burnercan
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2003
- Messages
- 30
- Location
- Sweden until April 30th,2005.
- Tractor
- Really looking hard at Kioti
May not need one. Thinking of ideas how I can use one. But I WANT ONE. So I will buy one. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Backhoe Who regrets their Backhoe Decision?
- Thread starter Henro
- Start date
- Views: 11216
robertm
Veteran Member
Hey, Henro, I was thinking yesterday that I regret getting a backhoe. Oops, I mean the backhoe literature. Now, it reminds me everytime im on the "s*itter" that I could have bought a BX for a little more than what I spent on my B7510. I am sure I could have found a billion uses for the BH, now that I passed one up. Just didn't like the skimpy loader capacities of the LA211 on th BX. But hey, there is always a new hoe to fit a B7510 at the nearby dealer, right?
rswyan
Super Star Member
- Joined
- May 12, 2004
- Messages
- 11,407
- Location
- Northeast Ohio
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S, Simplicity 18 CFC, Cub Cadet 782
Yes, I regret my backhoe decision ..... to not get it when we bought the tractor (less than a month ago) - something I'm trying to rectify right now.
At the time, I agonized over the additional cost and the fact that (most) new 'hoes were relatively pricey, with the Prairie Dog being the exception at around $4K for the 7 1/2 footer. That (Prairie Dog) or a used unit was the route I was going to go but I've reconsidered the matter over the last week or so and have pretty much decided to go with the Kubota BL4690B, an apparently revised version of the BL4690A (dunno what the exact differences are yet) that is supposed to be available in about two weeks.
The primary factors that led me to go the extra bucks was potential warranty issues - using the Kubota hoe should eliminate those, and the fact that it is compatible with the mid-mount mower helped make the decision a little easier ...... not that I'd want to do alot of 'hoe work with the MMM attached, but not having to remove the MMM for a quick little job definitely has some appeal.
I will have the backhoe shipped directly to me, and I will do the assembly and install myself, getting me a little better price from the dealer and saving some $$$.
At the time, I agonized over the additional cost and the fact that (most) new 'hoes were relatively pricey, with the Prairie Dog being the exception at around $4K for the 7 1/2 footer. That (Prairie Dog) or a used unit was the route I was going to go but I've reconsidered the matter over the last week or so and have pretty much decided to go with the Kubota BL4690B, an apparently revised version of the BL4690A (dunno what the exact differences are yet) that is supposed to be available in about two weeks.
The primary factors that led me to go the extra bucks was potential warranty issues - using the Kubota hoe should eliminate those, and the fact that it is compatible with the mid-mount mower helped make the decision a little easier ...... not that I'd want to do alot of 'hoe work with the MMM attached, but not having to remove the MMM for a quick little job definitely has some appeal.
I will have the backhoe shipped directly to me, and I will do the assembly and install myself, getting me a little better price from the dealer and saving some $$$.
Libertine
Gold Member
OkeeDon:
<font color="blue">There is no easy way to move the tractor with the hoe bucket. Every time you want to reposition, which would be often with a trench, you have to climb out of one seat and into the other, raise the stabilizers, release the brake and put it in gear, guess at how far to move it, set the brake and put it in neutral, climb off the tractor and back onto the backhoe seat, lower the stabilizers, and dig again for a short time before you have to repeat it all. </font>
Not true. I move mine easily (short distances) from the BH seat. Raise the stabilizers a bit, use the bucket to shift the machine forward/backwards/side to side.
JEH
<font color="blue">There is no easy way to move the tractor with the hoe bucket. Every time you want to reposition, which would be often with a trench, you have to climb out of one seat and into the other, raise the stabilizers, release the brake and put it in gear, guess at how far to move it, set the brake and put it in neutral, climb off the tractor and back onto the backhoe seat, lower the stabilizers, and dig again for a short time before you have to repeat it all. </font>
Not true. I move mine easily (short distances) from the BH seat. Raise the stabilizers a bit, use the bucket to shift the machine forward/backwards/side to side.
JEH
Libertine
Gold Member
Woodbeef:
<font color="blue"> When ever I need holes dug,I just call the local tlb owner. He does them no muss no fuss. At $45 an hour it will be years before I get up to the value of a tlb. </font>
Agreed, IF you've got someone readily available, nearby who will work more or less when needed. Lot's of us don't. Also, as mentioned by others, it's cheaper to rent when needed for specific jobs. The advantage to "owning your own" is you can do a few hours work here and there, or of an evening, when you wouldn't have rented. Example, yesterday I took out a small tree (dead). It was only about 45'-50', but without the BH would have had to dig a much bigger hole to get stump out (with FEL), or used the scoop (reversed) and it would taken much longer. Having the BH speeded up the trunk removal and so allowed me to get everything out, 1/3 cord of wood and most of the brush cleaned up in one day. Without it, I would still be looking at a mess this morning. The small cut area is ready for reseeding. Would never have spent the money to rent for just the one stump. What is the economic value of that? Umm. $20??
So far, I figure I've "earned back" perhaps $3k in rentals saved, paid work I might have passed on. So I've "earned" 1/2 the cost of the hoe. Not a bad return in 18 months (sure better than a money market). Overall, the tractor has earned back around $4k-$5k which is around half the $9k depreciation hit to date.
JEH
PS Havn't seen many posts from you recently. Still posting on antique tractors?
<font color="blue"> When ever I need holes dug,I just call the local tlb owner. He does them no muss no fuss. At $45 an hour it will be years before I get up to the value of a tlb. </font>
Agreed, IF you've got someone readily available, nearby who will work more or less when needed. Lot's of us don't. Also, as mentioned by others, it's cheaper to rent when needed for specific jobs. The advantage to "owning your own" is you can do a few hours work here and there, or of an evening, when you wouldn't have rented. Example, yesterday I took out a small tree (dead). It was only about 45'-50', but without the BH would have had to dig a much bigger hole to get stump out (with FEL), or used the scoop (reversed) and it would taken much longer. Having the BH speeded up the trunk removal and so allowed me to get everything out, 1/3 cord of wood and most of the brush cleaned up in one day. Without it, I would still be looking at a mess this morning. The small cut area is ready for reseeding. Would never have spent the money to rent for just the one stump. What is the economic value of that? Umm. $20??
So far, I figure I've "earned back" perhaps $3k in rentals saved, paid work I might have passed on. So I've "earned" 1/2 the cost of the hoe. Not a bad return in 18 months (sure better than a money market). Overall, the tractor has earned back around $4k-$5k which is around half the $9k depreciation hit to date.
JEH
PS Havn't seen many posts from you recently. Still posting on antique tractors?
uhmgawa
Gold Member
uhmgawa
Gold Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I move mine easily (short distances) from the BH seat. Raise the stabilizers a bit, use the bucket to shift the machine forward/backwards/side to side.)</font>
Actually I find this is another case where a hydrostatic transmission is a benefit.
It isn't too difficult to reach back to the pedal and tweak the business
forward/backward as needed.
Actually I find this is another case where a hydrostatic transmission is a benefit.
It isn't too difficult to reach back to the pedal and tweak the business
forward/backward as needed.
Bob_Skurka
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2003
- Messages
- 7,615
I will grant you all that a Backhoe can be very useful. I will also say that a higher % of TBN members have and use them than the typical tractor owners.
BUT:
I would never buy a backhoe again. The Great Bend backhoe on the B2910 works great, but is not worth the price. The Kubota bh was even more money. To be blunt, I think RENTING a backhoe is probably going to be the most VALUE for MOST people.
Backhoes are expensive and MOST people simply don't use them enough to justify their cost. I know that many here do have lots of uses, and for those people a backhoe may make economic sence. But for me, and my neighbor, who I co-own the unit with, the B.H. is an unused implement that was very expensive. I think it has been used less than any other implement by a long margin. The big track hoe I rented cost me $225, it was delived late this morning (Saturday) and will be picked up on Monday. It is much more capable than any backhoe on any tractor I have seen, and that alone makes RENTING the better answer in my mind.
Even if I rented the Track Hoe twice a year for 10 years it would be a better deal than buying even a small back hoe. The Track Hoe got a job done in about 5 hours that I am not sure my back hoe could actually do becuase of its lack of reach, however, IF the back hoe could do the job, I would say it would be much closer to a 20 hour job because the bucket is much smaller, the reach is much shorter, and the ability to move the machine at will (any direction, several feet/yards at a time) is simply not existent with a TLB type machine.
BUT:
I would never buy a backhoe again. The Great Bend backhoe on the B2910 works great, but is not worth the price. The Kubota bh was even more money. To be blunt, I think RENTING a backhoe is probably going to be the most VALUE for MOST people.
Backhoes are expensive and MOST people simply don't use them enough to justify their cost. I know that many here do have lots of uses, and for those people a backhoe may make economic sence. But for me, and my neighbor, who I co-own the unit with, the B.H. is an unused implement that was very expensive. I think it has been used less than any other implement by a long margin. The big track hoe I rented cost me $225, it was delived late this morning (Saturday) and will be picked up on Monday. It is much more capable than any backhoe on any tractor I have seen, and that alone makes RENTING the better answer in my mind.
Even if I rented the Track Hoe twice a year for 10 years it would be a better deal than buying even a small back hoe. The Track Hoe got a job done in about 5 hours that I am not sure my back hoe could actually do becuase of its lack of reach, however, IF the back hoe could do the job, I would say it would be much closer to a 20 hour job because the bucket is much smaller, the reach is much shorter, and the ability to move the machine at will (any direction, several feet/yards at a time) is simply not existent with a TLB type machine.
OP
Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
I think it all depends on one's needs. THe same could be said for a tractor I suppose. All depends on how much one is going to use whatever he purchases.
Around here a small JD 4200 with back hoe costs around 180 per day to rent, and then on top of that if you don't have a trailer you must rent that too. And you have to wait until the unit is available. Take your time to go get it and take it back...and so on...
In my case I use my backhoe a lot...WHEN I want to and that is important to me.
But like Bob says...now that I have a bx with MMM if I still had a RFM for the B2910 I might be saying the RFM was not a good use of my money...since I was not using it much.
The convenience of having the backhoe available for use when I want it is worth something to me...a lot actually.
But each person's needs are different...I would buy a backhoe again...as a matter of fact one reason I like the Kubota L3130 so much is the BH90 backhoe that can be added to it... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Around here a small JD 4200 with back hoe costs around 180 per day to rent, and then on top of that if you don't have a trailer you must rent that too. And you have to wait until the unit is available. Take your time to go get it and take it back...and so on...
In my case I use my backhoe a lot...WHEN I want to and that is important to me.
But like Bob says...now that I have a bx with MMM if I still had a RFM for the B2910 I might be saying the RFM was not a good use of my money...since I was not using it much.
The convenience of having the backhoe available for use when I want it is worth something to me...a lot actually.
But each person's needs are different...I would buy a backhoe again...as a matter of fact one reason I like the Kubota L3130 so much is the BH90 backhoe that can be added to it... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
