CK20 and backhoe options

Bob_Skurka · May 20, 2006

Design flaws of the loader not withstanding, let's try to get back onto topic.

You are looking for a small backhoe, and based on other information you have provided, you are looking to dig a 400' long utility trench. You also plan to remove stumps, apparently in the range of 10" diameter.

Here is my take on the whole thing, other guys may disagree.

Do not buy a mini-backhoe for a small tractor. Rent a mini-excavator with something like a 12' to 16' reach. Many rental yards rent excavators like a Thomas 35, that is an ideal unit for your tasks, you can probably rent it for $250 to $350 for a weekend.

Here is my logic.

Assuming a 42" depth to stay below frost line (other areas of the country may only need an 18", 24" or 36" depth) you will very likely spend several weekends of long labor diging a 400' long trench with a small TLB. On the other hand, in one afternoon, a mini-excavator will do the job.

Then look at a 10" white pine stump. That has a nice deep tap root. It could easily take an hour, even 2 or 3 hours, to dig that out with a small TLB. A medium sized mini-excavator can probably pop it out in only 10% to 15% of the of the time. So in the time it takes you to dig up 1 stumps 10" across with a small TLB, you can probably dig up 5 to 10 of them with a Thomas 35B, or similar unit, from the rental yard.

The net effect is that you will spend $5000 on the backhoe.

You will save well over $4000 by renting a mini-excavator, even if you end up renting it for 2 or 3 weekends over the course of the first summer.

You can spend 1/2 of the money you save on a boatload of implements like a post hole digger, box blade, and a tiller . . . and then you can spend $500 on a nice necklace for your wife, and still have $1500 left over in your bank account. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Oh, and the best part is that you won't have wasted an entire summer just to dig a trench and to pop a couple stumps.

Bob_Skurka · May 20, 2006

Design flaws of the loader not withstanding, let's try to get back onto topic.

You are looking for a small backhoe, and based on other information you have provided, you are looking to dig a 400' long utility trench. You also plan to remove stumps, apparently in the range of 10" diameter.

Here is my take on the whole thing, other guys may disagree.

Do not buy a mini-backhoe for a small tractor. Rent a mini-excavator with something like a 12' to 16' reach. Many rental yards rent excavators like a Thomas 35, that is an ideal unit for your tasks, you can probably rent it for $250 to $350 for a weekend.

Here is my logic.

Assuming a 42" depth to stay below frost line (other areas of the country may only need an 18", 24" or 36" depth) you will very likely spend several weekends of long labor diging a 400' long trench with a small TLB. On the other hand, in one afternoon, a mini-excavator will do the job.

Then look at a 10" white pine stump. That has a nice deep tap root. It could easily take an hour, even 2 or 3 hours, to dig that out with a small TLB. A medium sized mini-excavator can probably pop it out in only 10% to 15% of the of the time. So in the time it takes you to dig up 1 stumps 10" across with a small TLB, you can probably dig up 5 to 10 of them with a Thomas 35B, or similar unit, from the rental yard.

The net effect is that you will spend $5000 on the backhoe.

You will save well over $4000 by renting a mini-excavator, even if you end up renting it for 2 or 3 weekends over the course of the first summer.

You can spend 1/2 of the money you save on a boatload of implements like a post hole digger, box blade, and a tiller . . . and then you can spend $500 on a nice necklace for your wife, and still have $1500 left over in your bank account. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Oh, and the best part is that you won't have wasted an entire summer just to dig a trench and to pop a couple stumps.

Highbeam · May 20, 2006

At the end of the project you still have the backhoe attachment so it's value isn't zero, the rented machine is gone.

I would agree that if you have a big mess of stumps ready to be plucked, enough for a whole days rental of a big machine, that you would be better off renting a big machine to pop them all out and then leave. Even if you owned a smallish BH. Now if you have ongoing smaller BH projects like planting trees or digging ditches then renting isn't as good.

Highbeam · May 20, 2006

At the end of the project you still have the backhoe attachment so it's value isn't zero, the rented machine is gone.

I would agree that if you have a big mess of stumps ready to be plucked, enough for a whole days rental of a big machine, that you would be better off renting a big machine to pop them all out and then leave. Even if you owned a smallish BH. Now if you have ongoing smaller BH projects like planting trees or digging ditches then renting isn't as good.

Bob_Skurka · May 20, 2006

I have a backhoe, but I use a posthole digger for planting small to medium sized trees. The PHD does the job faster and pulverizes the soil so it goes back into the hole easier and eliminates air pockets around the root ball. A 12" auger bit with 3 holes drilled in a triangle pattern will plant a nice size balled & burlaped tree.

Bob_Skurka · May 20, 2006

I have a backhoe, but I use a posthole digger for planting small to medium sized trees. The PHD does the job faster and pulverizes the soil so it goes back into the hole easier and eliminates air pockets around the root ball. A 12" auger bit with 3 holes drilled in a triangle pattern will plant a nice size balled & burlaped tree.

KiotiJohn · May 20, 2006

( I have a backhoe, but I use a posthole digger for planting small to medium sized trees. )
You know, I could swear you've always said you wouldn't have a compact tractor backhoe. Which backhoe are we now speaking of Bob?

John

KiotiJohn · May 20, 2006

( I have a backhoe, but I use a posthole digger for planting small to medium sized trees. )
You know, I could swear you've always said you wouldn't have a compact tractor backhoe. Which backhoe are we now speaking of Bob?

John

Bob_Skurka · May 20, 2006

I have a backhoe, but I use a posthole digger for planting small to medium sized trees. 
You know, I could swear you've always said you wouldn't have a compact tractor backhoe. Which backhoe are we now speaking of Bob?

John 

No John, you are mistaken. Go back and read my old posts. I've always said that I think a backhoe is a waste of money on small tractors. I've said dozens of times that there is a Great Bend backhoe that basically sits unused. I've defended the point from the standpoint of an owner who has wasted money and realized it, and is man enough to admit it.

Lots of folks have backhoes, but on a tractor under 35 or 40hp, I honestly think they are basically a waste since they basically are inadequate little toys that take too long to accomplish tasks. When you get up to medium size tractors, then a backhoe is actually capable of doing 'real' work. But in any case, even on a commercial grade TLB, a mini-excavator will out dig a backhoe every day, every time. And that is DOUBLY true when the work to be done is trench digging or other tasks that require extensive movement of the machine. A mini-excavator can move in a line and dig almost simultaneously. Moving a TLB requires a total repositioning of the machine and restabilizing it.

Bob_Skurka · May 20, 2006

I have a backhoe, but I use a posthole digger for planting small to medium sized trees. 
You know, I could swear you've always said you wouldn't have a compact tractor backhoe. Which backhoe are we now speaking of Bob?

John 

No John, you are mistaken. Go back and read my old posts. I've always said that I think a backhoe is a waste of money on small tractors. I've said dozens of times that there is a Great Bend backhoe that basically sits unused. I've defended the point from the standpoint of an owner who has wasted money and realized it, and is man enough to admit it.

Lots of folks have backhoes, but on a tractor under 35 or 40hp, I honestly think they are basically a waste since they basically are inadequate little toys that take too long to accomplish tasks. When you get up to medium size tractors, then a backhoe is actually capable of doing 'real' work. But in any case, even on a commercial grade TLB, a mini-excavator will out dig a backhoe every day, every time. And that is DOUBLY true when the work to be done is trench digging or other tasks that require extensive movement of the machine. A mini-excavator can move in a line and dig almost simultaneously. Moving a TLB requires a total repositioning of the machine and restabilizing it.