Geting a Backhoe, decisions

[meledward23]

Well,

It is close to time to buy another tractor. The TC-55da is doing a fair bit of contract work outside of the farms day to day operations. We have decided the farm hand really ought get his own tractor as I dont let himdrive my 55da. To much tractor for the small space. It will go through a 6x6 post even after you jump off.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif dont ask....

So anyway I am planning on getting a TC-30 for the farm hand. Seems like a perfect choice. A basic tractor that can do the work.

But the decision, I have been drooling for a backhoe since I bought my 55da. Now they will sell me a 759C The big boy for my 55da and finance it with the 30. That sounds great for digging stuff. But I wonder is that to big?

See with my 55da I learned size and power is great, it is also overkill in situations. My 55 is really to big to do a lot of things. It does them, but a smaller machine would have done them better. But of course moving things like 30" diamter 10' logs would have been impossible with the other machine (on a loader, no dragging).

So back to the Point. Anyone have a big backhoe and think one of the smaller ones may have been better? Or vice versa, or since the buckets can be changed on these backhoes, is that only real difference? What size buckets should I get, just one or two?

Uses for the BH,
Creek and Ditch embankment maintenance / reapirs.
Culvert work,
Digging and digging (ponds, trenches, etc)
Stump removal (currently about 30 on my property)

What else can I use this thing for /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, need some more to add to the list to get it past my financial control officer (AKA Wife /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif )

 

[meledward23]

Hmmm.. so much for spelling correctly. (Subject)

 

[IH3444]

Well I'm sitting here munching my lunch and thinking the same thing. I decided on, and bought a TC48DA/18LA, R4s,with filled rear, rear remote, block heater. Got a fantastic deal, and highly recommend Antietam Tractor. I decided against the Kioti DK45S I was looking at. I didn't like the self leveling loader, and just couldn't shake my love of the New Holland swept down boom, and huge bucket. Not to mention that everyone seems to say, "the machine is soooooooooooooo.....powerful, be careful" I'm like, yep, that's the one I want, maybe I'll get hurt. New Holland's numbers crunch out properly also, telling me that their engineers have done their work well. Others just didn't measure up on the calculator. I also like the almost completely uncluttered operators platform, and that rich blue color makes me swooooooon. Now back to the hoe, I am going to keep my IH3444 with the 3141 backhoe. It is a beast of a hoe, and all these others look like small toys next to it. I was thinking of the Bradco 509. It looks a bit beefier than the Rhino. The 511 is a candidate also. If I were you, I would opt for the biggest, seeing you don't have one at all. I very seldom read, if at all the post of "I bought too large...."

 

[billfires]

I have a 758 BH on a NH1920 and sometimes wished it were a little bit bigger so I would have more reach. One of the considerations on the size of the hoe is the height of doorways (if it is stored inside). Bradco makes a very nice BH and I would go with the biggest that they reccomend for your TC 55. As far as bucket sizes I have a 16 inch but would like to eventually get 3, a 12in. for stumps and trenching, a 24in. for digging footings and moving gravel and a 36in. cemetary bucket for digging graves. Bill C

 

[hazmat]

Assuming you can afford it, put the hoe on the big machine.

Next construction zone you go thru - watch the guy in the full size Cat, Case or Deere get bounced all over creation - that's in a ~15,000# machine....

 

[Shadow_River]

I have a 14" bucket that I use most of the time. I think this may be the best all around size. However, there are times when my 24" comes in handy and saves alot of time. If it were me, I would get a 14" and a 24" bucket. They certainly would take care of about any project.

azzxx