Backhoe Bargin needed

[rba901]

G'Day All,

I need some help with the approach I should take in ending up with a reliable and capable backhoe. A good part of my problem is my budget, I'm allowing for somewhere between AUD$10,000 - 15,000. Small second hand Kubota's seem to fetch around the AUD$20,000 -25,000.

The purpose of the machine is mixed, but the focus will be digging for some decent size garden beds, we are sitting on 8 acres, with 3 being gardens, I want to put in additional garden beds, dig some long trenches where I can replace the soil for hedges and add some large vegetable beds, against replacing the soil. The other 5 I want to do some clearing, so would like to dig out some tree stumps and general clearing.

My thoughts are to buy an old style tractor and then look to putting a PTO driven backhoe. I see these PTO units sell for around the AUD $5,500 mark.

So is this a good idea? If yes, what are some suggestions on tractors and what about backhoes? What do I need to look for with the tractor.

Any help is appreciated as I am new to living on acreage.

Best Wishes for Christmas.

Ben

 

[Grandad4]

Good to hear from you, Ben. It sounds like you have a bunch of work planned. I don't know the first thing about the equipment market in Oz, or whether it is possible to get a reliable backhoe that would do the work you have outlined at a price that is within your budget limits. But adding a 3 point backhoe to an old style tractor does not appeal to me. The weight distribution of most older tractors was heavily on the rear, with a light front end. Unless the tractor had a front loader to counterbalance the backhoe, the tractor would be even more unbalanced to the rear, and might even be undriveable. Beyond that, the light front axle would not stand up well to the forces a backhoe puts on a tractor. Could you put a 3 point backhoe on, say, a Ferguson 35? I suppose so, but every day you used it would be an adventure.

I would be more inclined to find a well-used but still working full-sized backhoe that has enough life in it to get your tasks done, with the expectation that you'd later sell it. That's done fairly often in the U.S.; but, of course, I don't know what is available in Australia. Best of luck with your plans.

 

[TnAndy]

Or rent a full sized backhoe if possible for the work you need to do. I had a small Bushhog brand backhoe unit for my previous tractor, and they simply don't have enough power to do much of anything FOR THE MONEY INVESTED.

Never again for me.....

 

[rademamj]

G'Day All,

I need some help with the approach I should take in ending up with a reliable and capable backhoe. A good part of my problem is my budget, I'm allowing for somewhere between AUD$10,000 - 15,000. Small second hand Kubota's seem to fetch around the AUD$20,000 -25,000.

The purpose of the machine is mixed, but the focus will be digging for some decent size garden beds, we are sitting on 8 acres, with 3 being gardens, I want to put in additional garden beds, dig some long trenches where I can replace the soil for hedges and add some large vegetable beds, against replacing the soil. The other 5 I want to do some clearing, so would like to dig out some tree stumps and general clearing.

My thoughts are to buy an old style tractor and then look to putting a PTO driven backhoe. I see these PTO units sell for around the AUD $5,500 mark.

So is this a good idea? If yes, what are some suggestions on tractors and what about backhoes? What do I need to look for with the tractor.

Any help is appreciated as I am new to living on acreage.

Best Wishes for Christmas.

Ben

It can be a good idea for the light work load you have. But do this with a new tractor only. The newer tractors are designed to mount the backhoe on a subframe which:

1. Allows reasonable quick attach of the backhoe when needed. 2. Increases overall stability of the backhoe during excavation operations 3. Provides weight distribution of the backhoe to both front and rear axles and to the deployed stabilizer legs.

Costs of tractor attached backhoes range $4500 used to $8500 new, and provide a cost effective way to accomplish your excavation needs. Remember subframe backhoes are mainly found mounted on the newer tractors.

 

[3Ts]

I have a backhoe on a 50hp tractor. Sub-frame is the only way to go. The backhoe exerts a lot of force on the tractor and even with my tractor weighing ~5000# it can still shake the tractor if i'm not careful. As for stumps - tractor backhoes should be considered as light duty use. Digging stumps, depending on their size and how well they're rooted, can be considered heavy duty use. It can be done but be careful you don't damage the backhoe. It may be more cost effective to have someone come in with bigger equipment or rent something specifically for the stumps.

 

[rba901]

Really appreciate the advice guys, all very practical points, I naively hadn稚 thought much about the balance of the tractor.

I have been doing further research over here and certainly the Chinese units jump out on price, but a lot of negative comments from 3/4 years ago, have they improved?

The other thing I have looked at is re-manufactured tractors, company here called Sota Tractors do a lot of this. A unit such as a Kubota L2402DT with a backhoe, what do you recon?

I do respect the point around digging out tree stumps and that wouldn稚 be a common activity, so as you say get a proper size machine in for that.

 

[mbohuntr]

Got a hoe on my 33 horse Mahindra, I have dug out 8-10" trees, but that is really pushing and punishing the machine. A big excavator does 12" trees like weeds. Ditches are great with my machine, and I clear quite a bit of brush with the hoe/thumb.

 

[Texasmark]

DR (brand) is advertising a little guy for $6k; like most of their stuff you have 6 mos. to a year to use it and if not happy return it....as I recall. I originally sneered at "little guys" but have come to realize that for small jobs and tight places they are perfect. It's roadworthy with a ball hitch so you could tow itto it to your operating area with your truck, unhook it and be about your business with your truck. When not backhoeing, you don't have it mounted on your tractor, getting in the way of doing other things....like operating your 3 pt on the tractor.

 

[fried1765]

DR (brand) is advertising a little guy for $6k; like most of their stuff you have 6 mos. to a year to use it and if not happy return it....as I recall. I originally sneered at "little guys" but have come to realize that for small jobs and tight places they are perfect. It's roadworthy with a ball hitch so you could tow itto it to your operating area with your truck, unhook it and be about your business with your truck. When not backhoeing, you don't have it mounted on your tractor, getting in the way of doing other things....like operating your 3 pt on the tractor.

If you just want to PLAY with a hoe, and you have very sandy soil, that DR "little guy" might fill the need, but practically speaking, it won't do much real WORK.

 

[Texasmark]

If you just want to PLAY with a hoe, and you have very sandy soil, that DR "little guy" might fill the need, but practically speaking, it won't do much real WORK.

Well that WAS my initial opinion till I got old and needed little guys to do little jobs around the place like the things mentioned, and the little guy that doesn't do real work fills the bill!