Backhoe Are you happy with your small backhoe

Chillimau · Oct 5, 2004

Thanks for the info PineRidge.

That is encouraging that a utility company would be using them.

I keep watching ebay hoping to see a good deal on one. Looks like a decent one goes for around $4,000 and then plan on spending about 1500-1700 for the subframe brackets to adapt it to a tractor from a skidsteer. All of the ones on ebay I have seen have been set up with brackets for skidsteers. If this would do the job and I can put it together for around $6,000 that is still cheaper than a decent used TLB and depreciation isn't so bad on a used item.

Thanks again.

HankStains · Oct 7, 2004

Yes Yes Yes Yes.
Mine has has become part of the family. It is on the back of a Kubota B1700. A tiny tractor. It does Loads. I was working a while ago pulling a trench for 18" concrete pipe and had trouble pulling through the stone. Wait till the Case 580 comes they said, he'll do it. Not at all. Big machine...waste of time. I ended up doing it all. Also they wanted drainage pipe next to the house. Closest the Case could get was 4' away,and what a mess with a big bucket. I did it with the little backhoe and hey presto 4" away and no mess.....Fantastic

Buy one and love it. You will never regeret it.

Pete

LBrown59 · Feb 8, 2005

( I have a JD 4110, which I love. However I was thinking of getting a BH for it. I contacted a Chinese importer and asked them for prices ($4500). The sales man said that my tractor couldnt handle a BH. It just wasnt heavey enough for it. He suggested I look at bradco.com, but that I wouldnt be able to get any real work done with it.

So I pose the question to you. Are these small 3-pt BH's
workable? Do they get the job done? Are you happy with the product? )

Glad I got one with my tractor

LBrown59 · Feb 8, 2005

( Rodger, you didn't fill in your profile, so I don't know what area you are from. I have a BX23 in CT where the glaciers dumped all the rocks. I use the backhoe a lot for getting out rocks & pulling up relativly small stumps. The hoe beats the heck out of the way I used to do it, with bar and shovel. I wouldn't have gotten the machine if it didn't come with the backhoe, but I don't know what you will use yours for. As others have said if you have only a couple of larger projects, then you're probably better renting a bigger unit. The small hoes do more than one would think, but they do have their limitations. The picture is a rock I dug up, it was 71" across, but only 8"-12" thick. It took a while but the BX did it. BTW, we dig up the rocks that work their way to the surface because of frost. They really do a number on mower blades. )

I have taken out several trees and stumps with mine.

Have to dig a ditch about 200 feet long this spring or summer

LBrown59 · Feb 8, 2005

( I like the hoe on my BX23. Works well,

 just realize it's limitations. 

Like others said, you won't probably be digging a foundation with a small backhoe, but it sure has made alot of other stuff easier around my property.
)
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Realizing the limitations of a shovel and wheelbarrow makes me appreciate mine.

LBrown59 · Feb 8, 2005

(
I'm busy maintaining drainage ditches along my 1000' drive )

Sure wish somebody would make plastic ditch liners or half round plastic pipe.

CTyler · Feb 8, 2005

I wish the moderators would close threads for posting after X amount a days of inactivty.

The last post was how many months ago? 8/31/04

JayC · Feb 8, 2005

What is the big deal about opening an old thread? No one made you click on it.

Cliff_Johns · Feb 8, 2005

( Sure wish somebody would make plastic ditch liners or half round plastic pipe. )

Several companies make them.

Try Fastditch as an example.

Cliff

LBrown59 · Feb 8, 2005

( I wish the moderators would close threads for posting after X amount a days of inactivty.
)
*****
I sure as heck don't because if this thread had been closed I would not have gotten the information that clif posted below.

Try Fastditch as an example.
Cliff
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To deprive folks of information simply because of a personal quirk of finding an old thread inconvenient is nothing but selfish satisfaction of ones personal whim.