Backhoe Do you use a backhoe dolly?

PineRidge · Oct 3, 2004

When I drop my NH backhoe I always lower it on two wood appliance dollies. It makes reattaching it and alignment to the tractor a lot easier than if it were just parked on the solid concrete floor.

I remember seeing a TBN member months ago that had welded up a great looking backhoe dolly for his own use and at the time that I saw it I failed to print the picture for my TBN future projects drawer. I'm now looking for a good winter project so if anyone might share some dolly pictures or ideas it will help me to develop some kind of a game plan for my own application.

boustany · Oct 4, 2004

There's this picture from a post.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-148514-bh.jpg

The one I made is similar, but made of steel. I will try and take a pict. The advantage to my backhoe is that there are attachment points underneath the hoe that makes a dolly much easier to use.

rswyan · Oct 5, 2004

Mike,

I made one up out of scrap PT 2 x 6's from an old deck using casters I picked up at Harbor Freight. The 2 x 6's are plenty heavy enough for my hoe .... but the casters were 4 inch steel inserts and about 3/4 inch of rubber on the outside (fairly hard rubber, but not hard enough apparently) They were rated for around 350 lbs each. My BL4690B backhoe weighs probably about 900 pounds with the hydraulic reservoir filled - too much weight for this type of caster I think - it is extremely hard to roll around on the concrete floor in my shed. I think this is due to rubber being compressed and flattened out ..... even though it's pretty hard stuff. I have since ordered four 5 x 2 inch solid steel wheel casters from Surplus Center - two swivel and two rigid:

5 x 2 Rigid Caster

5 x 2 Swivel Caster

I suspect that this will work much better but I just haven't gotten around to remounting the 'hoe on the tractor so I can install the new casters on the dolly, too many other irons in the fire at the moment, so I can't say for sure. Hope this helps.

boustany · Oct 5, 2004

I used solid steel casters about 6" diameter and they worked fine & roll ok. Dirt, especially small stones, can be a problem, but other than that they work great.

I used a tricycle configration because it worked better for me than trying to get 2 swivel casters to move correctly when the hoe was attached. Sometimes they would point in different directions, which would be a major pain.

rswyan · Oct 5, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I used a tricycle configration because it worked better for me than trying to get 2 swivel casters to move correctly when the hoe was attached. Sometimes they would point in different directions, which would be a major pain. )</font>

Yeah, good point - my current one has swivels on all four (what was I thinking ?) - and makes it a real pain in addition to them not being steel. Might have to go with that tricycle setup. Do you find it to be real stable with only three ? I assume the third wheel is under the bucket.

boustany · Oct 5, 2004

Yes, it is very stable. The swiveling wheel is inder the bucket, and I built a sort of grid for the teeth to lock into so it doesn't slide off as the hydraulics 'relax'.

The pair of wheels are just outside the attachment points to the hoe. With the low center of gravity and the weight concentrated between these two fixed wheels I couldn't tip it over if I tried.

zapper · Oct 5, 2004

Boustany, I too would love to see a picture of your backhoe dolly as I am also building one. Thanks

PineRidge · Oct 6, 2004

Rswyan thanks for the link to the Surplus Center solid steel casters. I just ordered 4 as they look to be just the ticket for the BH dolly that I'll be making shortly. My BH is about 850-900 pounds and the solid steel casters should move freely on the concrete floor of my pole barn and without the problem that the rubber casters get into with developing flat spots.