Pricing out a tractor and implements

[L47TLBwannabe]

Yeah I can understand having a backhoe for the odd little hole here or there but they are quite small and don't have much digging depth plus with our heavy gumbo soil any bucket narrower than 24" becomes plugged up quite quickly. I rented a small Bobcat mini a few years ago to dig a trench for a powerline for my sister's new garage and had a 12" bucket on it. It didn't take long and it was plugged up right away, but it still got the job done and had sufficient digging depth as the city required a minimum of 36" of depth for some reason. Then fast forward a few years and my wife's uncle needed a ditch dug to put a water line to his shop he figured a John Deere 35C would be sufficient to get below the frost line, well the service line to his farm where we tied in to was about 10 feet down and I had to bench down with the mini plus 'V' it out to make it safe enough to work down there. I think that thing had a 24" bucket if not 18" and it was plugged most of the time. I think that job took a couple days to complete. I'll ask the salesman tomorrow how much a backhoe attachment will add to the price and the payments but I think I'm really at my limit and just want to get to work. One thing I will be getting is a quick hitch for the 3 point my friend designed but I don't want to step on anybody's toes here but this thing he's designed is going to be a real game changer once it becomes known.

 

[Tennsawdust]

Septic fields here are of the raised sand mound style. The backhoes for these Kioti's don't really dig deep enough for sewer and water work our frost line is 8-10 feet here.

Our frost line is only about 12" deep so anything that will go down 3 feet will work. Same for footers. Crawlspace footers here only have to go down 12" below undisturbed soil level so it isn't a heavy digging task. A tractor mounted backhoe will do it without a problem, it just won't be as fast as an excavator or commercial TLB setup. For my buddy it made sense to go with a tractor because he was already spending so much on piddly little jobs and it also gives him more control over timing. Having to stop for two days and wait for someone to do an hour's worth of grade work just isn't productive.

I think you are on the right track. Don't over-extent yourself. Wait until you get your feet under you to take the next step. Being in it neck deep when the bottom falls out is no fun. BTDT Those scars aren't fun ones to look back on!

 

[L47TLBwannabe]

Our frost line is only about 12" deep so anything that will go down 3 feet will work. Same for footers. Crawlspace footers here only have to go down 12" below undisturbed soil level so it isn't a heavy digging task. A tractor mounted backhoe will do it without a problem, it just won't be as fast as an excavator or commercial TLB setup. For my buddy it made sense to go with a tractor because he was already spending so much on piddly little jobs and it also gives him more control over timing. Having to stop for two days and wait for someone to do an hour's worth of grade work just isn't productive.

I think you are on the right track. Don't over-extent yourself. Wait until you get your feet under you to take the next step. Being in it neck deep when the bottom falls out is no fun. BTDT Those scars aren't fun ones to look back on!

Thanks probably the best advice I've heard yet.^^

 

[rScotty]

So originally I wanted a Kubota TLB in the 45-50 h.p. class but.....SNIP.....reason for buying a tractor is so I can work for myself its a little less costly than a skid-steer and or a mini-excavator. I'd still kinda like a backhoe attachment for trenching in shallow utilities, building septic fields and installing irrigation lines. I had a preference for the Kubota TLB series backhoes for quite a while as they are properly set up for more commercial type work with their pump set up and not having to change seats every time you need to reposition the machine. Just Kubota Canada doesn't like financing a used machine and a new one is so costly.

If I were looking to do what you are doing, I would be looking for a good used Kubota L39TLB.
In my opinion that model was one of the best of Kubota's TLB line, and super strong for their size.... A true vest-pocket sized commercial machine.
For some strange reason Kubota decide to discontinue that model a couple of years ago when the new emissions requirements took hold. But they are still real popular.

Being discontinued but with parts available is all to your benefit if you can use that model. Take a look at the specs.
Or read up on what your fellow TBNer's have been saying about the L39 over the last ten years. It's impressive.
Given what you want to do, it's a decent fit. And prices are such that you may be able to afford a nice one.
rScotty