Backhoe To hoe, or not to hoe?

[xrjohndeere]

I have one for my JD 4520 and have had it for years. I would not be without it. Renting a backhoe and going to get it everytime I wanted to use it would not be feasible. Just spend the extra money and get it. You will not regret it. I leave mine on 95% of the time. A word to the wise though, stumps are not easy to dig out and if you have alot of them a stump grinder would be better. Big rocks the hoe is the only way to go. Make sure if you get it you get the frame mount and not the 3pt hitch, they are a pain to put on and off. Good luck and happy digging.

 

[Gizmo2]

The money spent now will be recouped if you sell it later, at least a large percentage.

 

[inmaestro]

Like all major tool purchases, it depends. I have a JD3120 with a 447 backhoe attachment I bought used. It has paid for itself in less than two years time. I have used it to dig out along a foundation wall, take out about a dozen good size stumps (12" - 24" diameter), excavate for a planter at church, dig an electrical conduit trench, demo an old house on my property, etc. A decent backhoe rents for about $350 a day around here, so I paid for mine in 10 days use. Yes, I got a good deal on a used one. But even if I paid $7000, it would be 1/2 paid for already, not to mention the convenience.

Yes, it does take 10 or 20 minutes to take it off and on, but it is worth it when I need to dig. No, it is not as capable as a full size machine, but for small projects up to 7 ft deep, it is the cats meow.

If I had it to do over again, I would.

Best of luck.

 

[hr3]

I had a Woods fitted to mine before I bought it,, Takes about 10 min. to put on and off,, and am very glad I did.. I do alot of what you want one for but I don't use it to skid logs out, " Too much weight on the rear and I don't want the loader loaded" But the weight is great to pull them out backwards .

If I had a big job to do I'd rent a big unit but when you rent something you try to use it to it's max for one or two days streight,,, I'd rather just pick away at my projects,, and if it starts raining just come in and do it later..

As for what else I use it for,, ( planted a 20', apple tree for the wife) (Put in a culvert in the driveway) ( Dug a ditch to the barn for power and water) ( Dig up rocks and tree stumps)

 

[Reg]

As with many things; If you don't KNOW whether or not you need it, then you most probably don't.

It is a BIG co$t item, there are most likely better spending alternatives for that money.
Some other more useful and less expensive implements, some excavator time, maybe a bigger tractor, etc.

 

[jinman]

My wife, who bought me the tractor, sees what I do with it and the backhoe and is very happy I have it.

Happy wife. . . happy life.:thumbsup:

 

[flyingcow]

Just got my unit, it came with the backhoe. I've used it just an hour or so. Still debating on selling it. But, if i had to do what your considering, I'd rent a medium(or bigger) sized excavator w/thumb. Thumb is a plus when moving rocks and digging out stumps. It will be alot of beating and thrashing on a tractor mounted BH. Potential to do serious damage to the tractor. Rent the big hoe, buy a Farmi winch for the tractor. Even handling trees with a tractor mounted hoe won't be as easy as you think. Just my opinion.

Also, if you have a contractor handy, talk to him and see what kind of estimate for him to do it when he's handy with his equipment. catch him driving by and it may be cheaper, especially if your talking cash. A capable operator will do the job quick and clean it up good.

 

[dave1949]

I would get a hoe for your tractor to do the small jobs. A thumb is a good addition for stumps and rocks. A hoe is okay for picking up logs, but I would say not a good tool for moving them. A decent 3pth lift boom and some 3/8" chain will do that for little money. Just be reasonable about how much weight you pick up or drag.

I would also rent or hire a big machine once or twice to do the rough, heavy work that will just beat up your tractor.

If you have a backhoe, you will find many uses for it that save you lots of manual shoveling. If you have all your digging done 4-5 years later, you could sell the hoe attachment if you wanted to.
Dave.

 

[kebo]

Curious but just how much "rocky woods do you want to turn into fields"?? If it's a fair size "field" (more than an acre or three) and has lots of rocks (especially large ones) you could be forever trying to dig up rocks, then move them to a pile. How about the tree's? Lots of them to move as well?? Maybe you need to rethink how important the field is to you. If it's real important, then like others suggested maybe it would be better to rent an excavator or else hire it out.

 

[IslandTractor]

My 2 cents: A backhoe on a tractor is often a luxury or a convenience and yet in some situations is clearly worthwhile economically. I'd guess that the first two account for more than the economic argument for most CUT owners who are not charging for their work. I've owned two CUT TLBs and justify it because I cannot get a rental (live on an island) but truth be told, for most situations it would be cheaper to save up BH jobs and occasionally rent a small excavator for a day or contract out larger jobs than to own and maintain a BH. Still, there is justification on convenience grounds and that does count for something.