Backhoe Is your backhoe worth it over the long-haul?

[Harvster]

I've had mine for about a year now. It has sat in the garage unused except for maybe 6-7 days. If I had it to do over......I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. Planting trees, digging out cemented-in posts, stumps are all things I've done. It is so fast and efficient compared to a shovel. And I have to agree on the idea of backhoe therapy.

 

[brandoro]

I was planning to rent a small rubber track hoe, mini excavator. There was only one small enough to fit where I needed to dig, it was out on rental but "would be back Friday". I was there Friday, no machine, the guy that had it renewed for another week. Hmm... Another week goes by that I am not doing any digging in, Friday comes he renews again. I got the guys name and phoned him, he was going to keep the machine all summer if he could keep getting work for it. Now I'm steamed. My local Kubota dealer had a new Landpride 3pt BH sitting on the lot that would fit my tractor. Loaded the tractor on the trailer went to town, came back with the hoe and started digging. A year later I had an oportunity(?) to sell the bh. I still have it. Don't use it very often but when I need it I have one, save me lots of work and doesn't ever get tired. My neighbors help me out occasionally when I need some bh therapy and can't find a good spot to dig in my own yard. Even the guy at the local store helped me out once, needed a little asphalt and gravel scratched out by the store, and forced a box of BBQ cut steaks on me in return. It's all good.

 

[LOOPHOLE]

Honestly, could not afford to buy one now
but I AIN'T getting rid of the one I got

 

[dillo99]

When I bought my machine I faced a very similar question. I have 27 acres...flat, almost all wooded and quite wet. The backhoe cost me 6K and I have absolutely no regrets. I have used it for lots of trench work - to try and improve drainage on the property and make the paths and roads better. I built a post barn and used the back hoe to dig the holes for the posts. I have built several rock walls near the house and have used the hoe to get the larger rocks out of the ground and onto a rock sled. Built many paths and roads and used the hoe to level ground and deal with rocks that the loader could not handle - I have lots of rocks. Dug up many many stumps - nothing like popping a stump out of the ground! Helped the neighbor for several days dig a doorway into his basement.

I am not sure how many days of use I have but 50-60 in 3.5 years would not surprise me (not full days but I had it available when I wanted it with no rental hassles).

I knew that if I didn't purchase it up front and wrap it into the payments I would never do it - so I went for it. No regrets and glad I have it. Did I NEED it? Well no...I don't NEED a tractor either! Naturally, this is just an opinion - others may feel differently!

 

[amitysanimal]

When I bought my 1977 B7100 with a FEL and a B/H it needed a lot of work. I had considered selling the B/H to help fund fixing the tractor and FEL up. I called a guy that buys used tractors and implements and he offered me $400.00 for my B/H. I told him I would keep it and dig worms to go fishing with before I would give it away for that. I am SO glad I kept it, it has been a lifesaver more times than I ever would have thought. Just this past weekend I had to dig up my pump tank to find out what was wrong with the pump. It took no time with the B/H to dig it up, fix the problem and cover it back up. It would have been a nightmare trying to do it with a shovel.

My B/H has the 6 handles and would like to convert it over to 4 handles. I went to the Kubota dealer to get the things needed but they can't get it anymore. My B/H is the Kubota B629. Mine also has an 18" bucket on it, need to build a smaller one for it this summer, along with a thumb.

I have just over $4000.00 into my B7100 and I wouldn't part with it for anything, it is one tough little machine.

amitysanimal

 

[chatcher]

I have a NH 758C backhoe on a TC35DA. I have a 12" and a 24" bucket. When I am actually sitting in the backhoe seat digging, I love it. It's both fun and productive, and may even have health benefits because of the stress relief it brings me. I've used it (along with the loader on the other end) to dig a 20x40 swimming pool, and have plans for an underground greenhouse and a root cellar. I don't do any jobs for hire. Here are the negatives as I see them:

1. When trenching, it is a real pain to move repeatedly (i.e. raise the outriggers, climb down from the seat, climb up into the tractor seat, raise the loader bucket move the tractor a few feet, lower the loader bucket, climb down off the tractor, climb back up on the hoe, set the outriggers, dig a few more feet, and repeat.) Compared to a mini-excavator/trackhoe which can be moved along a trench easily.

2. It's a real pain to remove and reinstall. I tend to leave it on or off the tractor, so sometimes I forego using another attachment if the backhoe is mounted, or forego using the hoe when it isn't.

3. It's a pain to store. I don't want to leave it outside, and with the subframe installed it takes up a lot of space in the garage or barn. Others have built dollies for storage and with ease of re-installation and I'm sure that would help, but it is still a fairly large and expensive item to store.

4. Financially it doesn't really make sense for me to own it. I could pay for a lot of rental hours of a full-size backhoe, excavator, mini-trackhoe, or whatever is best suited for the jobs I have, with or without an operator, before I spent what the backhoe cost me.

Still, it's a lot of fun to use, and so what if it isn't always the best tool for the job?

 

[sugarmaple]

While it is buyer beware country for sure, there are good deals on Bradco and Woods hoes on ebay and craigslist. Educate yourself and don't jump on the first one you see. If you can wait to find one with a subframe for your tractor, it will be a better deal.

Having said that, I am still drooling from the sight of an L-59 on the lot yesterday. Beautiful rig, but I just remind myself that it has no cab. I saw a sugarmaker friend pulling his converted milk truck sap transport trailer with his JD, size large, cab equipped tractor during the spectacularly awful ice storm we had this weekend; I'll bet he was grinning from ear to ear since the rain was going sideways before it froze solid on whatever it hit. An open tractor would have not been any fun at all.

 

[Builder]

I have a NH 758C backhoe on a TC35DA. I have a 12" and a 24" bucket. When I am actually sitting in the backhoe seat digging, I love it. It's both fun and productive, and may even have health benefits because of the stress relief it brings me. I've used it (along with the loader on the other end) to dig a 20x40 swimming pool, and have plans for an underground greenhouse and a root cellar. I don't do any jobs for hire. Here are the negatives as I see them:

1. When trenching, it is a real pain to move repeatedly (i.e. raise the outriggers, climb down from the seat, climb up into the tractor seat, raise the loader bucket move the tractor a few feet, lower the loader bucket, climb down off the tractor, climb back up on the hoe, set the outriggers, dig a few more feet, and repeat.) Compared to a mini-excavator/trackhoe which can be moved along a trench easily.

2. It's a real pain to remove and reinstall. I tend to leave it on or off the tractor, so sometimes I forego using another attachment if the backhoe is mounted, or forego using the hoe when it isn't.

3. It's a pain to store. I don't want to leave it outside, and with the subframe installed it takes up a lot of space in the garage or barn. Others have built dollies for storage and with ease of re-installation and I'm sure that would help, but it is still a fairly large and expensive item to store.

4. Financially it doesn't really make sense for me to own it. I could pay for a lot of rental hours of a full-size backhoe, excavator, mini-trackhoe, or whatever is best suited for the jobs I have, with or without an operator, before I spent what the backhoe cost me.

Still, it's a lot of fun to use, and so what if it isn't always the best tool for the job?

There's definately a huge drop off in usefullness of a Ag tractor with a subframe mounted backhoe compared to a dedicated backhoe. Like you said, PITA to move the machine while digging, a dedicated backhoe, you spin the seat and off you go.

They are a PITA to remove & reinstall. I think I-know-who will be here to refute me, but I hated R&R on my L-39 & L-35. You really need a shop with a concrete pad out of the weather for R&R out of the cold & the elements.

The cab is invaluable keeps the operators platform out of the weather and looking good 5 times as long as an OROPS machine.

 

[AlanB]

Yes my hoe was well worth it. (555C Ford)

Went through the exact same debate you are having.

There are just lots of jobs around the place that are easily do-able with Lil sitting there ready to go in the hour after work that I could never afford to organize and rent to do.

I think you will find more uses then you imagine.

I cannot imagine having one "too big"

I am glad I have a dedicated machine (I also have a tractor and SS though) as I hate even spinning and repositioning, I would hate to have to get out of one seat and into another.

Good luck with whatever way you go.

 

[valleydweller1]

There's definately a huge drop off in usefullness of a Ag tractor with a subframe mounted backhoe compared to a dedicated backhoe. Like you said, PITA to move the machine while digging, a dedicated backhoe, you spin the seat and off you go.

They are a PITA to remove & reinstall. I think I-know-who will be here to refute me, but I hated R&R on my L-39 & L-35. You really need a shop with a concrete pad out of the weather for R&R out of the cold & the elements.

The cab is invaluable keeps the operators platform out of the weather and looking good 5 times as long as an OROPS machine.

Removing and remounting the BH was a concern for me, so I went a different route.

I just picked up a Caddigger 728 trailer mounted backhoe, built by a friend of mine a few years ago. Here is the video of me trying to dig out a stump. Remember, this is literally the first time I had used it. Works great, it will be great for digging ditches and things. A little small for stumpwork. You can see the stump I later pulled out covered in ivy just behind the BH.

Video of Cad Hoe with Greg in control - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Greg