Build a mini-backhoe???

[Sebculb]

Hola everyone!

So I got this perverse pipe dream stuck in my brain and it won't go away. Would it be possible to take an old-ish 4*4 suv or pickup and use the engine and drivetrain components to build a terramite-like garden tractor sized backhoe? Something sturdy, like a 4 runner, Pathfinder, trooper, i dunno, whatever I can find rotting in some mechanics front yard. Early 90s, manual, 4 low, with manual front hubs.

Logic behind this:

- Parts availability. It's easier to find old SUV parts than industrial machinery parts. Way cheaper too.

- Cheaper tires. Get some big knobbies for it and be happy. Y'ever buy tires for a tractor?

- Stronger than a garden tractor with a 3 point hoe. I started my machinery journey with a nice new-ish Kubota 24hp with a bucket and hoe. Broke it in half, welded it back together and sold it and got a big old yellow hoe. No contest even though they cost almost the same. Now one of my local competitor/colleague buddies has had two orange tractors with buckets and hoe attachments, and I'm always welding this and that on them. I dunno if Kubotas are prone to cracking or if we just work them too hard doing excavation contracting work when they're just little farm tractors. Also, all the neat walking around and repositioning stuff you do with a real hoe is way abusive on a 3 point hitch hoe. I'd weld like an integrated chassis of some kind or another.

- if I built it I can fix it.

I'm missing the little toy tractor for doing around the homestead type stuff, the big yellow dinosaur is a bit big and clumsy sometimes. Not really expecting this to come out cheaper than a used garden tractor with excavation attachments, but perhaps stronger and easier to work on.

Just a pipe dream for the future. Any thoughts or advice as I refine these ideas? Thanks!

 

[davedj1]

In short, yes.
Back years ago there were tons of backhoes mounted on trucks and Jeeps. Get a 4x4 with a PTO on the transfer case to run the pump.
Keep us posted as we love a good build.
Backhoe | eWillys

 

[the old grind]

Suggestion for using a small 4wd pickup: Install an electric clutch from the rear driveshaft to your main hydraulic pump vs to OEM rear end. Maneuver the vehicle by using 4wd mode. Switch to 2wd mode to operate pump for digging.

Build outriggers, valve stack, boom, and bucket onto that.

 

[Sebculb]

Dave and Grind,

Thanks! That's the type of advice I'm looking for. I don't think it'll be impossible, just very time consuming and somewhat expensive.

If I can find a used 3 pt backhoe within budget I'll probably use that, since itd be easier to adapt one of those rather than start from scratch. I'm thinking the side to side swing would be the worst part to engineer in my back yard with a chop saw and stick welder.

 

[DerekF]

Dude if you build this, please, I beg you, buy a tripod, stick your phone on it, and post videos to YouTube telling people what you did. This is a pipe dream of mine too. I’ve been hammering out every resource on the Internet I can find for building a larger ground engaging garden tractor out of junk yard parts, and this monstrosity your talking about building would be even better.

I’m not very creative, nor am I an excellent machinist/mechanic so these things are very much a pipe dream for me without some real guidance. I think the idea is cool as heck for something to play around the property with, and to get something/keep something out of the junk yard.

I think it has to be possible, and I’d love to see it done.

 

[fried1765]

Dude if you build this, please, I beg you, buy a tripod, stick your phone on it, and post videos to YouTube telling people what you did. This is a pipe dream of mine too. I’ve been hammering out every resource on the Internet I can find for building a larger ground engaging garden tractor out of junk yard parts, and this monstrosity your talking about building would be even better.

I’m not very creative, nor am I an excellent machinist/mechanic so these things are very much a pipe dream for me without some real guidance. I think the idea is cool as heck for something to play around the property with, and to get something/keep something out of the junk yard.

I think it has to be possible, and I’d love to see it done.

Oh.....I think I see an ugly, inefficient, money rat hole, destined for permanent residence under some brush in the jungle.

 

[ptsg]

Having built a backhoe from scratch myself, I'm very interested in this project.

If you do, indeed, start this project, please post the progress for us to watch.

Having 4 wheel steer wouldn't be a bad idea either. With just two front axles of whatever 4x4 truck you find and a simple linkage, can be easily done.

Let us know how this goes.

Here is mine. Not pretty by any means, at the time I had somewhat limited skills and tooling, but sure works very nicely and saved me loads of handwork. I started building this back around 2006 with the help of my dad as I was only 12 years old, and finished around 2014 or so, working on it mostly on weekends. Or as I usually say, it's never been finished as I keep adding/changing things over time.

 

[the old grind]

Oh.....I think I see an ugly, inefficient, money rat hole, destined for permanent residence under some brush in the jungle.

Riiiight. :thumbsup: And so often they end up like this near-miss:

View attachment 645773

I rarely consider the potential of another guy's success based on the surety of my own doubts.

 

[Sonny580]

The idea will work----BUT you MUST understand the limits of baby machines!--They won't do a tenth of the work a full sized machine does!
I made what was s'posed to be a mini-hoe,---turned out to be a very heavy mid-sized excavator when I got it to where I could actually dig with it---never did finish it and still use it a lot cause it digs close to 20 feet where my case 580 only goes 13 feet or so.
IF you think 1/8" steel will do---better go 14" and never look back! Adds a lot of weight so factor that into the plans before you start.
There are a lot of mini-hoe plans and ideas out there, so check around for more ideas and pick the parts that appeal to you.
We have a bunch of mini-hoe builds done over the years over on our forum, so you are welcome to join us for all kinds of neat stuff made over the years! Thanks!

Machine Builders Network - Forums powered by UBB.threads

 

[davedj1]

Having built a backhoe from scratch myself, I'm very interested in this project.

If you do, indeed, start this project, please post the progress for us to watch.

Having 4 wheel steer wouldn't be a bad idea either. With just two front axles of whatever 4x4 truck you find and a simple linkage, can be easily done.

Let us know how this goes.

Here is mine. Not pretty by any means, at the time I had somewhat limited skills and tooling, but sure works very nicely and saved me loads of handwork. I started building this back around 2006 with the help of my dad as I was only 12 years old, and finished around 2014 or so, working on it mostly on weekends. Or as I usually say, it's never been finished as I keep adding/changing things over time.

View attachment 645773

You got a build thread on that beast? Looks awesome