How do I hang a backhoe: suggestions please.

[newbury]

New BH70-X (~900lbs) on my B7610.
I've presently got a small < 1.4 acre lot which I'm NOT going to build a garage on or put down a large concrete pad.
I'd like to build (out of wood preferably) a frame to "hang" my backhoe on a hook & chain, thus making it easier to "mate" with my tractor. See pic.

I don't weld yet, so don't go there.

My concept is to have a winch so I can lift it up to a required height, or lower it down to blocks on a level wood frame. And with the chain be able to jiggle it around for easier hookup.

Plus the frame will act as a frame for a canopy for the backhoe.

I'm thinking 4x4's for the uprights and a 6x6 for the crosspiece, does that sound strong enough?

In a year or so I plan on a pole barn in Mississippi.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Standard practice is to have the backhoe hydraulics operational and use the hoe and outrigger controls to mate/detach the backhoe. I must be missing something because I don't see how hanging the backhoe from a stationary hoist is easier than that. 900lb is a lot to jiggle around plus the center of gravity of the attachment really depends on the orientation of the moveable parts.

If the subframe attachment procedure is too finicky about how you back up to the hoe, putting it on a dolly on a small level platform should allow you the freedom to get it just right before you engage the hydraulics.

 

[newbury]

I did not want to build much of a platform for the BH, I've got the pallet it shipped on.
The reason for the hoist is that I'm pretty sure I can move 900 pounds hanging a couple of inches back and forth, but not sure I could push it around on casters very easily.
Plus I figured with a moveable 4 piece frame plus the hoist I could use it for hooking up my box blade and a yet to be purchased PHD.

The more I think of it I believe I've seen metal engine hoists that may do the same.
/edit - HF sells them for $360, which would buy a lot of wood.

 

[BarryinMN]

I have to second the don't hang vote. I have a QT Deere backhoe - plug in the hoses & 2 mins to attach & pin. The problem I see with an uncontrolled suspended load is pinching or even knocking the thing over, crushing whatever it falls on.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I'm not sure what your connection looks like but let me show you what I did. On each side I added an angled bar that guides the connection into place as I back up. With the backhoe at the appropriate height I back into it far enough to push it a little and the guides slide it into place. My attachment weighs about 1500 lbs and it is sitting on dirt.

3RRL Rob suggested it and it works good. Mine are welded on but they could be made to bolt on. I'm sure your attachment mechanism is different than mine but the concept should still be doable.

The guide is angled to the right in this pic.

 

[bobodu]

I thought only Texas still used hanging...

 

[vic4news]

I suggest you try the procedure for mounting and unmounting the hoe as described in the woods manual. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it.
The woods subframe already has the angled guides built into the subframe.

Vic

 

[Ductape]

I'm with Vic. My Woods hoe goes on and off in a few minutes. Maybe I'm missing your ultimate goal, but I can't grasp why you'd want to hang it.

 

[tommu56]

I'm in the set it down group.


I set mine down with the outriggers and hoe.

I do set it on a couple pieces of 6x6 to make it easier to hook hoses back up so it can lift it self back up to tractor.

tom

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Taking my BH off only takes a few minutes....Unhooking & hooking the hoses back up is what takes the most time i think.

If i take my backhoe off & know that it will be off for a couple days, then i take wood and block it up, so when the jacks leak off it won't tilt backwards where i have to back in to mount it back up.....and that saves me a lot of time.

When i first bought my tractor and took the BH off for the first time, i didn't block it up and when i went to mount it back on, i had to take a floor jack & jack it up because it was tilted backwards & i couldn't get lined up right on it.

I have a concrete pad fixed so when i take it off it will be level, and it won't sink up in soft ground....Once you get use to taking it off & putting it back on, then its easy.