. Reckon this includes the "Toy" factor.
I can't justify a back hoe (even factoring in the "toy" factor)...but I am trying to justify a chipper (about $3000). For my usage, considering the cost of renting, I once calculated a 12 year ROI. However, the convenience of having one (no such thing as a "toy" factor when you're chipping...not here anyway) will justify the purchase. Shot my budget this year when I traded up to the 790 (needed the PTO HP for the chipper anyway), so the chipper is a next year purchase.

 

[DannyD]

Do that with a 15 or 20 inch stump, you wont be pulling it out, unless it is one of the trees that have no root system to speak of.

You will have to have a shovel or a small backhoe to do this