Backhoe BH Bucket(s) Size Advice?

[mrutkaus]

Getting a Woods BH80X soon for the Kioti CK30; uses will be small drainage driveway drainage ditches, stumps, leveling areas and frankly playing in the dirt/sandbox.

Need advice on bucket size!

Would like to do 9" wide trenches for wires and pipes, and beside driveway; also want to be able to move large quantities of dirt.

Here in NW VA about 1.5' of topsoil then shale.

Tempted to get a 12" or 16" bucket, but really would like both a 9" and say 18" or 24" bucket.

Complete newbie.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Mike
Winchester VA

 

[loulblades]

I have been using the smaller Woods BH (BH6000) for a few weeks. I ordered the 9" and 12" buckets. Not sure what I was thinking at the time but if doing again I would order the 16" (9", 12" and 16" are available).

IMO if I had a larger setup I would order the smaller 9" for digging trenches (drainage, electrical, etc) and the largest (whatever that is). Because when you are going to dig something other than trenches...then really dig.

 

[LBrown59]

I have been using the smaller Woods BH (BH6000) for a few weeks. I ordered the 9" and 12" buckets. Not sure what I was thinking at the time but if doing again I would order the 16" (9", 12" and 16" are available).

IMO if I had a larger setup I would order the smaller 9" for digging trenches (drainage, electrical, etc) and the largest (whatever that is). Because when you are going to dig something other than trenches...then really dig.

I have tha 10'' on my BX23 which i find fine for ditching and trenching . A 12 inch would be fine too.
If i were going for a 2nd bucket I would opt for a 16'' as that is pretty strandard or good for footers and such.

A 9'' tends to get cloged with dirt stuck in the bucket to easy.

 

[mrutkaus]

Great practical advice, thanks.

Listening for more; these are $600 apiece!

Mike

 

[mazurrj]

I have a 12" on a B3030, mostly trench for drains. Do not think i'd want smaller and considering the rocky ground I have glad i do not have 18", just too big for power of my hoe in the type ground i dig in.
If i do want to move dirt or dig hill side out or get dirt for hauling. I dig it out with hoe or loosen up first with hoe, then load/move it with my FEL. So the small bucket works for me.

 

[Kays Supply]

Great practical advice, thanks.

Listening for more; these are $600 apiece!

Mike

I have a little larger trackhoe. I hunted Ebay for while and came up with a couple extra buckets for much less. I had to do a little work on one but the other went right on. I found a 36" off a small machine. It had bolt on teeth that I removed. It is great for backfill and clean up.

 

[Jaybr]

$600 a bucket sounds crazy to me. I got a 16" on my CK35 when I purchased a few weeks ago, digs great. I purchased a new 9" last week to dig some trenches and paid $233 for it.

This is a Kioti BH and buckets.

 

[Scrounger]

I have a BH6000 also and I've found the 12" standard bucket to be fine since I didn't want to spend the extra cash. If I had the cash to spend, I would have bought a 9" and a 16".