Buying Advice Backhoe on a SCUT - yea or nay?

[Tractor Dell]

I have a Kubota BX23S. I got this instead of the BX2380 because I wanted the backhoe. I really enjoy my tractor time, so for me, it is a nice way to relax. I have a friend a mile from me with a big backhoe. He used to dig out my stumps, rocks or whatever, and did it easily with his big machine. I can do it myself now, it only takes me 5 times as long. Do I mind? Not really. It's tractor time.

As with anything you buy, when I first got it, I had lots of things to do with it. Now most of those are done. Do I regret buying it? Not at all. I still find things that need to be done. Until then, it is nice ballast when moving things with the FEL.

It really came down to Want Vs Need. Did I need it? No. Did I want it? Yes. Since the monthly payments were not all that much more, it just seemed to be a prudent move on my part. That is what it really comes down to. You can always find things to do with it. Do you just want to spend a little more money to get it? After all, can you really have too many tools in the toolbox?

 

[4570Man]

Weird how people see nothing wrong with having a camping trailer or classic car that never gets used, or Golf Clubs, but somehow you need to have use for a tool all the time to own it. You can always sell a used hoe for what you paid for it, IF you bought a good one, used. Try that with the other stuff I mentioned. I would not buy seldom used stuff new.

I drive a 30 year old truck and a second 20 year old vehicle and have a nice backhoe. The value of all 3 might buy a new base model truck. And my setup is far more useful to me.

 

[the old grind]

Nobody has mentioned a stand alone BH, I'm leaning that way. That way you can us the BH and FEL at the same time (son on one me on the other) or load FEL with BH and move dirt to where you want it. ... Joe

I bought my Terramite 12 years ago with that in mind, some five yrs after buying my first CUT. I've since traded-in my first and second tractors, and bought three more. If a backhoe was to be a part of whichever of them it would have influenced further purchases, so 'selling considerations' can be as important as the buying ones.

All that said, for $9K spent I might have saved $4-5k by renting over the years vs buying. I might get half that now to sell my T-M, but in the long run (short for "at the end of the day" ) I have to consider it a luxury I was willing to spend 'seriously' on to let sit parked 350 days/yr. Expect a lot of invites to do work for others. You're more liable for mishaps if you're paid, and you likely won't make enough $$ to pay for the attachment and liability insurance w/o quitting your day job.

Guys, the OP seems set on buying a BH one way or another. (don't blame him for wanting one ) Our help should be that he doesn't compromise on the other features. Buy once, trade in once, or plan on keeping that one tractor to keep the backhoe. That said, IMO, serious financial short-cuts will come back to haunt, and we know a lot of fresh trade-ins were quickly found to be 'not enough tractor'. OP, please give this a lot of thought. It's still 'Wintry' in most places, and we can help you spend your $$ all year long. t o g

 

[djefferis]

Really wish we had a better option with Kubota locally, as the BX23S on paper looks like a nice option at the price.

Lack of responsive dealer locally hurts them though. I talked with Messicks, but they cannot deliver these - and if I go up to a L2501, price for tractor/loader is right at top of range (of course much better tractor though)

 

[shooterdon]

Good advice TOG. I got spoiled using my neighbors larger Kubota and the JD I got this year just cannot match it. The smaller machines are very useful and a joy to have, but size does matter at times. I have been thinking about trading mine, but it makes no sense. I can borrow my neighbors tractor whenever I want about 350 days a year. He does not live here and just has a hunt camp where the tractor is used. It is bit inconvenient to do so, but not $25k worth LOL.

djefferis,
Looks like you are all set. Enjoy your machine and be safe. Last bit of advice...get the things/options you want that may be more expensive to add on later. If you can swing it, buy the next size up if at all possible. Financing allows that to be done without adding a lot of pain and unlike vehicles, your tractor will hold its value.

Again, good luck and keep us posted!!

 

[Overtaxed]

Well, I can give you my experience. When I bought my tractor, everyone said "don't get a hoe, you'll never use it". About a year ago, I bought another tractor with a hoe on it. And I use it all the time. But, in some ways, I'm glad posters told me that, because, if I had to put the hoe on/off, I think I'd use it a LOT less. My hoe is pretty small, but it's incredibly useful, even more so since I put a thumb on it. I use it 1-5X a month. Probably 1/2 of those jobs I could do with other machines or a shovel, but, hey, it's sitting there and I HATE digging in clay. So I just run over and grab the little guy and get'er done. That tractor (JD2070) also has a FEL on it and weighs a lot less than my "big" tractor, so I use it pretty often in areas that I don't want torn up (like moving mulch onto the front lawn). I'm real happy with it. Used, wound up giving ~12K for it. Haven't needed to rent a mini-ex since I got it; I'm sure I will need a mini again (stumps, bigger jobs) but I've saved at least 2 thousand on rentals so far (~750/wk delivered in my area). And there's are a lot of things that just wouldn't get done without the hoe. We had one of our dogs die unexpectedly a few months back and, without a hoe, no way would I have been able to bury him on the property; you're not digging 6 feet in this soil and living to tell of it. Stuff like that. And unloading 6x6x10 railroad ties from the truck, another total back saver, could have done it without the hoe, might have gotten hurt, sure would have been a lot more work.

Cost effective? Maybe. Useful? You bet! And for me, it was ~7K for a hoe for my Kioti (which would be much bigger/badder than the hoe I have now) or a little less than double for a smaller tractor that I just leave always setup with the hoe. I made a good choice for me, much better to have it at a moments notice with no hassle than having a bigger one that takes 30 minutes to get ready. I'd use that a lot less.

 

[redman135]

I am going to assume that you go the backhoe route. One item that would improve you machine if you are in clay or rocky soil is a "pick or single leg ripper". You will be amazed at how much less the ground disturbance is.

 

[fried1765]

Well, I can give you my experience. When I bought my tractor, everyone said "don't get a hoe, you'll never use it". About a year ago, I bought another tractor with a hoe on it. And I use it all the time. But, in some ways, I'm glad posters told me that, because, if I had to put the hoe on/off, I think I'd use it a LOT less. My hoe is pretty small, but it's incredibly useful, even more so since I put a thumb on it. I use it 1-5X a month. Probably 1/2 of those jobs I could do with other machines or a shovel, but, hey, it's sitting there and I HATE digging in clay. So I just run over and grab the little guy and get'er done. That tractor (JD2070) also has a FEL on it and weighs a lot less than my "big" tractor, so I use it pretty often in areas that I don't want torn up (like moving mulch onto the front lawn). I'm real happy with it. Used, wound up giving ~12K for it. Haven't needed to rent a mini-ex since I got it; I'm sure I will need a mini again (stumps, bigger jobs) but I've saved at least 2 thousand on rentals so far (~750/wk delivered in my area). And there's are a lot of things that just wouldn't get done without the hoe. We had one of our dogs die unexpectedly a few months back and, without a hoe, no way would I have been able to bury him on the property; you're not digging 6 feet in this soil and living to tell of it. Stuff like that. And unloading 6x6x10 railroad ties from the truck, another total back saver, could have done it without the hoe, might have gotten hurt, sure would have been a lot more work.

Cost effective? Maybe. Useful? You bet! And for me, it was ~7K for a hoe for my Kioti (which would be much bigger/badder than the hoe I have now) or a little less than double for a smaller tractor that I just leave always setup with the hoe. I made a good choice for me, much better to have it at a moments notice with no hassle than having a bigger one that takes 30 minutes to get ready. I'd use that a lot less.

I have never had a new tractor, or TLB.
I have had my TLB for 33 years, and the hoe has been off only once - for painting.
My smaller tractor (29 yr. old 32HP FEL) is my go to machine...unless I need the TLB.
Renting would be basically impossible for me. Nearly 100 mile drive each way.
I do not use the TLB a lot, but it is always waiting for me when I need it.
TLB......FOREVER!

 

[Diggin It]

It's one of those things. If you don't have one, you can get some things done and might have a hard time thinking about the money. But once you DO have one, it's hard to think about not having it at your disposal on demand.

 

[dneal]

I use mine all the time.

As you’re looking at different makes and models, think about the 3 point. If you’re going to be using implements too, pay attention to which models come with arms and whether or not you have to remove them to install the backhoe. The arms on a Massey, for example, fold up out of the way when you mount the backhoe. You have to buy the arms separately with Kubota, and remove/install them when you install/remove the backhoe. That’s what steered me away from the Kubota. The Massey has a float on the backhoe (not sure about Deere), which is what steered me to the GC.