Backhoe attachment worth it?

[thunder86]

I'd like to upgrade to a Massey Fergosun 1739e tractor. Weighs 2,800lbs tractor alone. I'm wanting to dig a trench for a pipe and dig out lots of stumps average around 12 inch diameter. How long would it take a tractor this size to dig a stump? I live in southern Indiana and the land I have is very rocky in places.

 

[s219]

Depending on the tree variety, and 12" stump can be a challenge, and the 1739 is not a very big tractor. I suspect you'll be disappointed.

 

[thunder86]

Thank you in advance, they are hardwood trees, maple, ash, oak. Fresh cut as I'm clearing them. Anyone drilled holes and soak kerosene in stumps?
What size tractor would I need? I also looked at the 2700 series? Its 3,800 lbs bare tractor.

 

[fried1765]

I'd like to upgrade to a Massey Fergosun 1739e tractor. Weighs 2,800lbs tractor alone. I'm wanting to dig a trench for a pipe and dig out lots of stumps average around 12 inch diameter. How long would it take a tractor this size to dig a stump? I live in southern Indiana and the land I have is very rocky in places.

"lots of stumps"..... 12" in diameter?
With the size tractor you ar proposing, that will take you a long time!
Like..... many WEEKS!

 

[ovrszd]

Thank you in advance, they are hardwood trees, maple, ash, oak. Fresh cut as I'm clearing them. Anyone drilled holes and soak kerosene in stumps?
What size tractor would I need? I also looked at the 2700 series? Its 3,800 lbs bare tractor.

Hardwood stumps are more difficult. Then add the fact that you've cut the trees. Bad combination.

You can dig out any stump with any backhoe. It's all about time.

I'll go out on a limb (pun intended) and say a 12" oak stump will require 3 - 3.5 hrs of digging time with the size hoe you are suggesting. That is with a good operator. You'll spend 20 minutes getting the stump out of the hole once you've got it loose.

 

[crazyal]

Is this a one time thing or something that you will be doing for years to come as you try to turn your woods into a lawn? If it's a one time thing then rent something like a full size back hoe or better yet a stump grinder (so you will not have to find a place to put the stumps). The grinder will be slower as a 12" stump for my full size BH is usually a minute at most to pull. For small tractors I would advise against it unless it's a rare thing. Stumps can be hard on small equipment.

 

[4570Man]

I don’t like digging a 12” stump with my M59. Digging it with that small of a machine would probably take 1/2 a day.

 

[thunder86]

This is an on going thing. I'll likely clear a couple acres over the years. I'll prolly have it timbered in 10 years or so. What size tractor would I need?

 

[MikeInEburg]

Getting rid of stumps once youve dug them out is often a challenge. With those types of stumps, I'll often dig a hole next to it and roll it into deeper hole and cover it up.

 

[4570Man]

This is an on going thing. I'll likely clear a couple acres over the years. I'll prolly have it timbered in 10 years or so. What size tractor would I need?

An 8 ton industrial backhoe. My M59 is twice the backhoe any tractor backhoe is and it’s too wimpy to dig stumps.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Thank you in advance, they are hardwood trees, maple, ash, oak. Fresh cut as I'm clearing them. Anyone drilled holes and soak kerosene in stumps?
What size tractor would I need? I also looked at the 2700 series? Its 3,800 lbs bare tractor.

I try and be pretty open-minded on stuff, and am a real proponent of using small equipment to get some bigger jobs done, but this is too much honestly.

I have a mini-backhoe and like it because I hate a shovel even more. But a 12 inch stump is pretty daunting, and a 12 inch ash stump is even worse! Those trees have tap roots that Satan hangs on when you go to pull them out. I swear, an Ash tree's roots go to hades.

 

[4570Man]

My M59 will pull a 5-6” stump like this pretty easily but I won’t try a 12” unless it’s a necessity. A Deere 310 or equal is the minimum machine I consider practical for stumping.

 

[newbury]

Good luck OP.
I've a Kubota B7610 w/ a Woods BH70X backhoe. Within the first few years I had it I took out about 4 or 5 stumps, the trees were from 6 to 12 inches Diameter at Breast Height (DBH).

Now when you write "12 inch stump", is that 12 inches cut just above the surface of the ground or a stump from a tree that was 12 inch DBH?

The next tree I tried was a Red Maple about 20" DBH.

And yielded some good wood.

I don't have any pics available of the stump but it was probably about 30 inches in diameter just above ground level. The tree was in heavy marine clay soils and had roots that splayed out and were about 6 to 8 inches in diameter within a foot of the stump. I ended up digging a trench around the stump about 8 feet in diameter and 5 feet deep, I couldn't get to the taproot, couldn't pull it over. Gave up and filled it in.
Drilled some 1 inch plus holes in it, poured in either fertilizer or epsom salts and let it rot. Took a few months.
Get the backhoe.
Cut the trees as low as possible.
Drill them, let them rot.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I think a backhoe attachment for a tractor is worth it, just that it cannot be justified for land clearing. That is a tall order for any tractor: best to clear the land and rent a big excavator.

But, the thing about attachments is, once you have them, you use them for so much. I use my backhoe for putting tires back on their rims, or breaking down the bead. It is like having two extra people around. The outrigger helps hold the tire down and keeps the tire on the rim as I use the backhoe to push the rest of the tire onto the rim. It is a difficult job to do alone, but easy with the backhoe.

Should a person go buy a backhoe just to put on a few tires...heck no, but if you got one, you can use it. It is collective small jobs like this that make them worth having.

Like putting a waterline to my barn. It was such a small job that you cannot hire a person to do it, and while renting an excavator would work, it would still be $450. With my own backhoe, I dug it for a few bucks in gasoline. It is nice to do a ton of work without having to use a shovel.

 

[mikester]

Id also suggest either renting or putting your money towards an older used full sized construction TLB, do your nasty work, then sell the machine for close to what you paid for it. If you simply want a small attachment to replace your hand shovel and dig holes for potted plants and dont mind constantly climbing on and off the machine then go for it. Remember that with big expectations come big expensive repairs.

 

[1 of U]

the key to stumps is to use build you a ripper tooth , and not use the bucket .
so much break out force lost with the bucket ,, compared to a tooth . I had a JD
300B backhoe and with the tooth stumps got a lot easier .

Jake

 

[tshep]

My current opinion is anyone 40 or older should get a backhoe on a 20 year ownership tractor.
I do not own regular shovels anymore, and I like it that way.
On my own suburban property, I would have no problem saying the backhoe has paid its' own way comp'ed to stump grinder fees.
I also would not bury or abandon any sizable stump in a walk/work area, as the rot will sink over time. (That must be what they did under my driveway's sinkholes...)

I love 'stumping', finding the root paths under the dirt.
If it's my 'timbering', I leave 4 feet or so up, and go ahead and trim the high stump to fit my bucket 'upside down' for leverage.

I also happened to get a leftover deal on a slim, 2 tooth bucket at the dealer, that just make the stumping better.

I have a lot of fun doing it, will volunteer for some locals.

 

[fried1765]

I think a backhoe attachment for a tractor is worth it, just that it cannot be justified for land clearing. That is a tall order for any tractor: best to clear the land and rent a big excavator.

But, the thing about attachments is, once you have them, you use them for so much. I use my backhoe for putting tires back on their rims, or breaking down the bead. It is like having two extra people around. The outrigger helps hold the tire down and keeps the tire on the rim as I use the backhoe to push the rest of the tire onto the rim. It is a difficult job to do alone, but easy with the backhoe.

Should a person go buy a backhoe just to put on a few tires...heck no, but if you got one, you can use it. It is collective small jobs like this that make them worth having.

Like putting a waterline to my barn. It was such a small job that you cannot hire a person to do it, and while renting an excavator would work, it would still be $450. With my own backhoe, I dug it for a few bucks in gasoline. It is nice to do a ton of work without having to use a shovel.

You have outlined several situations, that those without a backhoe do not understand!
A backhoe is a tool that makes MANY different, and sometimes difficult, small jobs simple!
Once again: The Swiss army knife of tractor equipment.
And.....a backhoe with hydraulic thumb....THE BEST!!!!

 

[BrokenTrack]

You have outlined several situations, that those without a backhoe do not understand!
A backhoe is a tool that makes MANY different, and sometimes difficult, small jobs simple!
Once again: The Swiss army knife of tractor equipment.
And.....a backhoe with hydraulic thumb....THE BEST!!!!

A man after my own heart! I was thinking the other day that I should fabricate a thumb for my backhoe. The only reason I have not done that yet is because my "backhoe" is a little different, it is a log loader trailer that can be swapped out. So when I need to do a job of grabbing something, I swap out to the grapple. But if I had a backhoe with a thumb, it would save me from switching the implements out (about a 15 minute job).

Mine can be a pain, because my trailer can get in the way sometimes, so to dig I have to dig off to the sides. BUT it can also be nice, because I can dig and haul at the same time, like ditching roads is a dream because I can put it in the dump trailer and haul it off. And having its own engine, I can dig and haul behind anything: tractor, bulldozer or my grocery-getting SUV Ford Explorer. That makes it nice too.

 

[plastikosmd]

Love the trailer^

For occasional stumps, 12” isn’t a big deal as long as you have time on your hands!
Just popped a couple twice that size with my 32hp deere BH. It took about an hour or so each(I wasn’t timing)
Frankly the real limit was getting them out of the hole. Chain and using backhoe curl and cribbing on reset.