Backhoe- Build or Buy?

[Mith]

BG, I'm wondering how you came up with the costings? I just got done building a backhoe, it came in at about $2500 (has hydraulic stabilisers), and the prices over here are often inflated over what you guys pay.

I wouldnt consider anything but a subframe mounted backhoe. My tractor is 12HP, and even so the forces from the hoe are incredible!

If you;ve got only a little work to do (you are considering resale value very highly) then think about renting a tracked hoe, you can have one for an awful long time for $2500, and it'll outwork a small BH being a dedicated machine.

 

[wmgeorge]

BG, I'm wondering how you came up with the costings? I just got done building a backhoe, it came in at about $2500 (has hydraulic stabilisers), and the prices over here are often inflated over what you guys pay.

I wouldnt consider anything but a subframe mounted backhoe. My tractor is 12HP, and even so the forces from the hoe are incredible!

If you;ve got only a little work to do (you are considering resale value very highly) then think about renting a tracked hoe, you can have one for an awful long time for $2500, and it'll outwork a small BH being a dedicated machine.

The $2500 was buying the kit from MetKit and includes a little extra for paint and welding rod. If I get steel locally I could cut the costs, but could add more time. Add I don't need the hydraulic outrigger with the 3 point mount but I was comparing item to item.

I'd love to be able to rent, but this place is a 2.5 hour drive from here, so I'd need it for a 3 day or week long rental and that would make it about $750. There is a chance I could pick up some side work down there at the lake.

If I could find the like new used one as someone has posted here... I'd buy it in heartbeat. BG

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Be patient, with the building slowdown and the economy, you could probably find someone that needs money fast and will let one go cheap.

 

[wmgeorge]

In regards to a 3 point on my older tractor, I have a 650 rather than the 750 in this post copied from another Group, but the only difference between this guys 750 and my 650 is the size of the engine. The frame, transmission and rest is exactly the same as mine... from Tractorpoint.com >

Backhoes and breaking frames

Hmmmm. Well. I think I'd vote for the "Tempest in a Teapot" theory, based on my experience.

I have a 3 point hoe for my JD750. I've used it HARD, in rocky ground (coastal Maine) and at full extension. I don't intentionally abuse my equipment, but I need to get work done, so I don't baby it either.

In 8 years of this kind of work, I've cracked two castings ON THE HOE, and egged out the toplink pin holes in the bracket on the tractor. The toplink attachment point wear was obvious after the first year. I took the bracket off and had a machine shop bore it out and press in hardened bushings. Problem solved.

I have seen or experienced NO damage to the tractor itself.

Of course, now that I've said this, the dang thing will fold in half the next time I put the hoe on it...

BG in Iowa

 

[dfkrug]

BG:

First, let me say that I don't want to discourage any DIY person from
building a home built backhoe. It is a great learning experience, esp
in the areas of hydraulics, metal fab, machine tool use, welding, and
heat management.

My CADDigger 728 cost me maybe $3K in materials, and the few services
I needed to pay for. (cutting 2" holes in 1/2" plate is hard & that was
before I got a plasma cutter). Back when I did my hoe there were just a
few of the metal parts available pre-cut. Everything was cheaper then, too.
My engines were free.

My time in the project? Easily over 100hr; prob less than 200hr. I sold
it on Ebay for $3050 after I finished the projects I planned for it.

Does it make sense to build one, based solely on economics? No. There is
plenty of fab work involved in fixing up a trashed used hoe (ask JB!), and/or
there is plenty of fab work involved in building a subframe for your
tractor and a used or new hoe you buy. Not to mention customization,
such as a thumb or grapple.

 

[wmgeorge]

BG:

My CADDigger 728 cost me maybe $3K in materials, and the few services
I needed to pay for. (cutting 2" holes in 1/2" plate is hard & that was
before I got a plasma cutter). Back when I did my hoe there were just a
few of the metal parts available pre-cut. Everything was cheaper then, too.
My engines were free.

My time in the project? Easily over 100hr; prob less than 200hr. I sold
it on Ebay for $3050 after I finished the projects I planned for it.

Does it make sense to build one, based solely on economics? No. There is
plenty of fab work involved in fixing up a trashed used hoe (ask JB!), and/or
there is plenty of fab work involved in building a subframe for your
tractor and a used or new hoe you buy. N

Well I just got back from United Rental and it turns out I can rent the mini or compact excavator at $500 for a week.

(The other price I got was for a 3 day rental for a chain trencher.)

This little machine looks to be perfect for the jobs I had in mind and I can haul it on my tandem trailer.
It will involve a little more planning on my part to get all the work done in one week.

Yes I'd still like to build one, perhaps someday IF I can find the stuff used or buy one that needs some work, but I will look it more as a hobby thing than an investment. BG in Iowa
Thanks again to all the folks who took the time to read and answer this post!!

 

[john_bud]

Does it make sense to build one, based solely on economics? No. There is
plenty of fab work involved in fixing up a trashed used hoe (ask JB!), and/or
there is plenty of fab work involved in building a subframe for your
tractor and a used or new hoe you buy.

Not that anyone asked, but you have to enjoy fixing busted up junk to spend time fixing it up. The economics of the process are just not there. There are some benefits; Feeling of satisfaction - check. Feeling of empowerment - check. Feeling that you know a lot about that particular piece of equipment - check. Financial gain - uh .... no .... can't check that box!

I would guess that unless you have lots of tools, cheap access to metal, skills and time building your own tools are very similar to fixing busted up junk like my hoe project. Satisfying in its own right, but not going to save you heaps of money. If you want to as a project, I'm sure it would be a blast! Hope you eventually do it and share the process with us.

jb

 

[scgargoyle]

I'm surprised the components would cost that much- maybe you need to shop around. And as a machinist, I'd be amazed if you could actually build it in 50 hours. As close as your comparison prices are, it doesn't seem worth it to build one- unless you like that kind of thing. I would build one, but to me, the journey is at least as much fun as the destination, and I would spend a lot of time looking for deals on the components- ebay, surplus catalogues, auctions, etc.

 

[Kendrick]

Not that anyone asked, but you have to enjoy fixing busted up junk to spend time fixing it up. The economics of the process are just not there. There are some benefits; Feeling of satisfaction - check.
jb

You forgot 1 VERY important part my friend finding a reputable place to repair it for you... The sooner I get all the equipment needed to make any thing the happier I will be. no sending out to a machine shop only to have them make the mistakes for me. no disrespect intended towards your "fun" during your rebuild.

 

[wmgeorge]

You forgot 1 VERY important part my friend finding a reputable place to repair it for you... The sooner I get all the equipment needed to make any thing the happier I will be. no sending out to a machine shop only to have them make the mistakes for me. no disrespect intended towards your "fun" during your rebuild.

I'm a farm kid... learned to weld in my dads shop when I was 12 years old. I did commercial HVAC/R work for over 25 years, licensed master electrician, hobby machinist and semi pro metal fabricator. Not much I have to send out.
BG in Iowa