BH72 / 92 backhoes. Useful?

[rogersmithiii]

I'm looking at a 4400 tractor. I thought about the G series, I don't need all of the electronic bells and whistles. My question is that Kubota sells a BH72 and BH92 backhoe for this unit. Are they really useful for anything? The guy who came out to bury my horse had a full-sized Deere 310G, and he pulled out rocks that were 2 feet or so in diameter without having any difficulty. What are those Kubota units capable of?

I know nothing about them, but it seems that they are so small, that they're only good for digging in loose dirt or sand, or moving small rocks.

Can anyone provide some insight please?

Thanks

 

[kcfarm]

No experience with those exact models, but I have used a John Deere b8 on my brothers 28hp tractor and that digs through hard clay with no problem with a 18" bucket. The only problem I have with backhoes is that you can't swing 360 degrees like with an excavator, but those are way more money. I will be buying a tractor soon and it will have a backhoe for sure, but I have 86 acres to work on....

 

[art]

There is no comparision to the industrial unit and an add-on unit but! They both can dig holes even in hard going but one i definitely going to be done faster. Kubota does build good b-hoes and they are as powerful as you will find in their class.

 

[ejkessler]

I've owned 4 Botas and have had the BH 65, BH 75, BH 90 and now BH 92. They are stout for what they are. I have moved many rocks much bigger than 2 foot round, (some 3 foot plus round) with my BH 90 which is practically the same as a BH 92. Haven't had the BH 92 long enough to use it yet. I personally have gotten additional buckets on my BH's, getting the standard and the narrowest. Easier to trench and post hole dig with a narrower bucket so that you are not disturbing so much area. There is no doubt that in many ways having a BH can be perceived as a luxury but I can tell you I have saved many thousands of dollars trenching, post hole digging and sono tube placement not to mention removing berms, scrub, roots, stumps and drainage ditch cleaning. They will do much more than remove loose dirt or sand. IMO well worth the investment.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

My BT601 is really useful. :thumbsup:

 

[Kyle241]

I've been looking at the L4400 as well and the BH92. It will definitely dig many things I have needs for which are many. No, it's not a commercial unit and doesn't have the HP those do but it will do a good job. I'm still teetering on going for the L45 has it is a commercial unit albeit no where near the HP a Case or Cat has but is a very nice machine. My reason for considering it is built for BH work, e.g. nice ergonomics, crawling speed, extra pump for the BH, etc.

I don't think you will regret the BH92 which is what I would choose for the L4400. Yes, it may be a luxury to some but up my way with all the stones we have, I need a BH.

 

[Samandothers]

Yes you could look at it as something you don't need. However, when I bought the tractor I financed my BH90 with it. I do not regret the extra expense. I have put in culverts, dug out trees, used it to dig out parking pads, foundations, dig in drains, remove bushes. I only regret not getting a narrow bucket. I have a 16 in. bucket. I stays on the tractor most of the time as does the grapple. They are a great combo for clearing small trees and saplings.

 

[art]

Just a thought on the difference of the two backhoe's for you.

To dig a trench three foot down would mean with the smaller 72 backhoe having to reset yourself every four foot! You would get two more feet with the longer hoe or every six foot before you need to reset.

 

[rsqrvr2]

I have a 2010 L4400 with the BH92 and it is great i would not want to be without it.
We got the BH92 because i wanted the thumb attachment and the 72 did not come with it. But we got the 92 for the same price and the mechanical thumb cost little under $1000. But it is absolutly worth it, the abillity to pick up and place logs, rocks, stumps, old buildings and any thing else you can think of is great.

I just spent the last few days cutting an access road on the side of a mountain with it tried the FEL but it just made a mess with the backhoe i can seperate the top soil to the fill dirt i can move the cut trees to the side of the road and then build up the road base by cutting and filling with the backhoe the end product is much better looking and level witht he top soil back on top of the fill dirt.

Having the backhoe with the thumb is like having a very powerful arm and can be used in the same way.

The bad points
It is not comercial so it is slower than a TLB.
The seating is terrible i am 6ft 250 with the little seat all the way back my feet stick off the platform.
Moving the tractor to dig a ditch or road for example is a pain you have to get off the backhoe and back on the tractor and then back on the backhoe, but with a TLB you can just swing the seat around.
I have found that if the tractor is not level the piviot point squeals badly (Dealer coming out to look at it on wednessday)

 

[crash325]

When I got my TC45DA I also got a 757C back hoe and would not be without it. Next to the FEL the back hoe is the most useful attachment anyone could have. I have a fully hydraulic Gannon that has not been on the tractor in over 4 years. Almost everything that can be done with the box blade can be done with the back hoe & FEL. :thumbsup:

Lifting, moving, picking up, shoving around, even a little crude tree trimming, the list goes on and now and then I still find a new use for it. Used the hydraulics to run my log splitter. :thumbsup:

You say yours is slow, I would like mine slower. It really needs a light touch to keep it under control. Getting off & on is sort of a pain, but I'm happy to live with it. :thumbsup: