Backhoe Tractor Backhoe or Mini Excavator?

[Tscott9330]

Ok, so I have done a good bit of searching on here and could not seem to find anything on my specific question. Perhaps I just missed it? I currently own a Branson 4220 (42Hp) and in the future I will need to do a lot of backhoe work (digging trenches, stumps etc.). Last time I needed a BH I rented a teramite and it worked great but I have been considering the possibility of buying either a sub frame mounted tractor backhoe or trying to find a used teramite or mini excavator. How does a tractor mounted BH compare to these other machines. When I rented the teramite, there was a lot of swapping seats to move the machine into position and then back to dig. I would be doing the same with the tractor mounted BH, but could maybe push the tractor along with the back hoe if the stabilizers were raised. If I were to go the mini excavator route, then I would guess things like trenching would go really fast due to the ability to move the machine and dig from the same seat. The cost of a well used mini excavator is slightly more than a sub frame mounted BH, but I would also end up with a separate machine and would not need to worry about disconnecting the BH from the tractor. Any insight would be appreciated.

Tom

 

[Duffster]

I would go with the mini as you will find it much more capable than a small backhoe

 

[deereguy]

Go with the mini ex for now, if you don't need it in a few years, sell it then buy a 3pt backhoe for your current tractor. The mini will outperform the 3pt backhoe hands down.

Good Luck!

 

[JoelD]

Nothing digs better than and excavator, compare ripping forces, that is where the strength is, they are more nimble and you never get out of the seat. Excavators are supperior, they are built to do only one thing and that is dig stuff up.

I would not trade my TLB for anything as the perfect machine for me as a home owner, however, if I was to need to do a lot of digging, I'd have an excavator.

I rented one this past weekend, a 28K machine. I did more work with that machine in 6 hours than I could've ever done in months with my TLB (much smaller, but you get my point).

Which brings up my suggestion, consider renting a larger machine, you'll be amazed at how much work you can do in an extremly short period of time.

Sincerely,
Joel

 

[GATC35]

I have a small backhoe for my tractor NH 757-C, and I still rent mini-ex's from time to time. As already stated a mini-ex is allot faster than a TLB. I have rented Takeuchi TB-135's and Kubota KX 161-3's both excellent machines.

On edit: if you are digging a straight line trench I can move faily fast with my TLB. Leave tractor in "N", raise stabilizers, push forward with boom, lower stabilizers, dig, repeat process. When you start moving around allot, say digging stumps, you loose allot of time jumping on and off the tractor.

 

[Tscott9330]

Alright guys thanks. This is pretty much what I figured. It looks as though a well used mini excavator around here is going for $7K - $10K which is around the same as a tractor mounted BH from what I have seen.

Tom