Backhoe Backhoe Comparison

[platinumits]

In a few weeks I will be the new owner of a 2011 John Deere 3320. I ordered it with mid PTO and the 7Iron II 72 inch drive on deck. 99% of the time I will be mowing ,the remaining 1% would be using a backhoe. So Im hoping somewhere out there will help me analyze which way should I go. I certainly dont want to spend 8k on a new JD 375 Backhoe, which leaves used or other vendor options. I dont forsee doing major work with it, I dont think Ill ever go deeper than 4feet. Ill be using it to clear flower beds, make a new walkway, clear up the garden and maybe dig holes for trees. So that leaves me with the JD 375, the Woods BH70-x, a Bradco, a Rhino, the Koyker and a few other manufacturers. Id like to stay at or under 5k, new or used. I dont want a tinker toy or something that cant handle some clay and rock either... Appreciate any advice or comments.

 

[Wolfy]

Bradco's feature premium construction as well as a premium price tag. Like you, I don't dig every day but still needed a backhoe. I found a used Woods which has turned out to be a very good buy. While not as heavy as a Bradco, it digs very well. Another thing to consider is the Woods requires the 3 point hitch to be removed, while the Bradco does not. Its a easy job, but must be factored in each and every time you go from implement to backhoe.

 

[platinumits]

Thanks for that, I dont think ill ever use any other attachment in the rear, except maybe a trencher. There are a few woods on ebay around 5k, new, but it has an option called Mechanical Thumb which is 540 bucks. What is that and do i need it? How hard is the woods to put on and take off? Can anyone comment on the Deere 375 model in comparison?

 

[toolbox5]

if you want to stay under 5k then i would rent a mini x when you need to dig , you can dig faster with a mini x any way 5k thats a lot of rentals .congrats on the new machine . the 375's dig very well

 

[DAY]

There was a recent thread about a towable unit, that can go where CUTs fear to tread. Not too costly either.

 

[toolbox5]

plus to the deere models on and off in under 2 minutes ( i switch them out quite a bit ) i've dug out some huge tree stumps i have to learn how to post pics . my 375 will run with the big dogs just about a foot shallower ( resale too)

 

[CurlyDave]

...it has an option called Mechanical Thumb which is 540 bucks. What is that and do i need it?

A thumb is a device which allows you to pick up objects by pinching them between the thumb and the backhoe bucket. Think rocks, large and small, logs, tree stumps, etc. You can then move them and set them down with the backhoe boom and dipperstick.

Mechanical thumbs are fixed in one or at most a few positions, fold out of the way for digging, and are pretty handy if you have to pick up something that is hard to get into your FEL, but heavier than you want to lift by hand.

I have a hydraulic thumb, which is a lot pricier than a mechanical one, and I use it all the time. A mechanical thumb will do 70 or 80% of what a hydraulic one can do at about 25% of the cost.

For instance, I recently removed an old concrete driveway, about 4" thick, which had cracked into many pieces. Using the thumb, I could easily pick up the pieces and put them into a dumpster for haul-off. The larger pieces I could pick up and drop on the remaining driveway from a height of 6 or 8 feet, which cracked them into smaller pieces for better packing in the dumpster.

 

[bironacad]

Thanks for that, I dont think ill ever use any other attachment in the rear, except maybe a trencher. There are a few woods on ebay around 5k, new, but it has an option called Mechanical Thumb which is 540 bucks. What is that and do i need it? How hard is the woods to put on and take off? Can anyone comment on the Deere 375 model in comparison?

I purchased a BH80-x Woods backhoe with my new tractor this winter. I took down some trees on Thursday and dug out a couple of stumps Friday. The one stump was too heavy for the hoe to actually lift out of the hole, I grabbed it using the mechanical thumb and backed up pulling the stump out of the hole I liked it, lol. I found the quick attach forks to be invaluable as well for moving stuff from brush to skids, the quick attach loader I feel now is a must have.

Good luck!:thumbsup:

 

[platinumits]

Thanks to everyone with their excellent info. Does the Deere 375 have a mechanical Thumb? I was thinking about the Woods BH70-x, how much time does it take to mount / remove it vs. the Deere?

 

[CurlyDave]

You can add a mechanical thumb to almost any backhoe, and I am certain there are several units made for the Deere 375.

Google and eBay are your friends.