Backhoe Who regrets their Backhoe Decision?

To20Chris · Jun 15, 2004

I NEED food, air, water, shelter, clothes, some heat in the winter, a source if income. All the rest is a matter of choice, a decision we make about what is valuable to us. We each make different choices. I drive a little, inexpensive car, and a $200 old S10 with 200kmi. I'm fine with that - my TLB combination cost almost twice what my car did, because I value it, and what it can do, much more than I would fancy wheels. I'll never have a $7000 plasma TV, cause I don't watch it, but a BH, sure. The point is that you could never define a BH as a NEED, just as you could never define any of the FEL, or even the tractors that most of us have as a need, unless perhaps you use it as an essential part of your business. So do you need a BH? Only if you think you do. I'd ceratinly recommend that people find out what a BH will do for you before they buy one, but that is no different than with any other major purchace.

polecat · Jun 15, 2004

DO U WANNA SELLIT?????? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifSERIOUSLY???

gray · Jun 16, 2004

Here goes?

I love my backhoe. It is not like many of the BH on most tractors. It has a nice reach-11.2' and I can move my tractor without getting out of the BH seat position. Without these two benifits, I would find using it valuble but troublesome.

I do understand those who do not like the constant shift from BH seat to tractor seat. I did that for a while then got a new tractor.

Kubota has a real good deal going when they have an L21, L35 and L48 ( my unit) with the seat in such a way an operator could move the machine without moving from seat to seat. Also, when you do have a stump to pull, you have to do it. Without the BH? It would be a long and difficult day.

Small and hard to work BH are not without value if you need a BH but they are limmiting and could cause some to turn against a BH on a tractor.

Best reguards to all and hope you resolve the great BH question.

EdK · Jun 17, 2004

First off I’d like to start with affirming what’s been said in that we all are in widely varying environments as well as financially diverse situations – so there is not 1 correct tractor/backhoe strategy. That being said I’d have to align myself with Bob’s assessment. Here’s how I arrive at that conclusion:

Before buying my tractor I had some experience with both a JD 30hp compact & hoe as well as a bigger Case 580. This gave me an appreciation for what I could reasonably expect to accomplish. I have a larger lot so as I tractor shopped I observed bigger doesn’t cost all that much more (e.g. 30-40hp to 50-70 about $5K or 20%) so I justified the move from compact to utility and am satisfied with the decision. Of course implements cost more which is OK however hoes cost a lot more. So here’s the bottom line: I simply could not justify an additional $10K for a hoe that would admittedly come in very convenient at times but still leave me occasionally renting equipment for the bigger jobs!

Case in point: I sized my tractor for about 95% of what I’ll need to accomplish. Yes this cost me more than a compact however where would I be if I sized to 75%? Why I’d find myself spending an awful lot of dough in rentals. On the other hand If I sized my machine to 99-100% of my needs it would have proven prohibitively expensive. Just last weekend I rented the machine pictured in the attachment to move a few rocks that were above the capacity of my loader. The machine is worth about $110-$120K and I was able to get 15hours on the clock performing some pretty serious work for $412.50 –including burning 50 gallons of diesel. I am very satisfied with the cost/benefit experience.

I figure the hoe would be seriously handicapped due to the extremely bony nature of my land. An 30-ton excavator fished about a 8-10 rocks of that approximate size out of my cellar hole last year and even broke a bucket in the process. Given the local soil conditions and the other primary use for the hoe being to dig good sized stumps I’m sure the hoe would not match the tractors approx 95% capability factor – it would have to be significantly lower. In conclusion I’m saying I see a few industrial TLB or excavator rentals in my future and you’ve got to make you own educated decision.

pekabu · Jun 17, 2004

NH boney? You've got to be kidding? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I just moved a big rock. Well, I can't lift it with my loader but I can roll it by curling the bucket, and I was able to dig it out and move it with the BH. I took some pictures so hopefully I can post them in a couple of days.

Bob_Skurka · Jun 17, 2004

( DO U WANNA SELLIT?????? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifSERIOUSLY??? )

I co-own it with my neighbor. I think he used it twice? But he wants to keep it. I think it is a cool toy for him? I wouldn't mind selling him my share!!!

I don't even know why he has a tractor except for in the winter to clear his snow at his shop, he keeps his tractor at the house all summer, near as I can tell he doesn't use it, then each fall he takes it to his shop to clear the snow. Each spring it makes the trip back home. I think I put more seat time on a tractor each month than he does in a year!

Henro · Jun 17, 2004

I was able to get 15hours on the clock performing some pretty serious work for $412.50 –including burning 50 gallons of diesel. I am very satisfied with the cost/benefit experience.


I think I heard you say "it all depends..." and with that I agree totally.

However...my backhoe cost about $6,000 and at $ 300 per day that equates to only twenty days rental. Around here a day may only be 8 clock ours... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Certainly my tractor can't do what that machine you pictured can...but my backhoe may be there to help me for the rest of my life for all I know.

But that just gets back to what you said...for each of us, it all depends... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

EdK · Jun 18, 2004

I hope I wasn't so long winded as to not get my point across:

"If the 10K hoe would meet 95% of my needs I would buy it"

But for me - and here's the "it depends" part - I'm pretty sure it wouldn't even come close. But for others it probably does so buying is the right decision.

BTW the $412.50 for the loader is the 2-day weekend rate. I have a pretty fair rental company nearby but they would not agree to a 15 hour day /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

DAP · Jun 22, 2004

To those who read my rant, let me try and clarify. Sorry for being pedantic.

It's easy to forget that some of us once knew absolutely nothing about tractors except that we wanted or needed one.

When one of those types of peeps comes to TBN asking questions, here' what usually happens.

1. EVERYONE has an opinion and a lot of folks 'share' same.
2. NOT EVERYONE can be objective and practical in their recommendations but share that in the form of their opinion.

For potential new machine owners seeking practical information, #2 above can be irksome, confusing and often avoids answering the initial question altogether. This is exactly how lame brand wars, and other frequent disparities arise here in tractorland. MY OPINION says this detracts from the overall quality of the site (even though its amusing for a while).

Henro buddy ... if you found the wherewithall to pick up an L3430 or an L48 and keep the rest of your units, that's great - enviable even (at least I would be envious). There'd be no living with you! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

For someone who INITIALLY has little experience, wants to know what he needs to get the job done in a reasonable time for reasonable dollars, who may not even know what questions to ask let alone evaluate the littany of answers, well ...

Machines were explored and invented to save us time and to a lesser degree, money - where time is money. Most of us here, you and myself included, do not fall into the latter category.

OkieG · Jun 22, 2004

To those who read my rant 

DAP,
No apologies or clarification required, as far as I am concerned. For the most part, I agree with the basics of what you said. I just didn't like being included in the group of insensitive, misleading, lousy, wothless bums you described, (who turn eager, fresh-faced young tractor novices into dour, disillusioned old sourpusses),... even if that's where I deserve to be.

OkieG