JD 2210, Kubota BX2230, or NH TZ24DA

[akoliver]

All, thanks for the posts! All my buds own green tractors and it's nice getting a different perspective.
Kioti - Looks like your backhoe will do a lot of work. How long did it take to get that stump out? I'll have to eventually attack some similar projects.
Bob said - "Also, you might want to fill out your profile, by telling us where you are and what type of land you have we can give much better advice because it gives us an idea of the weather conditions you might have, terrain, is the driveway asphalt, gravel, etc. "

I checked out the profile, and am new to all this. It didn't look like much applied since I'm not a proud owner yet... I will have about 150' of asphalt driveway to plow in the winter, but in KS it normally doesn't get too deep, so I'm hoping I can get by with a blade vs snowblower.
Bandit, Thanks for the info on the Case. Not sure why, but the local Kubota dealer also sells Case, and it never came up during my recent visit.
Thanks again for all the info. I thought I was getting closer to making a decision, but now I'll see if the budget can take a little upgrade.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Kioti - Looks like your backhoe will do a lot of work. How long did it take to get that stump out? I'll have to eventually attack some similar projects. )</font>
I think it took about 3 hours all together. The pine stump really went much deeper than the backhoe was able to dig being only 6.5', so I ended up just cutting off the top 3' or so and burying the rest. That's all I cared about anyway so that I could smooth the ground on top. I've found it takes much less time for other stumps such as oak where the roots are mostly more surface oriented.
Just FYI, I bought the tractor loader backhoe (TLB) and a boxblade for $16,681 plus tax. John

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( First, I am a beliver in renting backhoes )</font>

Well, that depends on your circumstances, I guess.

I am a great believer in having one rather than renting one. If I had to go pay $200 every time I wanted to dig something out of the ground, I'd never get anything done because I'd have to wait until I have enough work lined up to make the rental worth it. Or I'd be digging with a shovel a lot -- which is not a favorite past time.

But that's the type of work I have to do. Lots of small digging jobs -- pulling buckthorn and mullberry roots, transplanting bushes short trenches. If I was digging a pond or digging out a stump or two, then the purchase wouldn't be worth it.

In any case, any of the tractors listed are fine and will take a BH if you so desire, for small digging tasks.

I looked at 2210 and Kubota sub-cuts (TZ was not available at the time) and ended up with a JD 4110 mostly for the backhoe and full 3pt with position control as stated above. I do not mow with it, however, but I believe most do


Cliff

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I would have to agree that some people do have use for small backhoes. Saying that, KiotiJohn & Cliff both can keep theirs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I think that people with lots of stumps or rocks find them very useful. Small landscape projects are also nicely helped by the small hoes, large projects may overwhelm small hoes pretty quickly. People who think they can dig a foundation or a septic field may find that they have the wrong tool if they don't have a large size machine. But again, I was just voicing my opinion and stated it as such.

Going back to the original question, and the 3 original tractors, I think Henro really said it best: <font color="green"> As for color, try them all, get a feel for the dealer, and buy where the combination feels the best.
</font>

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="purple"> I will be planting more than a dozen larger trees over a weekend, and will be renting a larger backhoe for that work. For occasional planting of smaller root ball trees, the BX22 backhoe has done the job fine for me so far.
</font>

Just a different perspective, I have clay soil so I find that when using a backhoe for tree/shrub planting I pull up buckets of hard concrete like lumps & chunks. I have been using a post hole digger & 12" auger for the past 2 seasons for planting and find that it grinds up and pulverizes the clay into very fine particals (assuming the ground is reasonably dry). I mix those spoils with compost, moss or black dirt and then plant the plant back into the hole. I find it easier to do this with the PHD for any shrub or tree up to about a 10-gallon pot size or smaller balled root plants, sometimes using 3 holes to get a large enough hole.

Because I have clay soil, I always break up the side of the hole with a shovel before putting the tree/shrub into the hole because the PHD can effectively glaze the side of hole so the roots have a difficult time growing out.

 

[8561]

You've gotten a lot of great advice so far. The only thing I would add is if you're considering a sub and the 3 point is a sticking point, you might also consider a Massey Ferguson GC2300. Like the NH/Case, it has a full Cat 1 hitch. All models you are considering are great tractors, but as someone posted earlier, moving up to a small frame compact does have advantages, without a lot of increased cost.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I would have to agree that some people do have use for small backhoes
They are great for planting bushes and digging out rocks and stuff. When I want a REAL backhoe, I go get my brother's FORD 555B. That's a backhoe! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jd2210]

I can only really speak for my 2210, not the others. My machine is quite capable and has done what I expect it to. I'm in the midst of taming 5 or so acres at my place and have done tasks like move and level 80 yeards of dirt, build a retaining wall out of field stone, transplant small trees, and mow with my 84" finishing mower. Not too sure just how "limited" the 3 point is since it'll handle everything I've thrown it.

To get a backhoe you'd have to get a aftermarket, but I'd personally recommend looing at used mini exc if you have enough work. I just sold one, but you get them quite cheap and they are 900 times more useful.

go with the dealer that treats you the best.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not too sure just how "limited" the 3 point is since it'll handle everything I've thrown it.)</font>

3pt is limited because it can't lift high enough for the standard (it's not a tall tractor). The "limited 3pt" concept has been discussed extensively in other threads, but sufice it to say that if you have any of these tractors, and you plan to buy an implement, you need to be sure the 3pt can lift it high enough.

Cliff

 

[bandit67]

A simple, inexpensive fix to the limited lift height of the various sub 3ph's is to get the Pat's Easy Change for under $200. It puts the implement pins another 3" further back, and makes a huge improvement in 3ph implement lift height. Plus, you're not pulling pins, unscrewing, etc. to get the lower arms far enough apart to hook up various CAT1 implements with the fixed pins. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif