Buying Advice Used sub/compact tractor, what to buy?

[deadheadmartin]

It's close to the limit of their ~6.5' dig depth so I'm assuming I'll need to do a little work by hand.
I'd love to get one with an ~8' dig depth, but those all seem to be out of my budget.

They are no more than a power shovel, buy the right tool for the job.

 

[sd455dan]

I was curious after reading your post about sub $10k full size TLB units so I checked CL for my area and surrounding states. The used units are considerably more expensive than $10K. 3 to 6 times more expensive.

Seems prices have gone up and I have not looked much since I bought the Ford 550, but looking "today" at older TLB's locally just on CL heavy equipment:


Even the 1971 Deere would put a new SCUT to shame digging 6 foot deep of course jmo

$7500

https://spokane.craigslist.org/hvo/d/spokane-71-john-deere-tractor-backhoe/7835120992.html

$12.5K
really old running JD with a home built trailer asking

https://spokane.craigslist.org/hvo/d/airway-heights-69-jd-backhoe-trailer/7831133460.html

$16.9 Case 580 C Runs great

https://spokane.craigslist.org/hvo/d/kootenai-case-580c-backhoe-with-rops/7836401619.html

Second to last trench I did with the 550 36" deep X 400' It was a little hard on the Harbor freight 12" wide bucket I adapted instead a full 2 foot wide trench, but some welder work fixed it up. My guess is that 100lb HF bucket is probably about as beefy as what come on a new SCUT backhoe for a bucket.

TLB can make short work of moving a full 3300lb pallet of concrete if needed for a job as well. New is always nice but there is serviceable old equipment out there, many people buy an old machine get the jobs done and then sell them for close to what they paid for them. I just truly believe a newish/new SCUT would loose against even the lowest priced backhoe above digging the depths the OP is asking about especially if the SCUT or old backhoe is also tasked with transporting those spoils.

If I was to buy today out of the list above the Case 580 C would be it, Even at the 16.9 K price, if as described should also be powered by the venerable Cummins 4BT and has modular drivetrain parts replacement unlike a Ford 550-555. Oh and if a guy feels like it with some of the money saved add a hydraulic thumb to the backhoe.

After thinking about this some more maybe the Op should just rent a nice Kubota KX040 or something similar and then buy a CUT/SCUT that fits all the other more tractor only uses the OP may have planned.

 

[Tenx82]

Thank you everyone for the replies/info so far.

The one I was going to buy sold before I could get there, but that may have been a blessing in disguise.

Looks like I'll be looking more for a 35-50hp tractor, and either buying a mini excavator or hiring out the foundation exciting.

 

[ning]

Thank you everyone for the replies/info so far.

The one I was going to buy sold before I could get there, but that may have been a blessing in disguise.

Looks like I'll be looking more for a 35-50hp tractor, and either buying a mini excavator or hiring out the foundation exciting.

I think you'll be happiest with this route taken, happy hunting!

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I'm a frequent advocate of renting the right tool for the job as opposed to buying something that you can stretch and make-do for a bunch of jobs. I'd rent an excavator for time necessary to do the digging--it'll be faster than a small tractor-mounted hoe; then rent a skid-steer to do the back-filling and dirt-moving work.
After you've got those things done, you can focus on what you really need in a machine that will multi-task, without ending up having a couple rusting lawn ornaments you'll never use.

I considered a backhoe for my B2301. I can rent an excavator for less than $500/day and get more work done in one day than I can in two or three with a tractor-mounted hoe. In four years, I've only needed the excavator one time--as opposed to having a $6500 chunk of iron sitting in my door yard.

 

[Deanes]

A backhoe on that size tractor will prove very disappointing and time-consuming. If you need a tractor, just get a heavier one with a front loader and rent a real backhoe or mini excavator for such occasional use.

 

[13720]

You can do a lot of work in one day with an excavator rental. They are much more versital than a backhoe. The flexibility of rental machines allows a wider range of options.