Opinions on backhoes.........

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Still learning about my new property, and all the things that I'll need to work with it, including tractors.

I'm wondering what the experiences/opinions of the readers here are relating to backhoes?
How many of you got one, and decided you didn't need it?
How many of you don't have one, but wish you did?
If you do have one, how happy are you with it - is it heavy enough, large enough?
Should the addition of a backhoe entail a larger tractor? In other words, if I decide to go with the 'hoe should I also move up a size or two?

Any opinion, information, or feedback on this rather pricey subject will be much appreciated!!!

Gregg

AndyMA · Jun 7, 2003

I've had backhoes on each of my last 4 tractors.

A small JD 7 ( I think) on a JD 650--- fairly useless except for planting shrubs

a Ford something on a Ford 1710 - much more useful.. You could actually pull a stump if you spent enough hours.

A Ford 758 on a Ford 2120, 43 hp. This was the first hoe that could actually do some serious work even though it took some time to get it done.

I still have the 2120 but I traded the hoe in toward a Woods 1050 when I bought my latest tractor a New Holland TN75D. This 11 1/2 foot hoe with it's own hydraulic pump can do some serious work and has plenty of hydraulics to do it.

What I've found is that each hoe on a larger tractor was quite a bit more capable. From my experience the larger the better. all the hoes were much better than the front bucket for digging out stumps and rocks and I used them all the time. I would have to say that they are my favorite attachment with the front loader a close second. Without the backhoe I wouldn't get much loose for the loader to pick up.

My advise.. get a backhoe, practice leverage so that you can move things much larger than the rated capacity of the hoe and you'll love it.

Andy

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

I had a chance, and I passed it up. I still don't know if I made the right decision. When I was choosing my tractor, I first went in to price a TC33D. It was more than I wanted to spend. I ended up getting a TC18, and I've been perfectly happy with it; it does everything I want to do, so far.

But, the dealer also had a 2001 TC33D with about 360 hours on it that had a Bradco backhoe attached. The Bradco lists at something like $6,700. I could have bought that tractor for about $3,000 more than I paid for mine, and gotten both the larger tractor and the back hoe.

There were several reasons I didn't. I didn't want to spend the extra money, I was a little concerned about the used machine (it looked well used), and I wanted both the new warranty and the 0% financing. Still, it was tempting. I could afford the extra money, I just didn't want to spend it. The dealer was willing to stand behind the used tractor, I could have purchased an extended warranty, and I could have paid cash instead of financing (the primary reason I financed was because of the 0% - why not?)

But, the other reason I passed was because of the evaluation I made about it. The primary immediate use I had for it was trenching. I looked at it, and realized it wouldn't be very convenient. I've used the backhoe on a bigger tractor with a power shift and a swivel seat; when you want to move a little, you lift the stablizers and use a different set of controls to shift the tractor, then put the stabilizers back down and keep digging, all without moving the seat. With the smaller one, I would have to lift the stabilizers, climb out of one seat and into the other, put it in gear and move it, then reverse the process, climbing back into the other seat to keep digging again (New Holland's have interlocks so that the parking brake has to be set in order to get out of the driver's seat, so it couldn't be moved by pushing with the hoe). That didn't sound like much fun.

I also thought about it for planting trees. but, it was a lot of money for something that would only be used a few times a year. Plus, it looked like a royal pain to take it off/on in order to use the 3PH attachments, which is my normal use.

My dealer rents mini-excavators for a decent price. I decided that I could rent one a lot of times for the $$$ of a backhoe, and have a dedicated machine that was designed for what I want to do. Plus, I've been keeping my eyes open for a used mini-excavator - there's a place down the road that has a late-model Kubota for $8,500, not too much more than a backhoe attachment, but still more than I want to spend. If I find a mini-excavator for around $3K, it's mine. Not too much chance of it, but you never know. I've also given some thought to investigating the Cad Plans indpendent hoe that I could build. I'll think about it later - I won't need it for a while.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Or, there's this in Miami for sale on Ebay for $3,000 and no reserve... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

excavator

rockyridgefarm · Jun 7, 2003

Thrilled with ours! I love the mounting, the ease of attach and removal. I am particularly glad I got the Deere BH instead of aftermarket.

Boondox · Jun 7, 2003

It all depends on your perspective and intended use. I have a Kubota L3010 with a Woods 7500 subframe hoe. Absolutely love it! Most fun I've ever had with my clothes on! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif But for me, the tractor is half a neccesity and half a big land yacht. I have 155 acres, but can only reach 25% of it because of the steepness of the forested slope. But there are drainage ditches to create and maintain, hardwood trees to transplant, wet spots to drain, rocks to dig up so they leave the mower alone, 200 year old stone walls to rebuild, stumps to dig up, etc. And sometimes, when cleaning the garage of my packrat Wife's junk, the only way to keep that junk from reappearing is to bury it deep! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

But in my opinion if you want a hoe you need a fairly serious tractor. Personally, I wish I had one two sizes up able to handle the Woods 9000 with that wonderful 9' reach! It's cheaper to rent as needed, and you'll rent a more capable hoe most likely. But for sheer fun and convenience having one under the tamarack tree waiting for me just can't be beat!

Pete

DK35vince · Jun 7, 2003

Around 4 years ago I built my own backhoe using Cad-Plans.
I made my own to keep the cost down not being sure how much I would use it.
Turned out I used the hoe far more than I expected, digging off some steep embankments, a foundation for my pole barn, drainage ditchs, ect.
Seeing how much I had use for a backhoe I decided to order one for my tractor that should be in in around a week.
I have coming a Rhino 85 with subframe for my DK 35.
8 1/2' digging dept, 11 foot reach, 18" bucket.
I would recommend a subframe backhoe instead of a 3 point model.(my opinion).

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

I have a Mahindra 4110 w/Bradco 511 hoe on a subframe mount system. I wasn't too happy with the standard tractor hydraulic pump and therefore the hoe operation.. Mahindra (DID) and at great expense to them and the dealer, add an 11gpm pto pump and 14 gallon reservoir that is hung between the subframe rails. I only tried it for a few minutes as we have had 20 days of rain in the last 26 days. From that few minute test, I am sure it will perform fine. Anyway, I run a John Deere 710 Xtendahoe near a 1000 hours per year, and have had for many years. When I looked for a tractor, the big three were just too much money and too much for their hoe setups. The NH 45 can only have a Woods 9000 model or their NH number which still means Woods as far as I can see. THe exception was the Kubota L48 @ 11ft, but also 44,000 or so.. Deere had just announced their 110 model. THe Mahindra performs flawlessly for what I've put it through so far. I wanted a larger hoe and Mahindra will hang a Bradco 11 footer. My suggestion though, is too have a PTO 11GPM pump added.. Whatever you buy, the following week it will probably be too small and not enough.. I think I would ask some more here at TBN of their type property, size, etc and (why) they chose a particular sized hoe, for that property. Take it all in, then financially, decide what to do.

Splinterguy · Jun 7, 2003

Gregg,

I have a JD4400 with their model 48 BH. I have owned it about two years now, and am very pleased with it. A very handy item to have around.

Have dug some medium sized stumps from difficult soil (lots of large imbedded rocks). The hoe's major drawback is it's limited reach - 8'. You get good at moving the machine around. But all in all it has been great.

When looking for my tractor I was looking at 4300's, the smallest machine that JDeere would put the 48 on. That made me think a liitle about going toward the 4400, just a bit more tractor. Then the dealer I ended up buying from was able to give me a good deal on the 4400 as he had it on the lot.

Hope this helps you out.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 7, 2003

Hi,

I'm wondering what the experiences/opinions of the readers here are relating to backhoes?
How many of you got one, and decided you didn't need it? 

I pretty much knew I didn't NEED my backhoe befor I bought it...I guess I also knew I didn't need the tractor either. But for 20 years I wanted a tractor...so I bought a Kubota B2910 with the 7.5 foot backhoe.

I love it! I would do it again in a heartbeat! I bought the Kubota backhoe, which is a 3PH backhoe, because I wanted everything to be under one manufacturer's name for warranty reasons.


If you do have one, how happy are you with it - is it heavy enough, large enough?


I like the extra reach the one I have has over the shorter reach of a smaller unit. Reach means out, not down. I rarely if ever need to dig 7.5 feet down. But a longer reach lets me dig a longer section of shallower trench before having to move the tractor.

Should the addition of a backhoe entail a larger tractor? In other words, if I decide to go with the 'hoe should I also move up a size or two? 

Not sure about that, but I think the B2910 and 7.5 foot backhoe fits my 3.7 acres pretty well. I don't think I would want to go smaller, but in the end it really is what you get used to and if you started with something smaller like a BX22 for example, my guess is that you would find that just fine and dandy.

Good luck and have fun deciding!