What should I do w/my Woods 3PH backhoe?

[ovrszd]

This is exactly what I had in mind for him finding. Like you said, you need patience, it won't be a work horse. nor would i want to tear my tractor up.
Heck, i have loaded tires, a 750lb severe front bucket, and i'm tipping the scales at close to 10k lbs with the hoe on, and i feel like i'd be happier with more weight or stability. haha.

I've put 50 hours on this machine already. Going to build a new shop and house this Summer. Barring major mechanical failure, this hoe will have itself paid for by the time we are done. And my tractor will be no worse for wear.

 

[MatHaas]

I've put 50 hours on this machine already. Going to build a new shop and house this Summer. Barring major mechanical failure, this hoe will have itself paid for by the time we are done. And my tractor will be no worse for wear.

that's awesome! happy to hear. Sounds like you were both fortunate and smart. Sometimes that doesn't always line up together but ya gotta try.

that's my plan, i picked up my Mahindra 3550 and the bradco 509 for homesteading and getting things in order.
bought 13 wooded acres at the base of the mountain last year and planning a 60'x120' garage :cool2: hopefully i get it done by winter.

 

[ovrszd]

Holy Moly!!!!! 60x120 is huge!!!! My existing shop is 42x50. New one will be 39x48. It'll be built next to a 50x35 machine shed that's already there.

 

[MatHaas]

Holy Moly!!!!! 60x120 is huge!!!! My existing shop is 42x50. New one will be 39x48. It'll be built next to a 50x35 machine shed that's already there.

LOL i knowwww; i'm just planning it to be once and done. they always say you run out of room, so i'm preparing for the worst. haha. plus i've been working too hard for too many years not to treat myself. lol.

Sounds like you have a great set up. Few separate buildings but that's a good amount of space also. Cheers man, hope it all comes together smoothly.

 

[George2615]

Well just see what you can find. I got lucky and found my hoe for $3k, put about $200 fabricating the mounts, upgrading all gr8 hardware, and rebuilding all of the the hydraulic spool valves seals.

So the question is how much are you going to use it.
George2615 thinks different, but he just said he uses it only a few times a year.
That's all i plan to use it for too. Random little jobs on 13 acres.

If you were looking at multiple projects a year with extensive work, I think you'd be spending a lot of time on the tractor hoe getting things accomplished. but hey, maybe you're ok with that, and like to chip away at projects and your time is expendable.
heck i do that stuff all of the time! I like to accomplish something, and don't have a giant bank roll to buy 3 different machines, nor do i want to store them.

guess you need to try out on or the other.
when I youtubed videos of people using different hoes, that's when i decided i wouldn't settle for any less than a 75b. I watched too many videos of smaller tractors and smaller hoes struggling with simple stuff. maybe it was the operator. but i'd didnt want to spend the money twice.

see what's out there.
there's no wrong answer.

I hope I haven't misled anyone but like I said, I only use mine randomly a few times a year, I'm retired so I don't care how long it takes me to dig out a stump or a ditch, and I couldn't justify the price of a new factory BH so I adapted one I could afford. I was in no hurry to buy a BH and looked for two years to find one like Richard but people around here think their beat up equipment is like gold. When a BH750 came up for sale for less than half price of new I jumped on it and with a little work making a couple brackets its all I need. If I decide to later sell I can easily get my money back.

 

[MatHaas]

I hope I haven't misled anyone but like I said, I only use mine randomly a few times a year, I'm retired so I don't care how long it takes me to dig out a stump or a ditch, and I couldn't justify the price of a new factory BH so I adapted one I could afford. I was in no hurry to buy a BH and looked for two years to find one like Richard but people around here think their beat up equipment is like gold. When a BH750 came up for sale for less than half price of new I jumped on it and with a little work making a couple brackets its all I need. If I decide to later sell I can easily get my money back.

agreed, sounds like it worked out perfectly for your situation. It sure is a good option when it does everything you need and you can save a good buck doing it.