Buying Advice End Loader, Backhoe, or ???

[LibraryMark]

You would be better with a 4wd TLB extendahoe in the 15K lb, 60HP range. I think that would fit your needs pretty well.

Thanks! Information I can use!

 

[4570Man]

99 percent of the old TLBs are 2wd. I think that’s still the hands down best tool for the job. A 4-1 bucket would be nice if you could find one. I have a 4wd backhoe and of course it helps but it’s nowhere close to the difference it makes on a smaller tractor. A smaller tractor probably has 50-50 weight distribution. My machine has 7/8 of the weight over the back axel.

 

[wagne223]

My mistake was mentioning my budget. I truly did want to know what people thought was the most useful machine for what I laid out I would be using it for. Little did I know this forum was filled with people far more affluent than I am.

I dont think responders intended to insult you. Many new people sign up and ask questions about getting a low cost machine but they do not have to ability or patience to perform the constant repairs that go along with a low cost older machine.

Because you are new, assumptions are made.

Also, in our defense, this board is on the internet. It is accessed on a computer, tablet or smart phone. All these devices cost $300 - $1000 or more and require some type of monthly service that typically costs $60 (just for internet) to $200 or more for phone, internet, TV, wireless, ect.

So, in general people that are willing and able to spend that on access typically are not the type to buy cars or equipment at low price and make constant repairs.

With that said, from your original post I assumed (as I'm sure others did) that you were expecting to find a machine to fit your needs and did not require major repairs for $5000.

In the utility tractor market, that just does not happen.

Hopefully you get some answers that help you.

 

[rScotty]

My mistake was mentioning my budget. I truly did want to know what people thought was the most useful machine for what I laid out I would be using it for. Little did I know this forum was filled with people far more affluent than I am.

Doesn't sound like a mistake to me. All it means is probably just what you expected. Just looking around, there are lots of good basic machines available. And more coming along every day. All a budget like yours means is that you will spend some time with an older machine and probably need to do some work on it. The trick is to buy one that is worn instead of beat up.

Looking at the price of new tractors, anyone with a set of wrenches could get a good older one and afford go through it from end to end. Probably end up with something as good as new and still save lots of money. Older tractors were built to last and to be rebuilt.
rScotty

 

[4570Man]

I dont think responders intended to insult you. Many new people sign up and ask questions about getting a low cost machine but they do not have to ability or patience to perform the constant repairs that go along with a low cost older machine.

Because you are new, assumptions are made.

Also, in our defense, this board is on the internet. It is accessed on a computer, tablet or smart phone. All these devices cost $300 - $1000 or more and require some type of monthly service that typically costs $60 (just for internet) to $200 or more for phone, internet, TV, wireless, ect.

So, in general people that are willing and able to spend that on access typically are not the type to buy cars or equipment at low price and make constant repairs.

With that said, from your original post I assumed (as I'm sure others did) that you were expecting to find a machine to fit your needs and did not require major repairs for $5000.

In the utility tractor market, that just does not happen.

Hopefully you get some answers that help you.

I don’t think it was an assumption. He said he had $5000 to spend not 5000 to spend plus a other 5000 to spend for repairs. Repairs add up quick on old machines quick. I wouldn’t doubt if the tire on the OPs loader would cost more than the loader did.

 

[nards444]

I don稚 think it was an assumption. He said he had $5000 to spend not 5000 to spend plus a other 5000 to spend for repairs. Repairs add up quick on old machines quick. I wouldn稚 doubt if the tire on the OPs loader would cost more than the loader did.

Well said. Everybody is on a budget some less some more. But I think all kinds tend to wrap their heads around up front cost and what they think they need the machine to do, but what they fail to think about is legacy cost and their true needs. 5k for this application frankly wont get much and money and or time will be had into the old machine at some point making the 5k up front cost not really a true cost of the machine. Maybe not the case of the OP but from my experience budgets like this tend to cost people more money in the long run or tend mean asking for help or burdening other people. End game for situations like this might mean to hire out pieces of it and or not deal with some of it. Or cash some of it finance some of it to get into a better machine that can do what you need it do. Realistically seems as if its just a lot of junk hanging around and maybe priorities need to be re-arranged to either eliminate some of the work requirement or to purchase the correct machine

 

[widefat]

Folks -

I am trying to decide what type of machine to get, I've got about $5K to spend. We own 17 acres of mostly woods, and I would like to clear a little more of it. I also need a machine that can lift heavy objects (old milling machines, lathes, boulders, etc.) from time to time. One that can move snow and dirt pull small stumps. As I work by myself, I need something that I can get in and out of when the bucket is in the air. That rules out a skidsteer.

I have an old Michigan 175 loader - it's strong as heck, but the tires do not hold air longer than a day, The Detroit 4-71 in it is really tired, and it's so heavy (24K Lbs), it leaves awful ruts in the yard and takes an acre to turn around with. Even with all that, it was really handy. Currently it's yard art because one tire has a gash in the sidewall. Before the 175 I had a Case W5 and that was handy and a good size but not being 4WD made it useless in some situations.

I figure my choices are another (smaller) end loader like maybe a Case W7 or similar, or a backhoe or a tractor with a loader.

What's the best choice given my meagre budget? Anyone know of something near SW Michigan?

Thanks -

Mark in SW MI.

I thought I knew a thing or two before I joined this forum. What I quickly discovered was a lot of individuals posted here that knew significantly more than I did.
Now, you have just about all of them telling you $5k probably wont buy what you really need. Affluent? Non sequitur.
But, you seem to have a good handle on what you need, and seem sure you can find it - so why bother with advice? March smartly forward young man!

 

[finn1]

There’s a 1974 Case Construction King 2wd backhoe for sale on our local Craigslist with an asking price of $7500.

That’s 50% more than the op wants to spend, for a 45 year old 2wd machine.

I don’t know if the sellers will get anywhere near his asking price, but I suspect there is going to be some difficult searching required by the op to fulfill his wants.

 

[4570Man]

 

[ovrszd]

View attachment 607944

I paid $6500 for a 1984 555A with extendahoe and 4 way front bucket.

 

[grm61]

Hi, what series is your Michigan? weights I have seen listed is 54K:shocked:
Besides the gashed tire Where are the other ones leaking? Are they leaking through the casing or around the O ring if they are tubeless?
Have they been tubed?
I'm an old tire guy that's why I am asking.

I can appreciate your dilemma...Money does not grow on trees, or fall out of the sky, not for me anyway.
Some pics of your machine and tires would be usefull, If you are not sure if they have been tubed, please in include pics of the valve stems.


Seems to me if the tires held air, and it started without a jump, and did not have oil running onto the ground while it ran, it would be good trading stock.
A full size construction Hoe, Preferably 4x4 would probably be usefull to you

Some guys collect this stuff just because they like it, they might have something that will work for you, and just have to have that wheel loader:thumbsup:

I get the tire thing....Might not be as bad as you think to get them to hold air.

 

[Cat_Driver]

"My mistake was mentioning my budget. I truly did want to know what people thought was the most useful machine for what I laid out I would be using it for. Little did I know this forum was filled with people far more affluent than I am."


No, you mistake is not accepting perhaps a total of 500 years of experience here on the site. Sorta like my teenager who throws out terms like you do to ( "more affluent than I am") to deflect his ignorance, then years later comes back and says "Dad you were right"

I'll be there are no to very few people with "affluance" giving you advice here. Most everyone here has lived and worked long enought to set realistic goals for what they are trying to accomplish with their equipment and most if not all have been there done that and have the T shirt to prove it.

Now you cal sluff off all the actual help people are giving you with your nastly comment of affluance or you can grow a set and appreciate what people here are doing for you.

Probably the funniest part of your rude and prickish comment was the fact that you called a bunch of people who own and use tractors affluant. That right there shows us all how ignorant you really are.

I never knew a farmer who tilled 600 acres with a 250K tractor because he needs the size and power to accomplish his tilling from way before sun up to way after dark was "affluant"

You my ignorant friend will get no help from me. You obviously know it all, and are not humble enough to understand what the kind people here are doing to help you..

 

[ovrszd]

CD, maybe you need a timeout.....

 

[DrewStyduhar]

Hi,

New to the forum and don't know anyone in here. I'm really surprised about all the assumptions being made here and folks getting nasty with each other. Some of you obviously have a chip on your shoulder.

Who is the moderator for this forum?

 

[4570Man]

There’s several, Moss road is probably the most active. But no rules have been broken here.

 

[DrewStyduhar]

Didn't say any rule was broken. Just curious about some things. Thanks

 

[rScotty]

Didn't say any rule was broken. Just curious about some things. Thanks

TBN is a large - very large - family. Like any family there are disagreements. But as a whole, it works surprisingly well.

 

[shooterdon]

And theyæ±*e broke down and not useable. Point proved.

Well, he used the $2k machine for almost 8 years. Seems like he did good in my book. Can't rent anything for $250 per year.

Kind of like using a beater truck to plow snow. If it will only be used 30 hours a year, having a bit of noise from the rear end is not a show stopper. Maybe the OP does not need great reliability and does not do a lot of work with his machine. Sometimes good enough is good enough.

 

[tcreeley]

Some good info both ways. TBN is not the best place for tips on doing something on the cheap. I have to laugh at the number of first tractors going through the door for 20+K and more. But why not - if you can afford it!
I had the same wake up call when I read posts on the "correct" way to do something vs the cheap good enough way to get the same thing done. There is a ton of good information here- less on scrapping it together.

 

[rScotty]

Some good info both ways. TBN is not the best place for tips on doing something on the cheap. I have to laugh at the number of first tractors going through the door for 20+K and more. But why not - if you can afford it!
I had the same wake up call when I read posts on the "correct" way to do something vs the cheap good enough way to get the same thing done. There is a ton of good information here- less on scrapping it together.

I also enjoy the "how to do it on a budget" type of post versus the "how to spend lots with financing" type. But that's a personal choice.

Just thinking out loud....Hasn't our buying decisions become sort of generational? In Colorado the population has soared in the last ten years and a majority of the people moving out of town onto small acreages are now older folks close to retirement who do tend to have more money to spend. Naturally enough they buy new compact and utility size 4wd tractors. In fact, many who fit that age description post here on TBN.

I say "generational" partly because although I am from that older group now, we came from a generation where the reverse movement was true. In my youth It was the young people moving to the county and the older people who were moving to the city.
Since we didn't have much money after buying land.....and the credit economy hadn't been invented yet.... we didn't even consider buying new. We just naturally bought older machinery and fixed it up. That isn't so popular today, but it is still a reasonable way to go. Gotta have more time than money, though.
My hat is off to anyone who figures out what they can afford and how to work within that budget.
rScotty