DR Power Equipment Backhoe

[Coyote machine]

I've used and owned a fair amount of Dr. Equipment over the last 25 or so years, most is listed in my signature.
I'd ask you to say how many hours a week or month you expect to use it and how fast you estimate getting your projects completed. I think the price is high for what it looks like it can do. Resale might be worth considering, and possibly look for a 'slightly used' newer one- which ought to go for 1/2 or less vs. new.

I started with a bolt on 'tooth' on my 1st, 35HP diesel tractor, with factory supplied and branded hoe; which I hardly used due to the inconvenience of setting it up to do whatever I needed it to grab. Sold it to a guy on TBN and bought a hydraulic thumb, but it needed a different strength piston, so that one was pretzled during it's first test run! Same manufacturer built a H. Duty model soon after with a beefier piston, and that gets the job done nicely. I kept the original hoe and it fit my new Kioti 40HP Tractor.

For price comparison, in 2009, with my first Kioti 35HP, 3 cylinder diesel I paid around $8K for the model 2485-BH, their biggest model all hydraulic hoe, and when I see the Dr. priced around $6K I shake my head that anyone will spend that amount for what it is. I'm NOT slamming it- I just think that is a LOT of money for that hoe's size, capability, etc.

I could be wrong, by my experience tells me not likely, in this instance. I'd rate it a C at best, IF you are willing to do a lot of prep work and maneuvering around with it to get done what you need done- and if there is no real time crunch to accomplish the tasks.

I get it, not everyone can afford a serious tractor to 'drive' a fairly serious tractor based hoe. I'd love to have a skid steer and a mini Ex. Neither will likely ever be in my budget, but I sure could justify all day to my wife why I could do so much more with either or both, but then I'd need extra outbuildings, etc.
It never ends, well not until you die! :confused3:

Dr. may have a 6 months trial basis, but you're far from their factory so I don't know- but you could ask. They sometimes offer better deals on refurbished units- again I don't know if they do on the item in question- you can always ask....

You could buy and 'try' the HF unit and if it seemed to do the job beat on it 'till it worthless, and then get another one and money probably saved on the purchase of one Dr. Any number of options around, depends on how many rocks to dig, # of trenches and how long/wide and biggest factor: your time- what's it worth to you vs. doing something else which could make you more money over the time you lay out using an implement a step above a shovel?

Good luck! Let us know outcome/decision.

 

[TractorGuy]

I know you want info on the DR but I'm thinking the lack of videos on that unit reflect the lack of buyers.

You can find a decent used full size backhoe for about twice what the DR unit sells for. A full size backhoe will do in 15 minutes what you would do in 3 or 4 or hours on one of these rinky dink things.

This guy does some great video presentations on the HF unit.

Unpacking
Unpacking My Harbor Freight 62365 Trencher - YouTube

Assembly
Assembling My Harbor Freight 62365 Trencher - YouTube

Using
Harbor Freight 62365 Trencher Removing a Stump - YouTube

He does some other stuff like making a thumb and adapting the DR ripper to it. He is a **** of a fabricator machinist.

 

[DerekF]

I know you want info on the DR but I'm thinking the lack of videos on that unit reflect the lack of buyers.

You can find a decent used full size backhoe for about twice what the DR unit sells for. A full size backhoe will do in 15 minutes what you would do in 3 or 4 or hours on one of these rinky dink things.

This guy does some great video presentations on the HF unit.

He does some other stuff like making a thumb and adapting the DR ripper to it. He is a **** of a fabricator machinist.

I have watched all of the Unemployed Redneck Hillbilly videos on the HF machine. The guy is AWESOME, been subscribed to him for years! I have pretty much completely decided against the DR. I went and looked at trenchers as someone suggested on local classifieds and I found a Ditch Witch with a front blade and the rear trencher (no digging arm) for only $3000 in the Phoenix area about 3 hrs south west of me.. That is what it will cost to get the Harbor Freight to me. I am not ready to buy now. I am more trying to get educated and research so I know my decision when the time comes and I have had a lot of time to think about it. I think I would still consider the HF machine but when the time comes I will keep my eyes peeled for a Ditch Witch in under $5000 with the backhoe attachment. If it never shows, then I may just pull the trigger on the HF.

I definitely get what JD855 is saying about getting a real FS backhoe for twice as much a the DR. But with that being said I do just have to offer a few points of why I wouldn't consider that. The number one reason being that the cost of Ownership would be next to nothing for the DR. 2-3 quart oil changes, probably 3-5 gallons of hydraulic fluid. Simple carburetor single cylinder gas motor that I am perfectly capable and equipped to work on myself. Also when it comes time to buy new tires for a FS backhoe to replace all 4 tires I will spend half as much as the DR trencher costs (All of what the HF cost). New tires for the DR will come at probably $120 - $200 all together. Its a very simple machine and to just get little projects done here and there. I am not going into business with it so speed is less of my concern where the economical choice is more. I guess in short, I am not just looking for a less expensive alternative when it comes to the up front cost but also what it costs me to own, maintain, and fix it. Which is less than pretty much any "real" piece of equipment. The ultimate goal is to have a compact tractor someday, But I read its a PAIN to switch the backhoe attachment out to other implements. Which is why the separate unit is appealing to me.

With all that being said I think I would go for a gas powered Ditch Witch trencher with a digging arm (backhoe?) attachment. It seems like a good middle of the road option! Not to mention it has a back fill blade and its a self contained machine where the HF trencher will always need a friend to hold it down and move it around. But again, I also think the little HF trencher would suffice If I cannot find the DW with a back hoe on it. Especially going back to the cost of ownership aspect.

Again, thanks for all the food for thought guys. Its all been helpful.

 

[fried1765]

I know you want info on the DR but I'm thinking the lack of videos on that unit reflect the lack of buyers.

You can find a decent used full size backhoe for about twice what the DR unit sells for. A full size backhoe will do in 15 minutes what you would do in 3 or 4 or hours on one of these rinky dink things.

This guy does some great video presentations on the HF unit.

Unpacking
Unpacking My Harbor Freight 62365 Trencher - YouTube

Assembly
Assembling My Harbor Freight 62365 Trencher - YouTube

Using
Harbor Freight 62365 Trencher Removing a Stump - YouTube

He does some other stuff like making a thumb and adapting the DR ripper to it. He is a **** of a fabricator machinist.

^^^^ What he said!