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

[GeneV]

I could imagine the cost of such a machine, it would be crazy expensive.

 

[hawkeye08]

Bought a tractor to mow and such, always wanted a BH so bought a used 3pt BH for my tractor. Don't use it alot, but sure do like it when I need it.

 

[Fallon]

I don't dig deep, but I wish I could dig farther back, more reach. Guess that's part of the same boom length issue though.

The other thing is I wish I could dig offset but parallel as sketched. I'm not sure any machine can do that though. Not sure it's even possible with today's hydraulics and mechanics. You'd need some kind of articulated boom and the stresses would be extreme.

View attachment 641409

A lot of mini-ex can do that. They have a backhoe like pivot at the bottom of the boom & the whole house can rotate. Not quite the range you have drawn. But they can dig parallel to a foundation or what no despite tracks keeping them a little ways away.

 

[DK35vince]

The other thing is I wish I could dig offset but parallel as sketched. I'm not sure any machine can do that though. Not sure it's even possible with today's hydraulics and mechanics. You'd need some kind of articulated boom and the stresses would be extreme.

View attachment 641409

That would be a knuckle boom and they do make them.
knuckle boom excavator - Bing images

 

[Diggin It]

"But I wish it would reach farther." Never forget, digging depth equals reach.

And it would take an operator with expert skills.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah, I know.

Not quite the range you have drawn.

My drawin' skillz is 'bout the same as my BH skillz, so I make sure everyone is well clear. Like a couple of hundred feet.

That would be a knuckle boom and they do make them. knuckle boom excavator

Cool.

 

[Fallon]

The first photo hit Googling "mini-ex" shows New Hyundai R3-9AK compact excavator | Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe which has a swing boom & rotating house. Lots of standard brands you find in the states have similar models.

 

[California]

I don't dig deep, but I wish I could dig farther back, more reach. Guess that's part of the same boom length issue though.

The other thing is I wish I could dig offset but parallel as sketched.

Notes from an amateur: I saw on Craigslist an old tractor with backhoe, that had the boom assembly on a carriage that could slide side to side. This would let it dig next to a foundation. Some warehouse forklifts have this feature too, for working with closely spaced pallets.

One thing not obvious before buying a backhoe is 'digging depth' isn't the same thing as how deep you can trench. That's only the lowest point in the arc that the bucket swings, possibly lowest point the teeth can reach. Look for something like depth specified as 'capable of a 4 ft long flat bottom in the trench' and naming a depth. My little '6 ft' backhoe can take out an excavation about the size of a dinner table with a flat bottom, but requires moving to make the floor lower in a hole that size.

And the 'extend-a-hoe' design is best of all for how far you can trench before having to move, instead of moving you just make the arm longer.

 

[Fallon]

Notes from an amateur: I saw on Craigslist an old tractor with backhoe, that had the boom assembly on a carriage that could slide side to side. This would let it dig next to a foundation. Some warehouse forklifts have this feature too, for working with closely spaced pallets.

One thing not obvious before buying a backhoe is 'digging depth' isn't the same thing as how deep you can trench. That's only the lowest point in the arc that the bucket swings, possibly lowest point the teeth can reach. Look for something like depth specified as 'capable of a 4 ft long flat bottom in the trench' and naming a depth. My little '6 ft' backhoe can take out an excavation about the size of a dinner table with a flat bottom, but requires moving to make the floor lower in a hole that size.

And the 'extend-a-hoe' design is best of all for how far you can trench before having to move, instead of moving you just make the arm longer.

I've see the carriage shift backhoe on a lot of British or European hoes, JCB mostly I think. Also on some hoes mounted to utility trucks. Not many side shift hoes on any TBLs in America though.

 

[DK35vince]

One thing not obvious before buying a backhoe is 'digging depth' isn't the same thing as how deep you can trench. That's only the lowest point in the arc that the bucket swings, possibly lowest point the teeth can reach. Look for something like depth specified as 'capable of a 4 ft long flat bottom in the trench' and naming a depth.

If I remember right most all tractor mounted backhoes I looked at, the digging depth were based on 2' flat bottom.
I know my backhoe has an 8 1/2' digging depth with a 2' flat bottom.

 

[fried1765]

Digging depth is commonly misunderstood in discussing Backhoes. "Hey, mine will dig 6ft deep, that's enough for me." "But I wish it would reach farther." Never forget, digging depth equals reach.

Your parallel digging concept is interesting. A rotating bucket would accomplish that. But the digging depth would be very restricted. And it would take an operator with expert skills.

I don't dig deep or often, but I do find that sometimes my Kubota BT1100 (11') does not have the reach I would like.
My desire is for a powerful machine that is sized for sometimes relatively tight spaces.
My Kubota L48 TLB is the best available (bought used) reach/machine size compromise for me.