Buying Advice needing a small tractor with backhoe

[gravelman]

thank you...i have never heard of LS tractors...and there is a dealer 29 miles from me... nice looking rig...

 

[Snobdds]

This is so true. Most jobs that folks claim that a rental will do the job would never get done. If you have one major project in mind and a time frame to do it, then a rental is the way to go. I have put around 400 hours on my TLB in the last 5 years or so and most backhoe uses didn't take more than a few minutes. The longest projects was 1)digging out my pond 2) trenching 300 feet for water line in concrete like clay/rock soil. The rest were FEL uses and using the backhoe to dig a hole for a tree planting. Most of the hours was for menial tasks that I would have had to use a shovel if I did not have the TLB. Shoveling is something I can do a little off, but my back suffers for days from it. I cant estimate the amount of pain that I have escaped by using my backhoe rather than a shovel.

So true. When I want to dig or lift something...I want to do it now. Not hold off until I have a list of tasks to do with a rental. As those of us with a backhoe know, sometimes things take longer than expected and that list of task might not get all accomplished.

 

[cford36]

thank you...i have never heard of LS tractors...and there is a dealer 29 miles from me... nice looking rig...

Go to the LS forum on here. I think you will find a lot of positive feedback and information.

I recently traded in my John Deere on a LS3135.

 

[gravelman]

i will do that..thanks

 

[tractordog]

im not familiar with the bx 80 so i will look it up now.... i was considering used but im always nervous i may be buying a headache etc... thanks, will look it up now

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/370551-bx80-series-announced.html

 

[gravelman]

got it thanks...

 

[zski128]

Good luck in your search. I'll put a plug in for the Massey GC series. I recently purchased a GC1710 from New Boston Truck & Equipment in NH and couldn't be happier. Great small tractor and great specs for the cost. I looked at JD, Kubota and Mahindra, but the Massey came out on top.

 

[buickanddeere]

A small backhoe is annoying with the limited depth, short reach, short swing, having to dump dirt close to the trench, having to move the tractor every couple of feet of trench and the limited digging power.

As previously stated, bolt a loader and backhoe onto the 2650.

 

[gravelman]

im beginning to lean that way...i fully understand what you are saying...

 

[gravelman]

thanks for that...you did all the research for me.. just kidding. I had a Massey some years ago and it was a great machine.

 

[Egon]

Tractor size, always a hard choice. Pick what you think will work for you in your conditions and is a viable purchase for you.

There are always times a larger machine would do better but then come those small spaces time when small is more desirable. Maintenance costs may also be something to look at.

 

[gravelman]

well said... thanks

 

[Gary Fowler]

Tractor size, always a hard choice. Pick what you think will work for you in your conditions and is a viable purchase for you.

There are always times a larger machine would do better but then come those small spaces time when small is more desirable. Maintenance costs may also be something to look at.

That is so true. I over bought on my first new tractor simply because the price was below what I had budgeted for. I really liked the power and handling of the large tractor because it reminded me of driving the 120+HP tractors when growing up. Later I found lots of places that my LS wouldn't fit so I bought a much smaller tractor (Slightly used B26 Kubota) so I could access everything on my place. The plus side to this was that I got the backhoe in the deal which I was only kind of sort of looking at them at the time. I am so glad a TBN member turned me on to the Kubota B26 that was for sale about 250 miles from me. I also had to buy a trailer to haul it which is why I also have a 20 foot with dual 6K axles that my LS also rides well on.

Things just keep adding on to the initial tractor purchase which was a 45 HP Yanmar with a box blade. First I only had a box blade, then I got an 8 foot disk, then a landscape rake, a 2 row cultivator, a 4 row hipper then a 6 foot tiller which made the disk obsolete. I haven't used the box blade in years nor the rake nor the disk nor the cultivator.

 

[mike69440]

I know this would be hard to find, but a used Kubota L35 in really decent shape is a big small CUT with a heck of a hoe and loader. It can turn on a dime, well maybe a quarter. I have a friend in MA. who cleared a building lot with one he picked up for under 20K, kept it a few years and just recently sold it for what he paid.

 

[fried1765]

I know this would be hard to find, but a used Kubota L35 in really decent shape is a big small CUT with a heck of a hoe and loader. It can turn on a dime, well maybe a quarter. I have a friend in MA. who cleared a building lot with one he picked up for under 20K, kept it a few years and just recently sold it for what he paid.

Whatever backhoe you decide to buy, do not plan on EVER selling it!
I bought my Ford 3400 when it was 17 years old (1350 hrs.), and now it is 47 years old.
It was a cemetery machine (grave digger) with only a 10' depth.
I was shooting for a 13' model, but had been looking for 2 years before I found the 10' model.
I too did not want a monster machine, and the old 3400 (now 1850 hrs.) has been a perfect size for me.
It was completely refurbished in 2016.
It will be going to my grave with me (no pun intended).

 

[gravelman]

well, i just got my tax preparation back...looks like i owe....so no backhoe for awhile...ugh