Self-congratulations for getting backhoe

[fried1765]

I totally agree. That is why I bought one. Now I can get up on the weekend and go do backhoe projects for an hour or four, or wait and do them later. And if I need a hole now, I can dig it now. Plus I can do things with it that I wouldn't want to do with a rental, like lifting large firewood blocks onto the log splitter.

The only bad thing is when you need a hole, but you have the 3 pt on with an implement you plan on using later that day or the next, and you figure you can probably dig the hole by hand quicker than you can get the backhoe on and then get the implement back on.

The obvious answer (if you can afford it) is to have a second tractor!
My newest is a 32HP 1988 Ford 1920 FEL 4x4.(1050 hrs. restored) I use it exclusively for 3pt implements.
My other old Ford is a 1970 Ford 3400 TLB that I bought 31 years ago, when it was already 16 years old.
I paid $10,000 for the 3400 with 1350 hrs.(gas) in 1986.
Last year (now has 1850 hrs.) I repaired as necessary, and repainted. It currently looks like new.
That TLB has reshaped my entire front yard/driveway (would have been big cost), has installed two complete septic systems, has removed a 1000 gal.(underground) oil tank, has dug out dozens of stumps, installed electric and water lines, buried animals, etc., and...... is always at my disposal for the next project, large or small.
I am almost 77 years old! I bought it when I was 46.
Over the years my TLB has MORE THAN PAID FOR ITSELF!
I will keep it until I croak!

 

[mbohuntr]

My dad owned one for a few years, and taught me how to use it. I have rented several for odd jobs but hate being rushed to complete it the same day.

I am having a new house put up, and figured there's no better time to buy one than now, putting in electric, water, sidewalks etc. Boy, wish I bought it years ago!!

 

[California]

The obvious answer (if you can afford it) is to have a second tractor!

Yep. See my sig photo below. The little guy does 90% of the work around here, it fits under the orchard trees better. Mowing, rototilling, hauling my watering trailer around. That hoe is needed to dig out stumps every year in this old orchard plus the usual water lines, correcting drainage, digging down and getting the lid off the septic tank, etc. All were bought well used. I don't have a lot of money into a set of equipment that does everything I need.

 

[scdeerslayer]

The obvious answer (if you can afford it) is to have a second tractor!

I actually have access to 5 tractors to use. Two are the old farmall single row tractors, one always has the planters on it, the other always has the cultivators on it. The smaller of the other two is basically slap worn out. The larger is a bit too big for the implements for it, but now it's probably going to be the designated mowing tractor. My new tractor is kind of in between those two, and I bought it mainly for doing food plots without taking garden time away from the others. I figured I would get the backhoe while I was getting something because I knew I would find things to use it for and I've got some drainage ditches to dig at some point. When I'm not doing food plots the backhoe will probably be on it most of the time, the problem is just going to be when I need a hole at the same time I'm trying to prep food plots.