I am wanting to buy a backhoe loader tractor for residential use. I have 10 acres and I am currently building a house so I would use it for a number of things. I just don't know what size I need or what brand I should buy. All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks
Buying Advice Backhoe loader
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mjncad
Super Member
Welcome.
More information would be helpful to us in providing advice.
Location, terrain, vegetation currently on the land, and of course pictures. Is snow removal part of the equation?
More information would be helpful to us in providing advice.
Location, terrain, vegetation currently on the land, and of course pictures. Is snow removal part of the equation?
Also, have you thought about a budget... TBN is very good at over spending your budget 
Smaller Tractor Loader Backhoes (TLB) can get the work done, but it takes longer. You get more seat time but do you have more time or money to burn? Just things to think about...
Smaller Tractor Loader Backhoes (TLB) can get the work done, but it takes longer. You get more seat time but do you have more time or money to burn? Just things to think about...Kyle241
Platinum Member
Yes, if you can be more specific to the tasks you expect the TLB to perform, that would allow us to recommend size/attachments, etc. There is a lot to do when building a house and I used my trusty Kubota B20 for a lot of tasks on the two homes I built however I did not do such things as foundation excavation, septic bed prep, etc. These were all done with an excavator and full size backhoe hired out. Also the initial landscaping I had done with a dozer as I would have been there forever with my B20 and I don't have the time for that. If you are looking to perform smaller tasks such as landscaping, digging drainage ditches, digging water lines, etc. a TLB will do the job as long as you have the time.
If you're going to do a lot of backhoe work but small tasks, Kubota has a great line up of commercial TLB's. They are more expensive than your regular tractor but they are beefier. What are your planned tasks after you build your house? You mention a food plot, are you going to continue with this? Expand it? Then you may be better off with a tractor that has more PTO HP and is more suited for plowing, discing, etc. Also if you can find one, the Deere 110 is very nice and it's smaller commercial TLB as well but I believe they have discontinued it if I recall correctly.
If you're going to do a lot of backhoe work but small tasks, Kubota has a great line up of commercial TLB's. They are more expensive than your regular tractor but they are beefier. What are your planned tasks after you build your house? You mention a food plot, are you going to continue with this? Expand it? Then you may be better off with a tractor that has more PTO HP and is more suited for plowing, discing, etc. Also if you can find one, the Deere 110 is very nice and it's smaller commercial TLB as well but I believe they have discontinued it if I recall correctly.
The commercial grade loader backhoe packages offered by Kubota and Deere are absolutely top notch for construction work. But they cost quite a bit more than a similar sized compact tractor with loader and backhoe attachments. And there are plenty of owners - me included - who have done serious work with their equipment. So, that's another option to consider.
If you figure to be doing mostly dirt work, by all means focus on the commercial grade equipment. But, if you want a more general purpose tractor that also does some periodic dirt work, the add-on attachment approach can work also. Based on the description of your property and what you're planning to do - my opinion here - you don't absolutely need to drop $35-50k for a construction grade TLB just to get the job done.
If you figure to be doing mostly dirt work, by all means focus on the commercial grade equipment. But, if you want a more general purpose tractor that also does some periodic dirt work, the add-on attachment approach can work also. Based on the description of your property and what you're planning to do - my opinion here - you don't absolutely need to drop $35-50k for a construction grade TLB just to get the job done.
jml755
Silver Member
When I bought my property few years ago, I bought a 1980(?) Ford 755 TLB for under $ 9k. It is a serious machine but was long in the tooth. I've spent about $2-3k over the last six years replacing tires, hoses that blew, new radiator, etc. But it's paid for itself because I used it to build my own driveway, over 800' so far. The BH pins aren't as tight as they should be, but I'm not making a living with it. It's great for pulling stumps and grading work. I plan to use it to build my house and barn. I watch a neighbor with his Kubota CUT and backhoe attachment and I chuckle to myself. Not badmouthing Kubota but it would have taken me a month of Sundays to build my driveway using that small backhoe bucket. His machine looks like a tinker toy next to mine.
If you're handy with mechanical things, you can find a good, used construction grade TLB for under $20k that will probably be do every possible job you can ask for on your 10 acres. If you're not handy or prepared to work on the machine periodically and want a new one, with warranty, then bring your checkbook.
Even my tractor is old. I couldn't see spending over $10k for something to brush hog my property so I bought a Ford 3600. Great machine.
I paid less than $13,000 for BOTH of my machines and couldn't be happier. My point is you don't need to bust your bank account to get some heavy duty equipment.
If you're handy with mechanical things, you can find a good, used construction grade TLB for under $20k that will probably be do every possible job you can ask for on your 10 acres. If you're not handy or prepared to work on the machine periodically and want a new one, with warranty, then bring your checkbook.
Even my tractor is old. I couldn't see spending over $10k for something to brush hog my property so I bought a Ford 3600. Great machine.
I paid less than $13,000 for BOTH of my machines and couldn't be happier. My point is you don't need to bust your bank account to get some heavy duty equipment.
BethesdaEC
Gold Member
The sub compacts with a BH like the Kubota BX-25 and the JD 1026r are the extreme small end of the market and can be purchased new in the low 20's. Personally I went bigger and got a compact JD2520 which would compare to the Kubota B2620 or B2630. This will put you into the upper 20's, but they are much more capable machines. The best piece of advise I can give you is make sure you get position control if you plan to do any 3 point hitch work. Position control allows you raise and lower the 3PH to a set and reproducible position every time and won't gradually leak down if you have rear mower.
Thanks for all the advice. I couldn't spend more than 20k on one. The septic was done by a pro. I would be using it to trench in water lines and pulling a small disc and a tiller. I have a acre and a half of yard that needs to be leveled off so I thought it would be cheaper to just by a tractor and do it all my self than to hire someone every time. I have more time than I do a budget.
Verticaltrx
Veteran Member
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If you want to go new you could get a B2320 Kubota with a loader and backhoe for $20K. Used look for a low hour Kubota B21 or L35. Deere also makes some good compact tractors in that size range, but IMO their backhoe packages aren't (or weren't) as nice as the Kubotas. While the used full-size TLB route is a good option for many, it sounds like your tasks are more suited to a smaller unit.
If you are planning on doing disking and tilling, with backhoe work on the side, I would go with a tractor and backhoe attachment, not a dedicated TLB. I have a Kioti DK 45 with a backhoe attachment. As an earlier poster noted, it is nothing compared to a real TLB like a Ford 755. However, I had bought a John Deere TLB (60's some-odd model) and I could not keep it running long enough to work. I got rid of it and bought the backhoe attachment and couldn't be happier.
Good luck and take care.
Good luck and take care.
powerstroke444e
Veteran Member
I like the tlb of kubota's and john deere's 110. It amazes me the number of things you can do with them. For what your looking to do a l35 or l39 would be well suited but you may get by with b26 all could be found in upper teens or low 20k range used. It all depends on how lone you want to spend doing something.
I have a 5foot bushhog behind my b26 and it don't bother me to hit a small couple acre patch with if its any bigger I use a bigger tractor. For field tile water lines drainage around new construction home or finish grade work I like my b26 but for food plot work I have a m5400. Many times wish I had a bigger tlb but just as many its just right size.
As a personal thing I don't like backhoes added to regular tractors the just don't seem as well done/and hard on the tractor ie the tractor is maxed out just setting there. And yes I have used several just my personal preference.
I have a 5foot bushhog behind my b26 and it don't bother me to hit a small couple acre patch with if its any bigger I use a bigger tractor. For field tile water lines drainage around new construction home or finish grade work I like my b26 but for food plot work I have a m5400. Many times wish I had a bigger tlb but just as many its just right size.
As a personal thing I don't like backhoes added to regular tractors the just don't seem as well done/and hard on the tractor ie the tractor is maxed out just setting there. And yes I have used several just my personal preference.
mjncad
Super Member
Or rent a mini-excavator for the few times you need a backhoe. That's what I do.
I have a local contractor has a lot of nice, big equipment for his one man company. We've gotten to know each other pretty well over the past ten years as he has been doing work for me on and off. I asked him why do you need a tri axle 10 yard dump truck or a 110 HP backhoe and his answer was short an sweet. He said you can haul a small load in a big truck but you can't haul a big load in a small truck. Same thing with your backhoe. You get a big one you can do little jobs and big jobs but a smaller backhoe will just do smaller jobs. That's why I'm in the same situation with 15 new vacant acres that are heavily wooded and I'm looking to trade in my 3 year old John Deere 3120 with 150 hours for a 20 year old backhoe with 5000 hours.
Plus when you get a dedicated tlb you get a lot more dig depth extendahoe and you dont have to leave the seat to operate the backhoe
Plus when you get a dedicated tlb you get a lot more dig depth extendahoe and you dont have to leave the seat to operate the backhoe
Opti-Mist
Platinum Member
For that kind of usage I've used Ford/NH 1710 or 1920 w/loader, a 3-point hitch 7-1/2 foot backhoe, 5' & 7' rear blades, box scraper & landscape rake for the dirt work and a 60" rotary mower for the fields. Works for me.
Dr_Zinj
Veteran Member
There's a reason why CUTs are considered hobby farm tractors.
The jobs are either small and numerous, or large and time consuming.
Hobbies take lots of small steps. And hobbies usually don't require all of it to be done right this minute.
Or you can look at it as a CUT with various attachments is a craftsman's tool, lovingly and painstakingly whittling away at a masterpiece; while a large farm tractor is an industrial tool made for mass production.
NASA got us to the Moon fast by going big, loud, inefficient and expensive. There are smaller, quieter, cheaper and more efficient ways to get there, but they all take a lot more time.
The jobs are either small and numerous, or large and time consuming.
Hobbies take lots of small steps. And hobbies usually don't require all of it to be done right this minute.
Or you can look at it as a CUT with various attachments is a craftsman's tool, lovingly and painstakingly whittling away at a masterpiece; while a large farm tractor is an industrial tool made for mass production.
NASA got us to the Moon fast by going big, loud, inefficient and expensive. There are smaller, quieter, cheaper and more efficient ways to get there, but they all take a lot more time.
