How often do you actually use your backhoe? (BX and B size)

[check]

One more vote for a Backhoe. I certainly use mine, and I would not buy a tractor without one. I have used mine for digging ditches, carrying heavy rocks, digging out around the foundation of my boat house, digging things out of the ground, digging up trees and planting them elsewhere, and holding logs so that I can chainsaw them into 16 inch lengths for splitting. I also used it for digging the foundation for my garage.

 

[Looking4new]

I've laid power cable, dug up a tree or two, placed gravel in hard to get at places, burried a dog and that is about it. I would not part with my BH.

 

[GeneV]

I'm not talking about those of you who use your rig for your profession, I'm talking about homeowners. Somebody recently suggested it might not be worth buying a backhoe as it ends up mostly un-used, so I thought I would ask the esteemed panel of experts here. Is that true? Not worth it?

I had the same question last year, at the time came to the conclusion that I'd forego the hoe, so was looking at getting into a GC1705. My thought process was installing a 3rd function for a grapple (I wanted a way to grab stuff) and also a plow with powered angle. Also was planning on getting a stump bucket for digging some holes for planting trees or whatever.

But then I stumbled on a good deal on a near new GC1710, so was like ok why not? The backhoe ended up being quite useful and actually changed my thinking about how I'd use my tractor. I've done a number of digging projects with it which I wouldn't be able to do with a stump/spade bucket. I added a thumb to the backhoe, which does some work I was picturing a grapple would do and found bolt-on pallet forks (which came with my tractor purchase) work fine for rest of the work I was planning for the grapple. So yeh, the backhoe has proven it's worth. Even as ballast, I'm sure it weighs more than a fully loaded ballast box, but then it's also a useful implement as opposed to just dead weight (or at best a caddy).

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Like many here the '24 hoe was used extensively when new but only occasionally in the ensuing years. It was half my justification to SWMBO for buying the 24 in the first place. "Think how much it would cost to have someone else put in the irrigation for the gardens and mini-orchard?"

Since then digging a 200' water line and power trench for a neighbor, planting trees and burying a dog for another, moving rocks, logs, and stumps, digging for a mono-pour slab, etc, etc, etc...

Don't regret buying it and wouldn't/couldn't do without it...

Z.

 

[Volfandt]

The 1st 4 years I found every use I could to work the BH on my 2004 BX23D, adding a thumb increased it's usefulness but over time it's spent the majority of time resting on my home made dolly in a corner of the shop. That said when a job pops up that it can be utilized on I'm definitely glad I went ahead and got it. Presently it's digging out a foundation and footers for my SIL's 16x16 room addition. 1st job it's had in well over 8 months or so. Since it's mounted it's help cut up some down trees and branches I've been pushing off to the side, LOL.

 

[DIYOrangeDave]

My short answer is. When ever I want. The answer your looking for is I have put around 80 hours on the backhoe of my BX25D with 470 hours on it. I have used it to remove large overgrown Hostas in one bite, put in a 300’ water line well to house, dug footings for a 24’x24’ house on posts, cleaned 500’ of drainage ditches and then I dug holes to get better at digging holes. The best part was all the pain was up front as it is a TLB and came fully rigged. The sticker shock passed quickly. I didn’t have a need for the backhoe when I bought it but because I could, I did. I am glad I did. A most useful tool to have on if you ever find yourself buried in mud. Now that is a story in it self. Good luck with what choice you make.

 

[California]

If you need it, buy it. A shovel powered by 20-some hp is better than digging anything by hand.

My 3-point hoe was sold by both Kubota and Yanmar around 1980 as 'OEM' for their 24 hp tractors. In the 10 years I've owned it I've replaced a couple of seals and hoses, these things (or at least any that are 40 years since new) aren't maintenance-free. But such repairs are simple and obvious.

I couldn't maintain things here without it.

Sample tasks in addition to the occasional trenching:

With 1000 trees in this old apple orchard, every year there are a couple of dead trees to dig out then replace.

A cable from the hoe pulled the little guy sideways away from the fence.

Weeding. There were blackberries and volunteer oaks right up next to the apple trees, too close for the disc to kill. When the soil moisture is just right the hoe pops these out like carrots.

If you can afford it, just do it. You won't be sorry.

 

[4570Man]

And the rain

The sun is far worse. Rain takes decades to show effects and would take longer if the sun didn’t ruin the paint. The sun damages the paint, hoses, seat, and tires in only a few years.

 

[MHarryE]

I bought a L3710 and a few years later wanted to add a backhoe. Dealer quoted me around 9,000 for one coming back from a customer who found he rarely used it. While waiting for the dealer to call, I checked a Machinery Trader and found a mini-excavator for $3k more, so I bought it instead. One time I made a wise decision. Have only put 300 hours on the mini in 10 years but I’ve traded tractors twice and each would have required a new backhoe. The Mini gets used in conjunction with the tractor so much I’d have a tough time. The high cost of the backhoe and low cost of a used mini forced me into the right decision for me.

 

[chim]

Asking how much someone uses a particular piece of equipment really doesn't equate to how much you will use yours unless your properties and activities are very similar. It sounds like most of us have evaluated our needs and purchased equipment that meets them.

I'm in the no-hoe camp. Might be fun, but since building here 30 years ago the only digging I had to do was less than 100' of shallow trench to bury rain leaders. Did that with a subsoiler and shovel in a weekend when I was almost 30 years younger