Question on backhoe pricing structure (Bobcat)?

[Ken P]

Folks - I'm in the process of deciding on a mid-range hp CUT, with FEL and BH, and am requesting quotes from dealers. This is my first tractor, apologies for a newbie type question.

I asked the Bobcat dealer for a quote on the CT 225, and the backhoe portion of the quote had a whole bunch of different items, each with a charge. I guess I was expecting just one number, but what I got was:

6TB/7TB subframe $625
7TB backhoe $6670
Rear Hydraulic Valve, 0 to 1, $328
16" Bucket, 3 weld-on teeth $502

Is it usual to break it out that way? Do those prices seem reasonable? I had figured maybe$6-7K for a small backhoe, but this comes to $8125. The Bobcat implement brochure section of BHs said "subframe included" and gave a weight with a 12" bucket. Is 16" a bit large for this small of a tractor?

I could use some advice on this so I don't sound completely clueless when I talk with the guy again. Thanks -

Ken

 

[jpm]

the first question is what are you going to use the bh for?what type of soil,sandy or clay or rock ect? a 6/7 ft bh does not have a lot of range.if you have a lot of digging or stumping a used track hoe may be better or rent one.i'm not trying to be negative on the bh, just make shure it will do it all.maybe the dealer will let you demo one first.this is experance typing

 

[Ford tractor]

I'm not the one to ask as I would try to by a pre-loved 50-70hp TLB for that kind of money that could lift 2500-3500 on the loader and dig 14' with the hoe.

Small equipment like that has a large price tag. If it says bobcat on the side, it's more than likely going to be reliable and there is nationwide service, so that is worth something.

 

[Dmace]

I agree it sounds a little high but I also haven't purchased equipment since 2005 when I bought my tractor and attachments.

I have the 16" bucket on my 6.5ft backhoe for my little 21hp CK20 and it's perfect. A 12" bucket would allow for narrower trenching but I've only dug two trenches and it's not much different. Here in NH, I have the rockiest soil you've ever seen. I can't take one scoop of dirt with that bucket without picking up a rock. These backhoes are so strong though, it would easily rip the rocks out too! As long as the tractor was secured, if not it would drag the tractor around.

If they don't want to budge on the price of the backhoe, go to a Kioti dealer and get a quote on a backhoe for a CK27/30 (same tractor). It will be orange instead of white and a Kioti backhoe vs Rhino but I bet it will be a good $1000 cheaper and just as powerful.

A backhoe is a beautiful thing to have and I will never own a tractor without one:

 

[Ken P]

Thanks, folks. JPM, I want the backhoe for digging holes for trees and bushes, and for digging out some of the biggish nuisance vines and bushes we've got up here. The soil is on the rocky side, but otherwise average weight (not really clay-ish or sandy). Basically I want the BH to do the stuff I used to do with a shovel when I was younger and had a better back and more energy.

Dmace, it sounds as though we would be using the BH similarly and on similarly sized machines. Do you find the unit you have to be adequate in terms of reach and strength, or do you wish you'd gone up a size? There is a smaller BH for the Bobcat, model 6TB. Reach is less (78 vs 90" on the 7TB) and most of the other specs are also a bit less, but not too much. I was thinking of also asking for a quote on that one, as my digging needs are modest. Thoughts?

Ken

 

[jpm]

ken i remember the first time i used a bh whow!! it was a 6ft also.then i got on a track hoe totally differant.i now have a bigger tractor w/11ft hoe but i'd still would rather have trackhoe just because of ease of use.so i'd rent/demo both. the rental $ is not to much. this way you know the diff w/o spending $8000

 

[newbury]

Folks - I'm in the process of deciding on a mid-range hp CUT, with FEL and BH, and am requesting quotes from dealers. This is my first tractor, apologies for a newbie type question.

I asked the Bobcat dealer for a quote on the CT 225, and the backhoe portion of the quote had a whole bunch of different items, each with a charge. I guess I was expecting just one number, but what I got was:

6TB/7TB subframe $625
7TB backhoe $6670
Rear Hydraulic Valve, 0 to 1, $328
16" Bucket, 3 weld-on teeth $502

Is it usual to break it out that way? Do those prices seem reasonable? I had figured maybe$6-7K for a small backhoe, but this comes to $8125. The Bobcat implement brochure section of BHs said "subframe included" and gave a weight with a 12" bucket. Is 16" a bit large for this small of a tractor?

I could use some advice on this so I don't sound completely clueless when I talk with the guy again. Thanks -

Ken

I'd expect it to be broken down, because not everyone would need the same pieces.
Those are very similar prices (if they include installation), about what I paid in May of 2009 for my BH in my sig, but then I got a thumb which was about the same price as your valve. I didn't need the valve.

On bucket size - your ride is bigger than mine, it should easily be able to handle the 16", but I would recommend a thumb. There are several aftermarket thumbs, but in my case the price was about the same.

And go for the biggest.

The 16" is a good size, unless you KNOW you will need to dig a lot of small trenches.

 

[Dmace]

Dmace, it sounds as though we would be using the BH similarly and on similarly sized machines. Do you find the unit you have to be adequate in terms of reach and strength, or do you wish you'd gone up a size? There is a smaller BH for the Bobcat, model 6TB. Reach is less (78 vs 90" on the 7TB) and most of the other specs are also a bit less, but not too much. I was thinking of also asking for a quote on that one, as my digging needs are modest. Thoughts?
Ken

I certainly wouldn't mind something with more reach sometimes but moving the tractor more often is hardly an inconvenience. The backhoe is perfectly sized for the machine and way more powerful than you would think something it's size would be.
When I am pulling big stumps (20" +) or large rocks, I strap the tractor to my truck or a tree because the backhoe will drag the machine right into the hole. Even with the weight of the loaded tires and cab.

Also, if you do get a backhoe make sure you get the feet on the stabilizers because most dealers try and sell the backhoe without them and they make a huge difference.
You can see the "feet" on the stabilizers in this picture:
(click thumbnail for larger image)

The idea of renting a machine when needed is good but only if you have a handful of jobs to do and nothing else. I have used my backhoe on at least 500+ different days in the past 5 years and if I had rented a machine every time I needed it then it would have cost WAY more than the cost of the backhoe attachment. Plus the convenience of having it ready at a moment's notice is priceless.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Another issue with a narrower bucket is that it is more likely to become compacted with dirt in certain conditions.
Mike

 

[Mousefield]

I have a Woods BH70-X on my Kioti CK35 HST. I mostly got the backhoe for moving wood around our place. As I'm getting older and the back could be better I just don't want to lift 100-200 pound rounds any more. Have dug a few stumps with it and also several trenches. Reason I got the Woods over the Kioti is the Woods came with a 7 position thumb which is great for picking up stuff. The one pic of the trench is at my neighbors place. Hope this helps.

 

[BJN644]

Folks - I'm in the process of deciding on a mid-range hp CUT, with FEL and BH, and am requesting quotes from dealers. This is my first tractor, apologies for a newbie type question.

I asked the Bobcat dealer for a quote on the CT 225, and the backhoe portion of the quote had a whole bunch of different items, each with a charge. I guess I was expecting just one number, but what I got was:

6TB/7TB subframe $625
7TB backhoe $6670
Rear Hydraulic Valve, 0 to 1, $328
16" Bucket, 3 weld-on teeth $502

Is it usual to break it out that way? Do those prices seem reasonable? I had figured maybe$6-7K for a small backhoe, but this comes to $8125. The Bobcat implement brochure section of BHs said "subframe included" and gave a weight with a 12" bucket. Is 16" a bit large for this small of a tractor?

I could use some advice on this so I don't sound completely clueless when I talk with the guy again. Thanks -

Ken

I just purchased a Woods BH80X (8 ft ) with a hydraulic thumb, subframe, 18" bucket with 4 bolt on teeth, shipping from Michigan to Maine for $7700.
I already had the rear remote and installed the hoe myself. Search Woods backhoe on ebay, you will find Rosseel Equipment, great people to deal with. He must be a volume Woods dealer because none of my local dealers could (would) come close to the price I got.

 

[Ken P]

Folks, thanks for the replies, they are very helpful.

Some questions on the thumb, which I'd not hear of before: How does the thumb function in use? Is it's motion passive, or actively controlled somehow? And, do they go on and off easily? I'm guessing that you'd need to remove it for regular digging, or is that not necessary?

Ken

 

[jpm]

manual thumbs get locked in place. hyd thumbs has a cyl for the throw plus all the hosing and valve equals more $$ but is more flexable. both need to be atached by weld or eyelets. both fold up against the dipper when not in use

 

[IslandTractor]

If the OP is really just needing to dig holes for planting trees and bushes, I'd suggest he consider a stump bucket for the FEL as a MUCH cheaper alternative. You can get one for less than $500 delivered to your door from Gator (ex Markham) Attachments. Not sure if the Bobcat 225 comes with a QA adapter but that could be added for another $500 or less I believe.

An even cheaper alternative for bushes and small trees would be one of the shovel attachments that mount directly on to your FEL bucket. Google QuickSpade or search here on TBN.

For trenching and serious stump removal obviously a BH is far better.

 

[galaxie428]

I too would recommend checking into Woods. As a previous poster mentioned, Rosseel's Farm and Garden has a pretty good deal on them. I paid just around $7k for the BH80-X with a hydraulic thumb. When I compared specs of Woods & Rhino/Bobcat, the Woods had better specs.

I have dug out some very large dia trees with mine. The biggest was about 36" in dia at the base and it did take me about 4 hours but I got it out. Even with most of the dirt knocked off of it, it was more than my CT230 FEL could lift out without the bucket on. Lift capacity is somehere around 1600lbs at the pin with no bucket.

Here is a link to ebay where Rosseel's has one listed for $5200. Thumb,mounting bracket and shipping is additional.

NEW Woods BH80X Backhoe Attachment with 18" Bucket - eBay (item 200458888475 end time Nov-03-10 06:37:56 PDT)