backhoe vs skid steer hoe?

[Sysop]

I'm tickled I got mine as well. I really had no projects lined up for it when I purchased my tractor. I had reasons to get it, but no real uses for it. My reasons were A: it isn't the type of implement that is easily added later. B: I would need cash money to buy it later rather than including it in the financing. C: Out of all the machines I have ever needed to rent, the most common was a small backhoe.

Since getting it, we learned the farmhouse actually did not have a septic tank installed in the 1980s like everyone had thought. So the first big use was to dig out the hole for a 1500 gallon concrete septic tank installation, as well as a 200' graywater line out to the three 300' drainfield lines. Not hiring that digging paid for it. It has also helped clean up tons of fencerow, using it to pop brushy rootballs and saplings out. I've dug a few stumps out with it, few rocks too. It has proven itself handy enough I like to keep it mounted up, and just last month I purchased a thumb from the manufacturer to make it even more useful (I plan on mounting it up this weekend).

 

[Sysop]

Here just get one of these.
9 HP Towable Backhoe

If you live somewhere that is mostly sand, those will do some work. There is a member here who often posts youtube videos of himself working on his farm and trying different things out. He has a larger model similar to that. He lives in a very rocky area (I think in Norway) and has added extra weight to his so it works better on his land. It is actually surprising what those machines can do.

It honestly doesn't take much to beat a handheld shovel and wheelbarrow.

:laughing:

 

[kthompson]

Will not try to answer for anyone else but sometimes here and no doubt other sites you can ask a question and the person reading it thinks you are asking a totally different question. Sometimes they think you opened it up for further thoughts or suggestions. Have had that to happen hear on totally different topic. Made me wonder what post he had read to come up with his comment but thought, well he did not harm me, only puzzled me.

If you want to compare the options you have made here to excavator would think you would have asked that option also. Then it might be later on you say...sure wish someone had pointed out this other option. Sometimes we at first do not think of the best option due to our limited knowledge or experience or often for me...my check book.

 

[DieselBound]

^^^ Well said.

That's why it's really important to find out just what it is that people NEED (not want) to do.

 

[Newby first timer]

No you can't.
I know my tractor mounted backhoe has done everything I've needed to do for many years.
Works quite well.

There is always some piece of equipment better suited from a particular project over others.

In my Opinion (and it absolutely means nothing)
The Compact Tractors are poor at a few things , Great at a few things and are Good for a lot of things.
The Versatility of these machines are why I think most of us buy them.
Ya the Backhoe attachments are not as good as an Excavator but it is a True Backhoe.
The Mowing attachments are not as good as a True Mowing machine but a Compact tractor due pretty darned good.
A Pile Driver does a lot better of a job on diving Posts but the Post driver attachments do a (good) job.
The Front loaders do a good job but not as quick as a true Loader.
A sweeper does a lot better job than a Compact Tractor with a sweeping attachment on it but the Tractor does a good job.
A True Snow Blower does a lot better job than a Compact Tractor but the Tractor does a good job.
A true Skip loader does a better Box Bladeing job than the Compact Tractor but the Tractor does a good job.
A true tree mulch-er does a better job than a Compact Tractor but the Tractor can do a good job.

The List can go on and on and on.

Personally I can not afford every Machine that does the best at what it does so I have Chosen a machine that is an all round GOOD machine and will put up with the down sides of Machine that is just Good all rounded machine instead a machine of Exceptional at a single task.

It also saves a lot of space.

 

[Sysop]

I fully agree. I just think when someone like OP who is looking at a couple things at the bottom end of the digging spectrum and is wondering where the cost difference comes from, they're not likely interested in something that is more than ten times the cost at a minimum.

That being said, no matter what backhoe you have, it can be ten times more useful with a thumb.

Just added today:

I only bring it up because in my search for whether I wanted to spring the cash for the factory thumb option or purchase an aftermarket thumb for less, I learned that many small backhoes have been damaged by third party thumbs. Many of the aftermarket thumbs affix to the middle of the arm of the backhoe, and many of the tractor sized backhoes are not made to take the forces the thumb puts against the arm. Many backhoe arms have been kinked by the mounting point.

Nothing sucks worse when digging a 48" trench than finding rock at 40" that is too big to get into the bucket and having to crawl into the hole to chain the rock to the bucket. It happened so often to me, I put a hook on my backhoe bucket...

No matter how small of a unit you want to look at, many small ones have built in mounting points for a thumb option. If it does, get it, it is well worth it.

 

[Newby first timer]

I fully agree. I just think when someone like OP who is looking at a couple things at the bottom end of the digging spectrum and is wondering where the cost difference comes from, they're not likely interested in something that is more than ten times the cost at a minimum.

That being said, no matter what backhoe you have, it can be ten times more useful with a thumb.

Just added today:

I only bring it up because in my search for whether I wanted to spring the cash for the factory thumb option or purchase an aftermarket thumb for less, I learned that many small backhoes have been damaged by third party thumbs. Many of the aftermarket thumbs affix to the middle of the arm of the backhoe, and many of the tractor sized backhoes are not made to take the forces the thumb puts against the arm. Many backhoe arms have been kinked by the mounting point.

Nothing sucks worse when digging a 48" trench than finding rock at 40" that is too big to get into the bucket and having to crawl into the hole to chain the rock to the bucket. It happened so often to me, I put a hook on my backhoe bucket...

No matter how small of a unit you want to look at, many small ones have built in mounting points for a thumb option. If it does, get it, it is well worth it.

My first upgrade was the Thumb
I had to dig a trench and knew I had boulders everywhere.
I did not even know that they offered the Thumb for small Tractors until I talked to the dealer and explained what I needed the tractor for and what my limitations were. Which was more about Weight for Transport than anything else.

That Thumb did 100 time more than I expected it to and where the Tractor is going to end up eventually I do not think that I will need a Grapple because I have the Thumb even though I think they are really cool attachments.
Where it is going I have no real brush and the trees to be removed are no taller than 12 Ft. and that is the tallest (Junipers) The Thumb grabs a hold of them and I pick them up with the Backhoe and haul them to where I want them.

I did not mean to knock the OP about the Excavator Just giving some personal views on why I made my decision on my equipment.

 

[kthompson]

We don't have much in rocks here. But a thumb is a big help unless all you doing is digging clean dirt. Amazing how great they are at loading trash in a trailer or stacking a burn pile or moving junk (yeah, not best to move good implements with unless you have great control) or loading fire wood in trailer...list is endless.

 

[DieselBound]

And humans are "successful" because they have opposable thumbs!

 

[Texasmark]

If a commercial or heavy usage rate operator, no way would I take a rear mounted anything when you can get a front mounted doo dad like can be had with Skid Steer attachments. I use old school tractor stuff but lots of construction going on around me from A to Z and hands down, the Skid Steer and attachments are the way to go.