I Need Some Backhoe Advice

[cartod]

I am looking at a 7' woods backhoe for light work around the property. They said the 8' will work too for my 33hp tractor. The 7' one is $7400 installed with frame mounting bracket. The 8' is about a thousand more. Deere's 485 is $9500 installed 8.5' What should I do?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I am not familiar with either hoe, but if the larger one fits, I would get that on. Any longer reach is going to be a good thing and will save some time when digging a trench due to not having to reposition as much, will dig deeper also. It may decrease your lift capacity though if your tractor doesn't have the weight to support it.
On the price, they must be getting a couple thousand for installation as that price seems a bit out of line with what others have posted for prices. Depending on your install difficulty, that may be worth the money to have it done though

 

[jimainiac]

I agree with Gary Fowler, that the longer the reach, the better, if your tractor can handle the weight. I got a 9' Woods backhoe when I bought my 38 Hp tractor, and am glad to have the reach.

Maybe you could check prices some more. It's not exactly prime backhoe selling season.

 

[CurlyDave]

No matter how long the reach of my backhoe, I always want more.

For me, being able to trench faster is not a great big deal. I can still do the job.

But, there are some jobs where reach dictates whether or not I can do it. For instance, DW and I added some large rocks to an already landscaped area in front of the house. We think it improved the look, but the rocks were too heavy to move by hand and they had to be placed with backhoe and thumb. If I had more reach, I could have put them in slightly better places.

I had more than one job where I had to reach down over a retaining wall and move a boulder at the base. Without enough reach it just can't be done.

Similarly, reaching logs in the woods, where access can be blocked by numerous obstacles always takes just a little bit more length than I have.

 

[Hawaii Wayne]

cartod
Seems kinda high in price, maybe adding too much labor time. Most dealers don't seem to use real flat rate time for pricing purpose, seat and platform need to be removed .5 hour at best(power beyond) is simple piping they remove and install quick couple type piping with mount about 1.0 hour. Have to remove tires and install mounting plates remove short bolts and reinsert longer ones for quick attach plates, 1 hour max even after re-installing tires. If on pallet may have to unbolt from it and depending sometimes bucket is already on unit, maybe have to insert pins for outriggers.5-1.0 hour move to tractor and attach hoses to lift backhoe into position, operational check, lube grease fittings, about 1.0 hour, other factor could be frieght. Always get a quote from other dealers even out of state to see. Like a car their is a flat for all of the above and MOST TECHS can beat that time. Used to work at H.D. also so don't let them fool ya. I have installed/added about 5 backhoes to put the money in MY Pocket I have a 47 I put on in 3-4 hours P.B. was the hardest cuz I didn't have the larger wreches. Good Luck I think woods used to make J.D. backhoes, maybe assembly is only at the factory.

 

[Hawaii Wayne]

cartod
Seems kinda high in price, maybe adding too much labor time. Most dealers don't seem to use real flat rate time for pricing purpose, seat and platform need to be removed .5 hour at best(power beyond) is simple piping they remove and install quick couple type piping with mount about 1.0 hour. Have to remove tires and install mounting plates remove short bolts and reinsert longer ones for quick attach plates, 1 hour max even after re-installing tires. If on pallet may have to unbolt from it and depending sometimes bucket is already on unit, maybe have to insert pins for outriggers.5-1.0 hour move to tractor and attach hoses to lift backhoe into position, operational check, lube grease fittings, about 1.0 hour, other factor could be frieght. Always get a quote from other dealers even out of state to see. Like a car their is a flat for all of the above and MOST TECHS can beat that time. Used to work at H.D. also so don't let them fool ya. I have installed/added about 5 backhoes to put the money in MY Pocket I have a 47 I put on in 3-4 hours P.B. was the hardest cuz I didn't have the larger wreches. Good Luck I think woods used to make J.D. backhoes, maybe assembly is only at the factory. Dedicated unit is also a good idea used mini or such can sometimes be difficult. hoses, sloppy feel, mechanical issues in general

 

[Soundguy]

i think I might look at some auctions.

7500$+ is a lotta cash. I bought a woods 6500 and fabbed up my own mount for way less than half, and the how was practically new, no rust, had a pump.. just needed 1 30$ hose replaced...

heck. for that money you can find an old industrial tractor with a hoe and loader ( TLB )

 

[/pine]

FWIW...you can find good (used) running/working independent backhoe/loader machines for that kind of money if you shop around...just sayin...

 

[/pine]

:thumbsup:

...heck. for that money you can find an old industrial tractor with a hoe and loader ( TLB )

 

[/pine]

Again...just sayin...I know it's not always practical to keep and maintain more than one machine (right soundguy? )
But there can be a huge benefit by having a separate backhoe...exponentially huge if your regular tractor has a loader...!

personally, the two attachments I coveted the most but could not find (at a reasonable cost and would fit my tractor) were a backhoe and a trencher... so I bought a Ditch Witch 3610 and have never been more pleased with the decision...BTW...paid less (by a couple $K) for the DW than the only available new backhoe would have cost...
...on top of that the DW has a 6-way front blade and can make up to a 4" horizontal bore...

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. having a dedicated machine to dig and not tie up your tractor is nice.

but yeah. one more machine to maintain.

 

[Last Chance]

My advice having done it.. For that money buy a mini ex with a thumb.. Been there done that. Three point hoe is not bad but mini ex with a thumb would be the same money as what you are looking at and twice the digger. An old 3pt hoe can be had for less but old hydraulics can get expensive to refurb as well. Now if you can get a 3pt hoe for 3 grand or so and dont dig on hills well that may be differnt. Just my opinion.

 

[blucoondawg]

I put a 9' Woods subframe mount hoe on my Kioti DK50SE, it was around 8000 maybe 8500 I cant remember anymore. I ordered it from Roseels Farm and Garden out of Lower Michigan and had it shipped to me for less than I could have bought it from a local dealer, I did the install myself out in the yard as I don't have a garage, it didn't take that long even in less than ideal conditions.

As far as buying a used piece of dedicated digging equipment at the price of a 3pt backhoe, I too was given this advice from many on this forum when shopping for a hoe, however I work in the underground utility installation business, backhoes and ditchwitch type trenchers are our everyday machines, I see how these machines are abused by employees and not very well maintained, I also see how much repairs cost, I factored in the fact that I am not a mechanic nor do I have the space to have a decent shop set up, and I don't really enjoy fixing old beat up stuff, and I decided the tractor mount hoe was far more likely for me, I don't do any major work requiring the power of a standard backhoe or trenching machine anyways. I also don't think you will find a piece of equipment in that price range that doesn't have a ton of mechanical issues, I know my company was selling completely worn out garbage at that or more and the money to get the stuff back in shape wouldn't have been worth it. I much prefer a nice little new hoe that is tight and functions properly to a slopped out used machine. Also I think you would be hard pressed to find a mini excavator in decent shape at the price we are talking here unless you go down to the very small minis, which will still dig ok but have issues of their own, tippy on uneven ground is my biggest peeve with these, and their reach is the same or less than the tractor hoe anyways, the only upside is to be able to reposition and dig from the same seat, this saves a ton of time and sometimes irritation. The mini would be the way to go if you could find a little larger and more stable one in good shape for a doable price.

That said I am very happy with my Woods backhoe, you just have to realize it isn't going to have the power of the big units and larger mini excavators and adjust your digging style appropriately. Just my .02, happy hoe hunting

 

[Last Chance]

Either way beats a shovel

 

[Big Barn]

Either way beats a shovel

That's true, Last Chance as long as you're the one on the machine. I've been on some jobs where the operator is so incompetent I want to grab a shovel and do it quicker. LOL

Terry

 

[brewdog]

I've got the 7.5' Woods back hoe and its fine for everything I do with my NH 3040. I've dug drainage ditches 100 feet long and 4' deep without a problem. I'm not digging foundations out. If you need more reach or depth, then hire out for a mini excavator. I've had my Hoe for 15 years and wouldn't sell it. Other than grease and cleaning all the hinge point pins annually, I've only had to repair one hose failure on the arm. It stays covered in my garage until I need it. Haven't picked up a shovel since I bought it and I don't mind moving my tractor a little more often because I lack the extra 1.5 feet of the 9 foot hoe. Good luck in your purchase, you will be amazed at what you can do with it. Clean up trees, stumps, and brush, ditch maintenance, move rocks with a thumb, build flower gardens, the list is endless.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have my little B26 TLB that is very handy but I do find myself wishing I could swing more than 90 degrees to each side especially when mucking out a ditch or pond. An excavator, even a small one would be nice for such things, but overall, I wouldn't swap my TLB for an excavator, maybe add an excavator to my harem if I had enough need.

I would vote for getting a separate machine if you now only have one tractor. A dedicated TLB is nice as it is always available when needed, no need to put on the back hoe to dig a bit and then remove it to put on some 3 PH equipment. MY B26 is dedicated use as a TLB only. Even though the backhoe comes off and on easily, it still isn't as easy as turning the key on my other tractor to hook up to the implement of choice. An older model construction grade backhoe like a Case 580 or equivalent in good condition with maybe a little slop in the pins which one can deal with wont be much more than you are spending on the add on hoe. I would look around and find a deal on one of those if I wanted just a large hoe. I bought my B26 because it is SMALL and could get into spots that my larger tractor couldn't, otherwise I would have looked at a used commercial hoe.

 

[jel1988]

More reach the better, you can always crowd heavy loads close to pick them. Don't forget a thumb best invention since the backhoe itself! Look at the swing angle less than 180 deg sucks.

 

[Soundguy]

i've seen some with only 90 OUCH!

 

[chriswheeler]

I think your 3320 is almost the same size as my older 970 TLB. Hyd flow is almost the same as well as the weight. My 970 came with a frame mount #8A backhoe that has a 8 1/2' reach. After using this a couple of years I know it can be a pain to use on a trench because you move this thing much more than you would say a Case 580 doing the same job. That said, I don't think the weight, hyd flow, and frame of the tractor would support much more of a backhoe, or longer stick and still have the digging power you need fully extended. Just make sure not to get a 3pt mount, go with a quick connect frame mount, I'd hate to put that kind of a load on my 3 point.
Chris