Regret not getting a backhoe for my tractor

[dkmc]

Haha, ok sure. You gotta dig a narrow trench on flat ground, thats great. The videos I have seen are them tipping over when on any uneven terrain, and failing to lift heavy things because they simply aren't big enough. If you need a toy digger thats fine, but they simply don't excavate tree stumps or lift boulders effectively. And good luck sourcing obscure parts for your random chinese brand machine 10 years from now. Different strokes, all good.

Edit: just revisited this thread about chinese micro-ex's and its just a giant complaint fest about how terrible they all are. neat.

Chinese digger recommendations

They are fine - well built, everything works as it should. The Typhon XVIII is made by Hightop and has the 180MM tracks and Kubota 722 14-15HP engine. The Typhon XIX is made by Vote, and has 230 MM tracks, and a Kubota 902 16 HP or so engine. Also the XIX has a better fit and finish and has...

www.tractorbynet.com

Watching the wrong videos, OK.
10 years from now they'll be so popular Lowes will be selling them along with the China side x sides. And any part needed
will be on Ebay. Harbor freight has the 14hp engines for $380. So ha-ha......yea. They're fine for the capacity they have.
Don't buy one.
Edit...I looked thru that entire thread. A 'giant complaint fest' ?? LOL Sure. Not.

 

[Oaktree]

We considered a BH for the Kubota B2301, but chose against it. For the use I have, it wasn't going to be worth the expense. I have rented a mini-excavator, two days for a bit over 500 bucks, plus 100 to drop it and retrieve it. That's less than 1/10th of what the BH attachment would have cost, and I don't have the room for storage. I'm going to have to rent again next year for something. I'll still be money ahead.

That was my approach as well. Would've loved to have one, but not sure I'd get my money's worth out of it, for the reasons you mentioned. Actually looked at getting a used one maybe 15 years ago...seems all I could find were either 3PH ones (which I didn't want), really beat-up ones that needed a LOT of work or like-new ones with like-new prices.
Not many rental places around me, the one time I needed to dig a ditch hired my neighbor to do it.