1stDeuce
Gold Member
I'm going to need a backhoe in the coming months, and I'm checking into my options... I may go with the LS backhoe to match the tractor (41xx series LS) but it's ~$7000 according to the dealer, and is only a 7' hoe.
I was looking for a larger (Stronger) backhoe to go with the bigger tractor, and it looks like Woodmaxx WM8600 as perhaps the best compromise between cost and quality... A search here found one thread on Woodmax backhoes, with several questions and no first hand info...
I called WM yesterday because I'm really not interested in using their tiny PTO mounted pump when i can run the tractor at half PTO speed and get the same hydraulic flow from the remotes... The customer service guy I talked to said they don't recommend eliminating the pump and tank because "it's the most efficient way to run the backhoe." I tossed out a BS flag, since it requires the tractor to run at PTO speed to get the ~5gpm that the backhoe requires... The tractor I'm getting makes double that at PTO speed... so I can run it at ~1500rpm's and have plenty of flow, and use less fuel...
He actually agreed that my was did seem more efficient, so he went to talk to the tech guys or something... He came back and said that they are looking into making a "kit" to allow the hoe to run off the tractor instead of their pump. He did not promise anything, but suggested that it might reduce the price of the backhoe, as you'd either opt for pto pump or tractor run hydraulics...
So... Anyone have one and have comments about WM BH's? I don't want to hear how a 3-pt hoe will break the tractor, as I'll be making a sub-frame for it anyway, and I don't want to hear about "china junk" as I know where it's made, and believe Woodmaxx has the QC in place to ensure a good product.
Or if you've been thinking about a backhoe too, and don't want the pump, give them a call and ask about running the backhoe off the tractor instead... With a few extra calls, perhaps they'll get a non-pto driven backhoe out a little sooner...
I was looking for a larger (Stronger) backhoe to go with the bigger tractor, and it looks like Woodmaxx WM8600 as perhaps the best compromise between cost and quality... A search here found one thread on Woodmax backhoes, with several questions and no first hand info...
I called WM yesterday because I'm really not interested in using their tiny PTO mounted pump when i can run the tractor at half PTO speed and get the same hydraulic flow from the remotes... The customer service guy I talked to said they don't recommend eliminating the pump and tank because "it's the most efficient way to run the backhoe." I tossed out a BS flag, since it requires the tractor to run at PTO speed to get the ~5gpm that the backhoe requires... The tractor I'm getting makes double that at PTO speed... so I can run it at ~1500rpm's and have plenty of flow, and use less fuel...
He actually agreed that my was did seem more efficient, so he went to talk to the tech guys or something... He came back and said that they are looking into making a "kit" to allow the hoe to run off the tractor instead of their pump. He did not promise anything, but suggested that it might reduce the price of the backhoe, as you'd either opt for pto pump or tractor run hydraulics...
So... Anyone have one and have comments about WM BH's? I don't want to hear how a 3-pt hoe will break the tractor, as I'll be making a sub-frame for it anyway, and I don't want to hear about "china junk" as I know where it's made, and believe Woodmaxx has the QC in place to ensure a good product.
Or if you've been thinking about a backhoe too, and don't want the pump, give them a call and ask about running the backhoe off the tractor instead... With a few extra calls, perhaps they'll get a non-pto driven backhoe out a little sooner...
