Comparison I've got it narrowed down but i still have questions.

[oosik]

Thank you - newbury. I've never had or used or rented a backhoe. The costs you project are most likely pretty realistic out here at my location also. I've had ONE large, for us, project out here where a small back hoe, probably, would have helped.

Thirty five years ago - thank God - we planted over 700 small trees of all types over a two year period. Now, THERE, a small back hoe would have helped. However - being a hard headed Norwegian and basically a real cheap bastard - I dug every single hole with my trusty hand shovel. On top of the initial 700 - we planted 100 more small trees every year for the next five years.

We finally gave up when we realized the pocket gophers were killing the trees a whole lot faster than we could plant or afford or keep watered.

 

[4570Man]

My backhoe got used a lot. It never took on a major excavation project, but did numerous smaller ones. And I got most of the investment back when I sold it. I was definitely in the green buying vs renting. I can only think of about 4 renting worth projects my backhoe did, but it sure got used more than 4 times. How many people need a tractor more than once or twice a year and couldn’t just rent one. No one seems to like that idea. It seems like mostly non backhoe owners saying not to buy them. I don’t think you’ll find very many unsatisfied backhoe owners.

 

[RandyinTN]

That is EXACTLY the situation/costs that mfsr should be considering, Randy. I not saying - "don't buy a backhoe attachment". What I want mfsr to understand is if he only has a couple short projects for a backhoe over a longer period of time - - it could be a lot more economical to rent equipment. The backhoe makes a pretty expensive ballast attachment on any tractor.

If you are in a remote location - such as I am - everything from lumber, concrete, rental equipment, contracted services - is expensive.

Thank you for emphasizing my point.

I was asking you what it costs to rent. If you are saying renting is a viable option I would like to know the costs of renting that you are basing your opinion on.

 

[mfsr]

rngrrymd, I get what you are saying. I know its not a big difference. Just that whole death by a thousand cuts. I started by looking at the B2301, a little more here and a little more there and the next thing you know im tooling around in a B3350 with a cab which will absolutely need Heat and AC because i will likely be living in it until the boss cools down.

Dodge man, please correct me if i am wrong. This is why i asked. Take the 2025R. It has a rated engine speed of 3200rpm. At those revolutions you will get 2100rpm at of the mid and 540rpm out of the rear. If you back off the engine speed to say 2500rpm are you still getting 2100 out of the mid and 540 out of the rear or do the PTO speeds drop off proportionately with the engine speed? I'm new to these smaller diesels but 3200rpm seems rapped out for any diesel and would accelerate wear just trying to run your implements at their designed speeds.

oosik, the next 5 years is when i expect to see the bulk of the hoe work. after that i expect it to fall off a bit. Beyond stump removal and just general dirt work, I will have excavation projects to get water, sewer and power back to my cabin site that i may or may not take on with the hoe. We arent off the grid but we are in the mountains. In the past couple years we have had quite a few instances where a hoe would have been a valuable tool but we were able to make it work with shovels and my truck. The rental gig would work but i would need to pick it up on a Friday after work, lug it 2 hours into the hills, rush to get eveything done, lug it back on Sunday and then try and drop it off Monday morning without missing too much work. I'm not fooling myself, its a convienence i could live without, but why?

newbury, the front mount blower is the only requirement that the boss laid down. The lack of a mid PTO ruled out the L series.

Thanks

 

[dodge man]

You are looking at it correctly, yes the Deere will have to rev higher to make PTO speed. The Kubota BX line is the same way though, you are looking at higher RPMS to make PTO speed. I own a BX and it seems high but that's what its desgined for. I usually only rev it to full throttle when mowing, which is a lot of the time.

 

[4570Man]

The pto mid and rear drop off if the engine rpm is less than rated rpm.

 

[rngrrymd]

rngrrymd, I get what you are saying. I know its not a big difference. Just that whole death by a thousand cuts. I started by looking at the B2301, a little more here and a little more there and the next thing you know im tooling around in a B3350 with a cab which will absolutely need Heat and AC because i will likely be living in it until the boss cools down.

At least you'd have a nice comfy "doghouse" to hang out in lol :laughing:

I understand your thought process on the hoe. I justified my purchase because I will save money on excavation costs of our home build and I have a lot of work planned for it over the next few years as well as ongoing property maintenance (and I got the missus to approve). I know it's not the same at a mini-ex or just plain an ex and everybody here suggests renting equipment all the time. Most of the members here like to help spend your money on tractors but most of them hate to see it get wasted on an accessory if you don't truly need it and then have you regret it thus all the well meaning suggestions to rent a mini-ex instead. I think you fall into line with myself and some other posters who have time constraints for renting/using equipment (never know when we can get some hours locked in to use it) and we have enough projects over time to make it worth it purchasing the backhoe and having it available on our terms.

The only reason I was pushing you towards the B2650 is for the better ground clearance and better loader capability and backhoe specs but it still keeps you in that basic HP range. Honestly, any of the tractors you listed originally will probably work fine for you as long as you don't intend to get some big rotary cutter or attachment that your PTO HP can't handle.

In the end it's your money being spent so you have to make the choice but I know I would go for the B2650. I think the 2032R and 2038R are too much of a money bounce to justify when the B's would work fine and because you don't get the ground clearance you are looking for. If you do finance Kubota make sure you add in the cost of the KTAC insurance into your payment figures. It is the best insurance out there for tractors.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/400494-insurance-pay-offs.html <-- When Brian from KTAC steps in and you realize being on TBN has it's advantages - you have the KTAC Director of Operations looking out for you.

 

[Tractorable]

I just got CFO approval for a new tractor. Getting over that hurdle is tougher than coming up with the funds, LOL. Now I can start tractor scheming for real!

 

[rngrrymd]

I just got CFO approval for a new tractor. Getting over that hurdle is tougher than coming up with the funds, LOL. Now I can start tractor scheming for real!

Tractorable, let's go shopping!!

 

[mfsr]

At least you'd have a nice comfy "doghouse" to hang out in lol :laughing:

I understand your thought process on the hoe. I justified my purchase because I will save money on excavation costs of our home build and I have a lot of work planned for it over the next few years as well as ongoing property maintenance (and I got the missus to approve). I know it's not the same at a mini-ex or just plain an ex and everybody here suggests renting equipment all the time. Most of the members here like to help spend your money on tractors but most of them hate to see it get wasted on an accessory if you don't truly need it and then have you regret it thus all the well meaning suggestions to rent a mini-ex instead. I think you fall into line with myself and some other posters who have time constraints for renting/using equipment (never know when we can get some hours locked in to use it) and we have enough projects over time to make it worth it purchasing the backhoe and having it available on our terms.

The only reason I was pushing you towards the B2650 is for the better ground clearance and better loader capability and backhoe specs but it still keeps you in that basic HP range. Honestly, any of the tractors you listed originally will probably work fine for you as long as you don't intend to get some big rotary cutter or attachment that your PTO HP can't handle.

In the end it's your money being spent so you have to make the choice but I know I would go for the B2650. I think the 2032R and 2038R are too much of a money bounce to justify when the B's would work fine and because you don't get the ground clearance you are looking for. If you do finance Kubota make sure you add in the cost of the KTAC insurance into your payment figures. It is the best insurance out there for tractors.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/400494-insurance-pay-offs.html <-- When Brian from KTAC steps in and you realize being on TBN has it's advantages - you have the KTAC Director of Operations looking out for you.

I spent the day working at one of our companies grain mills and after we wrapped up i got some seat time in a 2650 at the local dealer. I am so screwed.