Ebay #1742967541 is a Kubota B20 backhoe. My soil is flat, very hard clay & river rock. I need to trench for utilities & septic. Will a B20 be enough machine? Should I be looking for something heavier/more horsepower?
B20 should do fine... I just brought mine home a week or so ago and am having a blast.
I had some earlier concerns (not Backhoe related) but I'm learning and I'll blame operator ignorance.
Depending upon what all you want to do, the B20 is just an earlier rev of the B21 with essentially the same rugged reliability and power. Not to mention very hard to find because they just don't quit.
I've had a B21 for a couple years now (landscaping business)and I think it will handle your conditions just fine. There have been a few time when I've tried to bite of a bit more than it can chew - tree stumps come to mind, but I just take more and smaller bites. A bigger one would obviously do the job faster but I especially like how I can get it thru tight access. I feel its got incredredible bang for the buck. If getting thru small spaces isnn't important and you have lots more money get a bigger one, why not? But the B20 is a nice strong workhorse