Question for BH owners--

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I can't think of one thing I would use a BH for around here, but after reading your post, I'm ready to buy one)</font>
I see you have two acres. Bet I could find some things to use a BH for on your property. Just give me a few minutes to look around, and I'll be digging up everything in site! LOL
John

 

[bncsauve]

Probably pretty difficult to cost justify, but, I tend to think of more projects that I can use the backhoe on, than I would if I had to rent one every time. I have no regrets buying it. It gets lots of use.

 

[jim_wilson]

In my opinion having a FEL and a backhoe on a tractor is liking having a pick and shovel. Each complements the other. If you were digging with just a shovel could you get the same amount of work done as you would with the pick and shovel?

I bought a BX23 last year and even though I only have a 1/2 acre lot I have found the backhoe invaluable. I knew I would need a backhoe when I went shopping for a tractor so the only real question was whether I bought one or rented one. I am very glad that I bought. There have been numerous times when I have used the backhoe for just one small job - and that small job would have been a real backbreaker if I had to do it by hand. With all the big rocks there are here in New England the backhoe is needed - I can't get them out of the ground with just the FEL.

I have used the backhoe to break up ground so I could more easily dig it out with the FEL, remove a dozen or so tree stumps on the property - including one from a huge 24" diameter Pine we had cut down, break up some driveway, bury some pipe, etc. Recently one of our cats passed away and I used the backhoe to dig a grave for her - I was able to get about 5 feet down and dig a nice squared off hole. If I did not have the hoe I would have had to dig that hole by hand and it would not have ended up as deep and I actually would have had to dig out more dirt because the hole would have had to be bigger so I could fit in it. The hoe turned what would have been a multi night after work job into something I was done with in a hour.

I have seen a number of people post on TBN that a backhoe is a toy that won't pay for itself. I disagree - if I add up the money I would have spent on rentals at this point and also what my time is worth because even with rentals there would have been times when I did stuff by hand because I could not wait to get the rental - I figure the hoe on my BX23 is probably earned back about 1/3 of what it cost me. By the time I am done with all the work the hoe will have earned it's keep and I will have a backhoe that is paid for that I can use whenever I need it. I would say if you want it and you think you will use then you should get it. Having the backhoe will change your way of thinking too - instead of thinking how am I going to do that? - you will think I can do that - I can use the backhoe. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Partsman2]

I thoroughly agree with everything everybody has said. I have 60 acres so I can always find some use for the BH.

What I have found more than anything is that I am getting things done that I always wanted to do but never did because I didn't want to go through the hassle of renting a BH or hiring the job out. Around here it takes an act of Congress to get a contractor to show up to do a job. It is a major hassle just getting them here and then they never do it just how I want it.

I recently cut in a road and am preparing a building site. I figure what I saved by being able to do the work myself (except heavy dozer work) has paid for the BH. That's not a bad return in 18 months. And, it is all done exactly how I want it done.

To me the only choice was brand and size. I dealt with the wife later. But after she saw what I could do with it she was glad I bought it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[CTyler]

I have 28 acres but have only used the BH on about 3 acres worth of area so far. the BH made sense for me since we were building the house otherwise I may not have purchased it. With that said I'd be wanting a BH if I hadn't bought one...go figure..LOL!

What I'm saying is that sometimes it hard to see the forest thru the trees.

Some of the things I've done are as follows and I'm sure theres things forgoten.

Two septic systems
Three culverts
Twelve french drains
All plumbing and floor drains in ths shop
Electrical and communications conduits house to shop
Retaining wall
Tiled one terrace
Dug out catch dam, 100 yards, mix of BH, FEL, BB and trailer
Plant 100+ trees
Dig up 20 stumps and many more trees
Will be planting another 40+ trees today

Still have a couple 800'+ tile projects to do after getting more scraper work done. Thats my last big project but lots of other little stuff to do.

Don't buy a BH it will just make work for you!!!

 

[MadDog]

As long as you can afford it, you will find plenty of uses for it once you have it.

Example: Just this morning I used it to inter an opossum that was stupid enough to pick (and lose) a tussle with my Newfie. (The other possibility was to hang it from a tree branch to deter other "opossa" but I doubt that would have been any more effective than most other attempts at deterrance and I think I made the right choice /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Seriously, mine has been so useful that I find that it is on the tractor about half the time. My land has so many rocks and boulders that I really couldn't use the FEL/toothbar for significant excavations without having it available to dig out around large boulders.

So, to mangle a cliche, "buy it, you'll like it." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JimR]

Your first sentence says it all. I have this same problem and will be buying a backhoe very shortly one way or another. I tried justify it and gave up. The answer was right in front of me all the time. I don't want to rent one, I want the job done NOW not when whoever can do it for me. So here is my list to justify a backhoe. How am I going to pay for it? I'm selling my GoldWing. I can always buy another one later on when the funds get replenished from my barn/house rebuild project.

(1) Dig out a trench 8' deep x 12' long in the front of my barn to push the stone wall back into place or rebuild it.

(2) Dig a 200' drainage trench under the barn to my brook to rid the barn basement of excess spring water once and for all,

(3) Put in new underground service wire from the barn to the house. The present wire is only 60 amp service.

(4) Transplant 5 very large bushes from in front of the house to anywhere I can dig a hole.

(5) Remove a bunch of stubborn rocks that my bucket refuses to move.

(6) Remove quite a few stumps from trees that I cut down.

(7) Put in a perimeter drain around the elderly neighbors house for him. $$$$ to help pay for the backhoe.

(8) Extend my present drains around my house to way off into the woods so that my backyard will be much drier in the spring.

(9) Trench out an area to drain off spring water on my property.

(10) All future projects that need to get done that will never get done without the proper equipment.

 

[JasonL]

Okay- I guess almost everyone agrees they are glad or would be glad they have a BH. Maybe my wife will make everyone sleep on the couch! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Seriously, the BH's that would fit on my tractor (JD 46 or Woods BH600 or similar) are pretty small. How many of you have larger hoes and would that change your opinions? My worst fear is to get one and then decide it is more a toy (which would be fun) than a machine. I feel certain I will find plenty of things for it to do as just reading your posts caused me to think of several more projects that need done. THANKS- Jason

 

[chatcher]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My worst fear is to get one and then decide it is more a toy (which would be fun) than a machine. I feel certain I will find plenty of things for it to do as just reading your posts caused me to think of several more projects that need done. THANKS- Jason
)</font>

Some of the smaller backhoes may look like toys when you compare them to full-size machinery, but they usually come out looking pretty good when you compare them to a shovel!

 

[BoneheadNW]

Jason-

If I may get a little philisophical for a second and add my $0.02:

Take the Bonehead approach to making a decision- write all of the reasons for buying a backhoe on one side of a piece of paper and all of the reasons for not buying the hoe on the other. Then, think of the worst possible outcome if you do buy the hoe (i.e. won't use it much and will have to resell, etc.) and get comfortable with that outcome (this helps to desensitize you if the worst does happen). If the positives outweigh the negatives and you can handle the worst outcome, Go For It! If not, you can be comfortable in not buying the hoe.

Wow, I think I just convinced myself to go out and buy my tractor and BH!

Bonehead