The gully to pond project

[bindian]

If this backhoe was like a excavator where I could rotate 180 degrees, it would sure be easier, but only having 90 degrees of swing on either side of center sure limits what you can do with a bucket of dirt.

Jum,
This is exactly what I ran into as I was digging the last of my pond on a slope. I always wanted a backhoe and now after digging out one pond....... ..............I want an excavator that can turn 360 degrees.:thumbsup: It is especially difficult to dig then move it to different piles for the top soil, then the clay.
hugs, Brandi

 

[jinman]

I want an excavator that can turn 360 degrees.:thumbsup:

Yeah Brandi, it sure would be nice to have an excavator, but being a rookie I can just see myself in the situation below. Sheesh!:laughing:

 

[dcyrilc]

Yeah Brandi, it sure would be nice to have an excavator, but being a rookie I can just see myself in the situation below. Sheesh!:laughing:

No problem. At that point you just call the rental company and tell them the hoe is ready to be picked up....

....I won't be home, but it's sitting on the small hill in the back.:laughing::laughing:

 

[EddieWalker]

I keep looking at them and dreaming about buying one. Problem with an excavator is it's limited use compared to the backhoe. Wheels and that front bucket really do a lot to compensate for the limitations of the limited swing of the backhoe. As much as I want one, there isn't anything that it will do that my backhoe can't do. It might do it faster and easier, but in the end, the backhoe will get it done too. Add that front bucket, and in my case, pallet forks and a grapple, and it's a heck of a machine that does a huge number of tasks.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Add that front bucket, and in my case, pallet forks and a grapple, and it's a heck of a machine that does a huge number of tasks.

I absolutely agree. Going slow-slow on the backhoe is full speed on a dozer or excavator. The speed with which I can move materials with the loader bucket is amazing. I am really happy with the TLB. The reason you see so many of them on jobsites is because their like the Swiss Army Knife of heavy construction equipment. Skidsteers are the sportscars, but they won't replace TLBs.

Eddie, did your tractor come with hooks mounted on the bucket for your forks or did you have them welded on? They aren't permanently mounted are they? I just don't remember. I want the kind with a rod that goes through the top of the forks and the bucket has hooks to grab the rod. I've already found lots of rocks that far outclass my little TC and need the TLB to have forks to lift them. One of my neighbors has big rocks cleared out from his home construction and is offering them to me. My guess is most of these are 1 ton to 2-1/2 ton range. 1 ton is about all I can handle with the TC and that's mostly scooting it across the ground. The TLB loader can lift almost 4 tons, so the big rocks should be within its range.

 

[bindian]

Yeah Brandi, it sure would be nice to have an excavator, but being a rookie I can just see myself in the situation below. Sheesh!:laughing:

Jim,
Or the wife might do this to your truck.......
hugs, Brandi

 

[mike69440]

Yeah Brandi, it sure would be nice to have an excavator, but being a rookie I can just see myself in the situation below. Sheesh!:laughing:

Actually

That is not much of a problem for an excavator, even if surrounded by a bit of water, you can move yourself and the spoils to solid ground.

Also working off a bench is easy digging.

Moving that 250 Yard pile of loam I'm sitting on ( starterd with 600 Yards) with my Kubota L39 TLB and moving each bucket 1/4 mile is SLOW, Very Slow work. My tweaked L39 may have 30-40 % over that TC, but it's about 1/3 a real Backhoe.

 

[jinman]

Jim,
Or the wife might do this to your truck.......
hugs, Brandi

No that wouldn't work for me. My ex-wife would have thought equipment wasn't 'feminine' and thus was below her. My current wife would just shoot me 'cause it's much tidier and efficient.:laughing::laughing::laughing: I try to make sure I don't do anything to pizz her off.

 

[jinman]

Actually

That is not much of a problem for an excavator, even if surrounded by a bit of water, you can move yourself and the spoils to solid ground.

Mike, it looks like you got lots of seat time for sure. I'm lucky in that until I build my dams, every drop of water will run off because of the lay of the land. I will make sure both of my pond basins are complete and all dam materials are stockpiled before starting the dams. Then, I'll scramble as fast as I can go to get the higher dam built and finally the lower dam. Being able to move 1-1/2 yd or slightly more per bucket full is a huge advantage over my CUT's loader that tops out under 1/2 yard. Not only is the TLB a beast in size, but it handles a bucket full of dirt without getting squirrely at all. My 'pucker muscle' gets a lot more rest with the TLB. However, the loader sure works alot better on the downslope than the upslope. With the backhoe on the rear, trying to drive up a slope and backdrag down with the loader bucket can get exciting. The front of the tractor gets very light and goes airborne with ease.

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie, did your tractor come with hooks mounted on the bucket for your forks or did you have them welded on? They aren't permanently mounted are they? I just don't remember. I want the kind with a rod that goes through the top of the forks and the bucket has hooks to grab the rod. I've already found lots of rocks that far outclass my little TC and need the TLB to have forks to lift them. One of my neighbors has big rocks cleared out from his home construction and is offering them to me. My guess is most of these are 1 ton to 2-1/2 ton range. 1 ton is about all I can handle with the TC and that's mostly scooting it across the ground. The TLB loader can lift almost 4 tons, so the big rocks should be within its range.

Jim,

Yes, my bucket has the factory hooks. I was also looking around for a rod and pallet fork combination, but never put a lot of effort into it, and never found anything. I converted my loader to a Universal Quick Attach when I bought my grapple. I modified my bucket to this, and bought a set of pallet forks that are already set up for this.

The grapple takes a little bit of effort to take on and off becuase of the hoses. The bucket and forks change over in just a few minutes. It's like having another machine!!!!!

Eddie