Backhoe Backhoe learning curve

Boondox · Oct 22, 2001

Unless a hurricane brings enough rain to restore my bone dry springhouse, I may have to lay 250 yards of PVC pipe to splice a productive but decades-abandoned springhouse into the existing line leading to the house. I'm torn between renting a trackhoe and buying a backhoe. Seems all that moving means a trackhoe would be faster and easier, but if I got a backhoe I could keep it when the job was done.

Having no hoe experience, what's the learning curve like?

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

JJT · Oct 22, 2001

Guys in my area will do this type of work in an afternoon for less than $250, and we have heavy clay soil. A compact will struggle to do it in a weekend. A newbie will need a few hours to get the feel of the machine and several days to get proficient. I used to run a full size hoe 20 years ago and still contract this typoe of work out to the pro's. You'll need more than 250 yards of water line to justify the purchase of a 3pt or frame mounted hoe, ($7K+).

treeboone · Oct 22, 2001

Pete, I bought a Woods 9000 when I got my L4610. I had almost zero time on a hoe and picked it up pretty quick. Assuming you aren't learning in close quarters (next to the pump house for example,) you should be fine. Start on the end that will be out of sight. By the time you get 50 feet dug, you should be fairly adept, at least able to stay out of trouble. (Having said that, you will still be learning years later.) There is alot that a skilled hoe operator can do, but it should not be overwhelming to dig a simple ditch. When in doubt let go of the controls and think. I would love to have a track hoe AND a tractor.

Jag · Oct 22, 2001

JJT, well said... that sums up my feelings. Yes a hoe in an afternoon, 3 days for the tractor hoe unless you had had a big boy backhoe that would use less setups.. I bought a 3PT hoe with my tractor because I had a lot more work than 250 yards of line.. Also if you are running a waterline you should use a narrower bucket than a standard 16-18 incher.

TWINKLE_TOES · Oct 22, 2001

Pete,
but if I got a backhoe I could keep it when the job was done.
Done deal/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
The bottom of your first ditch will look like a big wash board. The coordination to dig a smooth bottom ditch will take some time. Two joystick hoe's are quick learners.
Al

Boondox · Oct 22, 2001

Don't put thoughts like that in writing -- my wife might see them and I'll never get my hoe! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

Duckhunter · Oct 22, 2001

Woods 9000 Hoe

Great Hoe! I absolutely love mine. I have both buckets the 12" and 24". My TC45 is sized perfect for it. Is yours self contained (PTO Pump) or hook up to tractor hydraulics? My dealer talked me into self contained saying it will help resale (fit all tractors) and just as powerful. Seems to be right on the power.

treeboone · Oct 22, 2001

Re: Woods 9000 Hoe

Mine is self contained with subframe and 16 (I think) inch bucket with thumb. It runs just fine at 1500 engine rpm. It is the closest thing to a robotic arm that I own. I could pet my dog with this sucker! Save money? No. Save frustration? you bet! I aint got the time to beg someone to come out and tear hell out of my place. I still have trees with bark missing from the moron that put in my septic system 11 years ago. NOBODY cares about my property as much as I do.

What is a tractor without implements?? its a real slow pickup without a radio.

cowboydoc · Oct 22, 2001

I just did alot of digging with my backhoe putting in waterlines for my new barn. I could dig a 4' trench at the rate of about 50' per hour on my 4600. I only have the 18" bucket and it worked fine. Just turned around and used the loader to push it all back in no time. The easiest way to do it is just to rent a trencher. Here you can rent one for $165 a day. But I had the hoe.

Robert_in_NY · Oct 22, 2001

A trencher is the way to go or use a tile plow and not have to dig anything out. It would be a lot cheaper to farm out the work then to buy something you really don't need. I have been looking at getting a Kubota mini excavator but the $35k pricetag is scary when I can rent the machine for $600 a week. If I know I will have enough work for the machine I would buy it in an instant but instead it is cheaper to farm the work out and not have to maintain the equipment. Tractor mounted backhoes are not that effecient when you have to hop off the backhoe to move the tractor every 5-10 feet.

Robert Turk Jr.
Whitetail Splendor Deer Farms
Silver Creek, NY