Backhoe Best option for digging 6+ft with PT425

[PTWannaHave]

Hello all,

Thought my question would best be asked in a new thread rather than continuing with my previous thread about potential owner questions...

I've read quite a bit of material about minihoe & backhoe for PTs, but am still left with the following question:

Like KenT, I live in the North and would like to dig 6+ft to get past the frost line. Unlike KenT though, I do not plan on owning a PT larger than the 425.

The minihoe won't do, a Lackender skid-steer hoe is too large/heavy/demanding for a 425, and I seem to recall that the fella who custom-fitted the backhoe of a PT2425 on his 425 had some stability challenges...

So, does anyone think they have come up with the best off-the-shelf solution to digging 6+ft with a PT425?! (I say 'off-the-shelf' as fabricating a hoe is not an option for me, for several reasons.)

Worst-case scenario, I suppose a beefier and longer version of the minihoe could be built.

Pls. feel free to refer me to earlier threads that I may not have been able to find in researching an anwer to this question.

Thank-you in advance,

PTWannaHave

 

[Phils]

Depending on what and where exactily you are digging, one idea is to dig a "ramp" down deeper then drive down the ramp and dig, in order to get the hole deeper.

No denying it's more digging, but if it's not very often you need the extra depth, it would solve your problem.

I've only done it once and it was less than a foot-deep "ramp" because it gave me the extra depth on the hole I needed. You can see my "ramp" in the second post, the middle attachment here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/96728-rock-b-gone.html

I seem to remember Catsco in Colorado did something similar but longer and deeper, but I didn't see a thread title under his posts that immediately indicated which one it was... but maybe I'm confusing him with another member.

Phil

 

[MossRoad]

Other than a longer dipper arm for the mini-hoe, I see no other solution than a backhoe attachment for a 1425 adapted for the 425.

Or, you could just plan your projects and rent a small excavator. They are relatively cheap to rent, dig faster than a backhoe and are built for the job. I have rented one and it worked really, really well. :thumbsup:

 

[SpringHollow]

I have a lighter duty Lackender mini hoe but my guess is that it is still too heavy. I think they call it the baby boomer. Digs 6' deep but no swing.

Ken

 

[toy]

Ptwannahave I dug out a hole for a septic tank a long time ago with my 425. I used the rock bucket and naturally the hole was wider than the bucket. I dug a ramp down into the hole as I dug it and I dug it deep enough as well as I remember till the ground level was over the top of the rops. After I dug it deep enough for the tank I put the minihoe on and dug the ramp out as I backed up the ramp [scary], and when I was done I had enough room at the end of the tank to put an overflow tank in.

 

[toy]

On my minihoe I built a thumb for it and it improved the use of the minihoe a 100% for picking up rocks and such. I also use the minihoe with the thumb as a grapple to pick up brush to carry to the burn pile. I also carried a log with the minihoe with the thumb to get it out of the yard, had to keep the log close to the pt as I could to keep from biting a hole in my seat.

 

[PTWannaHave]

Thanks all for the responses!

I am thinking about the equipment necessary to dig a trench for a poured foundation...

If I buy a PT, I may just have to contract out that kind of work (which I would not have to do with a CUT).

Bye for now,

PTWannaHave

 

[American Bulldog]

Thanks all for the responses!

I am thinking about the equipment necessary to dig a trench for a poured foundation...

If I buy a PT, I may just have to contract out that kind of work (which I would not have to do with a CUT).

Bye for now,

PTWannaHave

That's not quite fair. There are several PT's capable of digging this stuff, but not the PT425.

There are two PT2445's on the used tractor list, that are more than capable of digging to China......... and they are priced lower than most CUT's that you could find.

Used Power Tracs


As for the 425, that one ad is really nice, man they got all the attachments. I like the homemade boom saw. I am looking for a 1460, and it is really hard to find a used one, but lots of nice 425's.

 

[3238dpw]

Here is a limk that might interest you
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/53959-winter-project.html

 

[PTWannaHave]

Thanks for the link 3238dpw!

Your point is well taken American Bulldog... Perhaps stacking up a PT425 vs. a 23-27hp CUT (with a WOODS backhoe) is unfair.

I will keep mulling this over...!

Regards,