Best little hoe available?

jwcinpk · Aug 7, 2003

I am in the market for a medium sized 4wd tractor with the backhoe attachment and I just wondered which one you think is best. There are so many dealers/brands to choose from. I'll use my new tractor for general hobby farm work and thought of starting a small backhoe service to do stuff like stump removal, graves, drains, footers, water lines, landscaping, etc. Here's the catch I gotta get big enough to sqaure bale hay with and small enough to get around in tight places. I was thinking Kioti DK 45 size. The money really isn't that big a deal. I want to buy the best and strongest small tractor I can.

cowboydoc · Aug 7, 2003

I'd certainly go with the Deere. The deere equipment is not made to fit 20 different brands. The backhoes, loaders, etc. are all made specifically for the machine they are going on. In my personal opinion it makes for a nice clean fit and superior controls, work, and specifically matching the right piece of equipment with the tractor. I have the 4600 with the backhoe and I have done everything with mine and not had any problems at all. Putting the backhoe on and off takes all of five minutes to do. Easy to hook up and easy to take off.

BobG_in_VA · Aug 7, 2003

Suggest you look at the Mahindra 4500. Full sized Utility tractor (yes, its much heavier than competing Deeres/CNH/Kubota), but has the guts to do anything you need to do. Bradco makes a great BH and the unit comes with a very strong FEL if you want one. 3 year warranty. Built like a tank. I have the 6000 model with the MD264 FEL. Another fella has the 6000 with the FEL and backhoe and thinks it the greatest. Great prices/great financing right now. I know I'm gonna get flamed but I grew with Fords and Deeres and Farmalls (still have a '57 230 with Fast Hitch) and the Mahindra for the buck is a beast. BobG in VA

cowboydoc · Aug 7, 2003

Bob,

Nobody's going to flame you for stating your opinion. Everybody has different tastes and opinions about different equipment. That's what this site is all about is sharing our opinions and experinces with the equipment that we use and/or would like to buy. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Inspector507 · Aug 7, 2003

<font color="blue"> The money really isn't that big a deal </font>

What a situation to be in........ /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Bird · Aug 7, 2003

Are you looking for a tractor for other uses as well as a backhoe, or are you looking for a dedicated TLB (Tractor/Loader/Backhoe)?

cowboydoc · Aug 7, 2003

Good question Bird that would certainly make a BIG difference.

gordon · Aug 7, 2003

How many Hp is needed to square bale? That would be the main starting point for a tractor search.

L-48 Kubota is what I would take a look at. Nice set up for a small backhoe service. Another setup that looks good is the JD 110. That is just a start, there are alot of tractors that would fit your search.

My two cents
Gordon

DieselD · Aug 7, 2003

I think you'd be real happy with the DK40 or 45, Get the Kioti BH, It comes off in minutes without a sweat.
Danny

stvman · Aug 7, 2003

If you Like a gear tractor the Kioti is a good value tractor. When I hear stump removal on a commercial basis I think Deere 110 / Kubota L48 both are much stronger in the loader backhoe department than a standard farm tractor. If you need to remove the loader then you are back to a farm tractor. The great thing about the JD or Kubota is that they are light enough to be pulled with a one ton picup possibly even a 3/4 ton.

frank_f15 · Aug 8, 2003

From your post seems like you want a TLB, don't matter on the brand . just pick out what you like and fits your needs. just make sure the reach and dept of digging will do what you want.

rtimgray · Aug 8, 2003

I don't think a purpose-built TLB will fill the bill on the hobby farm work, baling hay etc. I know I've seen a few older hoes that had a removable backhoe and could be adapted for 3 pt hitch and had a PTO, but they were pretty few and far between. I don't know if the Kubota and JD mini-TLBs have 3pt/PTO capabilities or not. I would stick with a Kioti with Loader and Backhoe personally, so both attachements can come off relatively quickly when there is different work to be done.

jwcinpk · Aug 8, 2003

This would be mostly used for a small backhoe service, but I do have a hobby farm and would need to be able to remove it fairly easily and quickly with just me. As for the money I mean if one stands apart from another as being able to dig better, but is $5000 more thats the one I want. I have used a KIOTI 3054 and I will say I'm hoping to get something that will dig a little deeper and is a bit stronger than that. I would be pulling it behind a dump truck or a ton truck. Dealers close are Deere, Ford, Mahindra, Case IH, Massey, Kioti, and Kubota.

cnoel · Aug 8, 2003

Check out the Kubota L48. Super lot of tractor in a small package. The whole thing is built like a tank, 11' hoe, 2500lbs lift bucket center on the loader. The hoe comes off very easy and has a three point stored in the tractor frame. I think the TLB package would be the way to go if you want to do commercial digging, but this way you don't give up the three point and your farm tractor capabilities.

johnsonauto · Aug 8, 2003

Dollar for dollar the Mahindra 4110 with the 11' 511 hoe is a great way to go, if you want fast add the pto pump and tank.
For straight comercial use as a tlb only i think the JD 110 is a nice machine also but very expensive. If you interested in a Mahindra talk to Lambur on here he has a 4110 with 511 hoe and pto kit.

BWS · Aug 8, 2003

whats the mahindra pkg cost[ballpark]??

lamarbur · Aug 8, 2003

Jwcinpk, must be fairly new here. I sent him a BC asking where he lived, and he does not respond. (Took me a while to figure out the PM system, myself) anyway, if he is close to me, I will let him run the 4110/511 and he can see for himself.

jwcinpk · Aug 8, 2003

You are correct I am new here. I got this link from a homesteading forum. I must say I don't know how I did without it. I could sit and talk tractors all day.