Backhoe Do I really need a Backhoe on my CUT???

[PA hayseed]

I have had two tractors, I have never put one on. I cannot justify the cost. In my particular situation there is a guy down the road with a mine ex, and I call him to do ditches/trenches. he charges about 300 for a full day minus lunch and pack up time. I have hired him 3 times for stuff I would have used the backhoe for.

If you have more work than that, maybe it would be worth it to you. I won't say that I will never put one on my tractor, but it would have to be a heck of a bargain.

Good luck in your decision, hope it works out for you.

 

[LBrown59]

I must need a BH cause right now I'm using my BX23 to dig a ditch to install an elect line from my 22x76 metal building to the 8x10 storage building that was delivered today.
Just came in from working on the ditch.
Got about 6 feet to go so i may go back out and finish it up after while.

I'm sure glad there is a BX23 setting out in the garage instead of a BX2230 as there would have been had I listened to my wife.
Don't tell her i said this.!.

 

[jgrreed]

Found a Woods distributor today here in Alberta. They want ONLY 14500$ for a BH90X, and another $2700 to add a thumb!!!! Holy Schnikey's!!!!

A friend on mine says he's seeing reasonable used minihoes out of the states for 5-10k, I think I may go that route, unless I stumble across a good deal on a 445, 448, or a Woods.

We'll see I geuss....

-Jer.

 

[joes_427_vette]

I bought a used Bradco 611 which was on a skid steer mount. My guess the skid steer was too small because the hoe was barely used. I couldn't get a factory mount for my tractor so I built one. You have to consider what a mount costs because one can spend 2k plus tax and shipping on that heavy iron.
It is a great attachment with a million uses. I planted approx 100 10-12' trees with mine this spring digging a 2x2 hole for root expansion. Try that with a shovel ! If you have time look for a used one. I have seen quite a few on the market. Good luck.

 

[jimmysisson]

I'd judge this decision by whether you tend to finish projects or almost-finish. With a backhoe, the almost- projects are eyesores, and harder to ignore. I bought a backhoe/tractor combo back in 1972 and used it to build a house. Once that was done, all I ever dug was trouble for myself.
Still, if you have enough projects, and can buy used, you can likely sell it again for about what you paid: no loss and you learn a new skill. That'd be true for a machine or attachment.
Jim

 

[AndyMA]

Woulds there be a market for just the hoe after you have finished with it.

You may also consider that having the hoe on hand will allow you versatile equipment availability that you do not have with rental equipment.

I would never run out of uses for a backhoe. I use mine more than any other attachment. Without one I would find my tractors pretty limited. Get the hoe, I don't think you'll ever regret it. Anyone who calls a hoe a paperweight probably has never used one.


Andy

 

[debushau]

I got a quote of about US$7800 a few months ago for a 448 and $6800 for a 375. The Woods equivalent was about $1000 more expensive in each case. I couldn't see how it was better than the Deere model.

I ended up buying the Deere backhoe and, to sound a contrary note, have found it to be of limited use. I originally planned to use it to dig out a lot of stumps but it justs makes a mess at it and takes forever. The other random uses I have found for it thus far don't really justify it - maybe things might change in the future.

If I were to go back in time, I feel that I might have been happier investing in a used mini-ex. The CUT with a backhoe just isn't very balanced and feels like a compromised machine.

 

[LBrown59]

Got about 6 feet to go so i may go back out and finish it up after while.

I'm sure glad there is a BX23 setting out in the garage

Got the ditch done for the elect line to the little storage building.
Like I told my wife if i didn't have the BX23 I'd probably still be waiting on a BH this time next week.
Time and convince all it takes to make a BH worth it.

 

[Corm]

I've had a backhoe on my tractor for close to 10 years now. I have 20 acres I maintain, and never run out of uses for it.

Debushau, above, brings up a couple of good points. A backhoe on a CUT is not an excavator... If you think you'll be using your backhoe to dig up a bunch of big hardwood stumps, you might try renting one first. They'll do it, but it isn't a quick process, and it really works a small rig like ours. On the other hand, a lot of the jobs I do with mine are better suited for a small rig. It is a matter of matching the requirements to the tool. I've dug stumps, laid sewer lines, water lines, ditches, retaining wall trenches, lots and lots of rocks, this summer I dug a form trench for a garage, I put in a septic system this year for a friend (not for free...), etc. etc... I also get a few odd jobs each summer for neighbors. Good for a few bucks on the side every year.

One other advantage of having a backhoe that no one else has mentioned yet - they are just plain fun to use!

Corm

 

[Richard]

Seems I'm late to help twist your arm...

I have about 2 acres that are 'mine'. I own a JCB 1550 industrial (15 1/2' digging depth)

I've got to be the biggest machine to smallest plot of anyone

Additional uses other than those mentioned:

1. Burying a goldfish that my wife didn't want me to 'flip' into the woods
2. Transplanting wifes day lillies instead of grabbing a shovel
3. Lift propane tank to top side of retaining wall
4. Use raised front bucket as 'trash bin' as I tossed ripped up flooring and threw out window (it's got an 8' wide bucket)
5. Hoist (flat) tractor tire into bed of truck
6. Hoist (flat) BACKHOE tire to/from truck

 

[AndyMA]

Yes get a backhoe. It's by far the attachment I use the most on my machines, And not just for digging. Scraping, soil loosening and brush grubbing are just a few of it's uses.

Andy

 

[RobJ]

$12,000 pretty pricey. IMO you'd have to have a lot of work lying around to justify. Plus it's probably off the tractor most of the time anyway.

When I need I rent, they are bigger, and someone else takes care of them. For extended use a rental place will give you a much better rate for a 5-7 day rental.

Of course if you can afford it...nevermind.

 

[bjr]

I put in a house and all I had was a 35 Hp Jinma and box blade and rear blade and landscapping rake. I hired out the basement digging and for installing the water lines on the property I rented a small kubota backhoe loader for a weekend. I've never felt bad about renting now and then. The little tractor I own does fine with no FEL or Backhoe. It's easy to work on and I'm not tearing up the machine by trying to overdo with the backhoe or loader. I don't know how far from town your place is so equipment moving may be an issue. I agree that 12 grand is serious money and backhoes can be a pain to maintain. bjr

 

[jgrreed]

I put in a house and all I had was a 35 Hp Jinma and box blade and rear blade and landscapping rake. I hired out the basement digging and for installing the water lines on the property I rented a small kubota backhoe loader for a weekend. I've never felt bad about renting now and then. The little tractor I own does fine with no FEL or Backhoe. It's easy to work on and I'm not tearing up the machine by trying to overdo with the backhoe or loader. I don't know how far from town your place is so equipment moving may be an issue. I agree that 12 grand is serious money and backhoes can be a pain to maintain. bjr

I'm only 10 min to a Cat rental store, and I have a gooseneck to pull anything up to 11000 pounds.

Some of you talk me into it, some of you talk me out of it.........

All the input is great though, thanks!!

-J.

 

[jgrreed]

One other advantage of having a backhoe that no one else has mentioned yet - they are just plain fun to use!

Corm

Amen on the fun factor!! A buddy of mine has a Kubota B39, and I could dig holes..... and then fill them back in, all day long!!!

What a bunch of kids we are...!!! I went to school for a very long time to get back to being like this though, and I have really no interest in a Benz, so........

-J.

 

[RobJ]

, and I could dig holes..... and then fill them back in, all day long!!!

Have you actually tried this? ALL day. Yeah it seems like fun but when the fun is over...few hours depending on the dust and heat, hitting rocks, stumps, water lines, electrical lines, sweer lines......it's just work again. Wow think about 50 hours a week on one shaking your gutts out. Like anything I guess, driving an Indy car would be cool, but 500 miles of left turns and several hours would start to feel like work. And no AC!!

 

[Reg]

7 responses in <12 hours!!! Nice.

Thanks for all that guys.

There are several Montana dealers here in Alberta, so I think I'll give them a try.

Hold on........Actually, I just looked and the Amereuip 8600 can't be the 448. The 8600 doesn't have a curved boom on it.

Do any of you have an opinion on the Woods BH90??? Looks good on paper.

Thanks again, looking forward to reading more thoughts.

-J.

Right, does the 448 have a curved boom - and how much does that matter (in dollar$) ?

This thread;
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/126558-amerequip-backhoe-oem-who.html
Got me to believe they are the same, although when I was measuring buckets for pin spacing I admit to not checking the curvature (or lack thereof) of the boom.

 

[jgrreed]

Right, does the 448 have a curved boom - and how much does that matter (in dollar$) ?

This thread;
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/126558-amerequip-backhoe-oem-who.html
Got me to believe they are the same, although when I was measuring buckets for pin spacing I admit to not checking the curvature (or lack thereof) of the boom.

Dunno how much a curved boom matters...??? Probably not much to a hack like me. I'm kinda type A, and like to have the best I can for the least $$ - is that possible??

As for the fun part mentioned above, when it's not fun anymore I'll put her away for 48 hours and come back to it!!! Rome wasn't built in a day...... and I'm learning really quick that neither is my acreage.

-J.

 

[Reg]

Dunno how much a curved boom matters...??? Probably not much to a hack like me. I'm kinda type A, and like to have the best I can for the least $$ - is that possible??

As for the fun part mentioned above, when it's not fun anymore I'll put her away for 48 hours and come back to it!!! Rome wasn't built in a day...... and I'm learning really quick that neither is my acreage.

-J.

Curved booms on CUT sized back-hoes almost certainly fall below the price/usefulness curve and above the manufacturing_cost/profit_margin curve.
IOW I probably wouldn't pay much additional for it and the supplier can probably make a much better percentage on it than they do on the base hoe.

Nice delta for supplier, poor delta for consumer (-: