Backhoe B7500 Backhoe Attachment?

[Anonymous Poster]

I am in the process of purchasing a Kubota B7500 and would like opinions on the usefulness of a backhoe on this tractor. The primary purpose of the tractor is general loader use and snow removal. My lot size is 2.3 acres, mostly wooded. The B7500 is ideal for maneuvering around the tightly spaced trees and has good ground clearance.

I have a fair amount of compact tractor loader experience but have never operated a backhoe. My needs for a backhoe include initial removal of 10 to 12 good-sized tree stumps, then later digging a few drainage trenches and transplanting some small trees and bushes.

The backhoes for this tractor are all 6.5 ft. capacity and cost around $5K to $6K. Although the 3 year 0% Kubota financing is very attractive, I thought I might be better off just renting a TLB as needed, especially for the initial stump removal. Even better, I live close enough so that I could drive the rental to my house with no delivery charge.

However, I was a little overwhelmed by the size of the rental TLB, a New Holland B75. It looked huge to me. Frankly, I’m a little surprised they would let a novice rent it. It looks like it would literally pluck out the tree stumps, but seems too big for the other projects I have in mind. Also, it might be hard to plan the small projects so they can all be done together for max. use of the rental unit at $250/day.

If I buy the backhoe attachment (probably the Kubota 4692A, would like to keep ground clearance and possibly a future mid-mower), which of these projects is it suited for? If I decide to sell this attachment in 2 to 3 years, would it have much resale value if it's in good condition?

This may be a dumb question, but if I finance the backhoe with the tractor, am I even allowed to sell just the backhoe if the tractor loan is mostly, but not completely, paid off? Thanks.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

It is very handy to have a hoe, but sounds like to me you could get by renting. I recently purchased a B7500 with a Woods 7500 hoe with subframe. I have used it, but limited. I sometimes wonder if I had been better off to rent.

 

[GregJ]

I have the 4692 BH and have really put it to hard use. I have removed some incredibly large stumps with it, but more importantly I find that I am using it all the time for the smaller projects as well. Renting is definately a cheaper option, but then you don't have it to use for the smaller stuff all the time. I'll post a couple of pictures. Hope this helps.

 

[Pks]

I have removed large choke cherry stumps and medium sized oaks with the loader and a chain. All have been in sand however. I just dig around 3 sides and under the stump. Next I cut large roots by wrapping a chain around them (one at a time) and cut the root by pulling back on the chain. Then I drag the stump free. In sand, I've cut the time down to about 45 minutes per stump.

If the trench work you plan to do could be done by renting a trencher, then I'd skip the hoe purchase. I have used trenchers before. They are fast and tidy.

The largest trees I have moved were 8 feet tall. We did those by hand.

If your demands can be met with careful planning and with existing tools, then skip the hoe (IMHO). Thus far, I have not ever needed one. But your needs/demands may require one.

My rule of thumb is to let the demands of the task determine what tools I use. If the required tool is not in the garage, then consider renting. If the demands will occur time and again, then consider a purchase.

Two more thoughts: if you have many stumps that are in clay, a hoe will be your best tool and a Front End Loader with a toothbar will be your next best tool (though it will be significantly slower).

You might be able to pay someone else to remove all the stumps in one day for the same cost as a one day rental.

 

[GregJ]

Here's another pic.

Greg

 

[Anonymous Poster]

While my machine is slightly smaller than the B7500 you're considering, the hoe was the compelling reaon to trade my previous tractor in. I don't use the hoe "a lot", but have found it quite handy for a wide variety of activities around our property. I felt the investment "now" would eventually pay off, even if that was a long time out.

Rentals are great for defined projects, but like you, I have a lot of small projects that come and go. Greg also points out that some uses can be surprising...I really like his use for the firewood situation and plan on duplicating it with my own hoe!

 

[Rick Jay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If I decide to sell this attachment in 2 to 3 years, would it have much resale value if it's in good condition? )</font>

Sell an implement?!? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif That would be like selling off a member of the family! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously, I doubt that you would want to sell the backhoe after you've discovered how useful it is. However, if you absolutely had to, I would guess you could easily get 50-75% of what you paid for it...possibly more, all depending upon local market conditions and how much of a hurry you are to sell it.

There's one member on TBN (can't remember his handle offhand) who has a Woods 7500 (7 1/2' hoe) on a B7500. Woods doesn't seem to recommend that, but nonetheless, he's got one. Only disadvantage is that his Woods hoe, like mine, uses a subframe, and there is a small bracket that is left on the machine to receive the subframe. This bracket can (will?) interfere with a mid-mount mower, if you ever decide to go that route. The Kubota hoes are 3 pt. mount, but I don't think they recommend their 7 1/2' hoe on the B7500.

While you're getting prices, you might wish to price a Kubota B7800 (or B2710 or B2910) with the larger Kubota hoe (4690). The extra reach over the smaller hoe is nice.

As long as you don't expect these machines to just "pluck out" the stumps, I believe you'll be very satisfied as to their overall utility.

Good Luck, and feel free to ask us lots of questions.

~Rick

 

[GregJ]

I had to rush my post yesterday so I just said a few words and threw some pictures at it. (Had to get to work so I can pay for my tractor). The point that I really wanted to make was how useful a BH is for a lot of smaller job. Here are some examples. Last weekend I planted a 100ft. laurel hedge (about 80 plants). I could have dug each hole by hand (hard clay). Instead I used the BH to dig a trench, filled it with compost and planted all 80 plants in about 2 hours. (Didn't even break a sweat). Without the BH I would still be digging. Earlier that day I moved our invisible fence wire and had to cross our gravel road. I have dug that trench by hand before and it took a long time. 5 minutes with the BH. This weekend I am removing turf around some plantings we have in our front yard. Basically heavy duty weeding. I'll do this with the BH. It is a very simple process to remove turf with the BH.

All of these jobs never crossed my mind when I was buying my tractor. I have found that some of the more delicate or smaller jobs can be done a lot more efficiently with the BH. Loaders are great for the big, move a lot of dirt, jobs, but the BH is way better for smaller finish work type jobs. My point may be summed up by saying that if you don't have it, you don't realize how much you miss it. Now that I have had one, I could really say that when I made my purchase last September, I bought a tractor for my BH. Your property sounds very similar to mine, and a BH is really useful when working in tight quarters in wooded areas.

When I bought my tractor, I tried to do the ROI process and realized very quickly that there was no way that you can make it pencil. Renting will always look cheaper on paper. The value comes from convenience, quality of life and quantity of work that can be done when you have a tool like this at your disposal. The same principle applies to just owning a tractor. The turning point for me was when I realized the resale value of the tractor was so high. I decided that if the financial side of tractor ownership ever became a burden, I could always sell the tractor, and then we have a HUGE ROI. Today I could probably sell my tractor for about $1500 less than I paid for it. I have done WAY more work than $1500. Sell my tractor???? NEVER!


Greg

 

[Rick Jay]

GregJ

Greg, I won't quote your last paragraph, but it is one of the best summaries of tractor ownership I've seen. I don't know if TBN has or needs a "mission statement", but I bet your last paragraph really covers it for many of us.

~Rick

 

[GregJ]

Thanks Rick. It is funny how "passionate" we get about our tractors. That was another surprise for me after my purchase. I never dreamt how consumed I would be by that hunk of orange in my shop.

Greg