Why a backhoe is worth the money

[Brad_Blazer]

You guys are making me feel a lot better about plunking down $2200 for this carnival ride.

It's a used ARPS 730. I'll have another $500 or so in making the outriggers hydraulic and replacing 1 valve and some seals in the cluster. Plus a good bit of fab work in a sub frame.

Did you notice the rotating operator seat?

Brad

 

[Legdoc]

I purchased a new Case 580M turbo 4x4 extendahoe in 2004 for use on my 214 acre ranch. At first I was uneasy spending that kind of money. It now has 300 hours and is the most versatile machine I have. I can't list all of the projects it has done with ease and as someone else mentioned no back or other injuries!
Legdoc

 

[john_bud]

I purchased a new Case 580M turbo 4x4 extendahoe in 2004 for use on my 214 acre ranch. At first I was uneasy spending that kind of money. It now has 300 hours and is the most versatile machine I have. I can't list all of the projects it has done with ease and as someone else mentioned no back or other injuries!
Legdoc

Nice Machine!!!

jb

 

[NHbotanut]

When I was researching to buy my tractor last year, I talked to 5 friends who all have tractors of different sizes, brands and lengths of ownership from 20 plus years to three years. None had a backhoe, but they all wished they did, and they all said the same thing,...if you are going to buy one, get it new with the tractor. That's what I did. I didn't have any specifc projects in mind, but wanted it for "down the road", Well that time has come. I now have to install several french drains around the house for flooding issues, as well as remove some stumps for the swingset play area I have to build. That doesn't include all the little jobs and tasks I've already done with it.

It is a lot of money to justify, but I have found it worth every penny so far.

 

[philbuilt]

I bought my tractor without the BH and justified with the thought of renting when needing. I have since purchased a BH and I don't see how I got along without. Winter and spring I have the box blade and summer the Bh stays on the tractor. To me it's worth the time to take it off to mow and then reinstall.
I still rent a large machine when I need to do something fast but, the convenience of having it out weighs the cost.

 

[Legdoc]

I don't think it matters if you have a 3pt BH or a full size machine it is much like having a FEL. Once you have one you will wonder how you managed without one! Plus it gives you the opportunity for some extra seat (therapy) time.
Legdoc

 

[streamin]

I talked to the dealer when I got my tractor and he did not recommend getting one, rather rent a machine that is for that purpose only. He thought the kubota BH was too wimpy for use with my 50 Hp. Does that make sense to anyone????

 

[leveled]

so maybe i should get the 3940 and backhoe over the 5740 and all the extra HP. This is killing me.

 

[bindian]

Come on y'all. Y'all are missing some of the funner things to do with a backhoe. You can play in the water without getting wet. You can hang things off of it. You can pick stuff up and put it on a fire that is burning. You can change your tires without ever stuffing a heavy jack under your tractor. But most of all, whatever you dig or lift...............your sitting down with cup holders nearby!
hugs, Brandi

 

[3RRL]

My little backhoe has been worth it. I'll bet I've done 50 little and big jobs with it over the last 3 years.
Wanna see some pics?

I've done tons of trench work for the solar power shed and huge holes for the solar tracker posts. I have decomposed granite all around the homesite and there's no way I could get a shovel into that stuff. That last photo shows how big those solar panels are, so the holes for it had to be huge.



Moving logs to a burn pile and clearing and digging out many Oak tree stumps. Loretta even used it to run a water line to camp.



Digging more water line trenches for the water reservoir. Check out that hard DG dirt. then digging out more Oaks and pushing some over with the backhoe.



Plus a host of other things like repair my road and move big rocks out.



I don't know how many little jobs I've done that I have no photos of either. I've used it to move around other implements and stack stuff and drag stuff out using the bucket hooks.
So there you have it from my end.
Yeah, it's definitely worth it!