Buying Advice needing a small tractor with backhoe

Egon · Mar 8, 2017

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 · Mar 8, 2017

well said... thanks

Gary Fowler · Mar 8, 2017

Egon said:
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 · Mar 8, 2017

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 · Mar 8, 2017

mike69440 said:
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).