Yes No Maybe

[Rowski]

Mark

The L4330hst that I'm suing this winter has the BH90 hoe. I had used it in the fall prior to winter. It is a very nice hoe. Mount similar to an L35. Very smooth operating, more so than my NH back hoe. There are a few things I do dislike about it. First you have to remove the 3pt arms not really a big deal if you put the hoe on and leave it on. Second is the operator platform is a little cramped. I have gotten my coat caught a few times on the control levels while getting off. The last time I actually tore my coat and almost hurt my self by falling off. Tha back hoe is mounted very tight and high (as to give you better ground clearance.

In my back hoe searches for cad model grand L30 series I have found that Bradco and Woods lets you keep the 3pt arm installed when mount the back hoe. If you use the pto pump on Woods you will need to remove the arms.

If your not in to much of a hurry I will be mounting the back hoe on the L4330 sometime this month. I can take some step by step pictures if you like.

 

[Henro]

RaT,

I'm glad I bought my backhoe, but it is a tool that I probably don't get as much payback from as I might like. I don't try to justify it in work done for dollars spent, and it did not break the bank buying it, so all in all I am VERY glad I have one.

It is not that big of a deal to put my 3PH backhoe on my Kubota B2910. I have the 4690A model. My guess is that the BH90 may be even easier to put on and off, even if you have to take off the 3PH lower arms.

I just consider the backhoe a hobby or pleasure item, and smile every time I use it. It is where I put my "play" money, instead of into some other money eating place... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The backhoe adds another dimension to my tractor that I really like having. It is there when I need it. I am VERY glad I bought one! It doesn't pay for itself, but neither do tickets to the movies...

When you have a hoe sitting there you will be surprised how many uses you find for it.

I hope this makes some sense...it sure does to me! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[boustany]

I have an L3010 with a backhoe, and I had a Case 580C loader backhoe. The Kubota is a real back saver and you could dig a septic system and/or foundation with it, unless you come across some really big rocks. The Case was even better.

There are, however, two aspects to serious work with a small backhoe vs., for example a professional with an excavator. Those are time, wear and tear, and skill. Even if you have the time to dig a foundation, you want to dig it and pour before much water gets in or it can become a disaster. A pro with an exscavator will do it much quicker. Plus, a foundation has to be done right (flat, level, and square) because you can't add back soil. I don't know about a septic system though. Finally, if it takes you 30 hours to do the work yourself, the wear and tear of the flimsier backhoe you might own could easily offset the money you'd save of hiring it out.

So, I would never give away my backhoe. But any big work I pay for.

 

[PineRidge]

Rat a backhoe was one of the options I added on my TC-40D. I rented a backhoe before that time whenever I needed one and it was always a pain in the neck doing so. The backhoe is fairly easy to install or remove from the Class III New Holland tractors and nothing has to be removed from the tractor beforehand.

While the backhoe is a very handy addition I really don't think that you or I can justify it money wise. I would also bet that a good majority of the folks here at the TBN site like myself own tractors and equipment because they choose to do so not because they need them to make their living. Good argument for keeping all this stuff that I have accumulated. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

If you feel that owning a backhoe will make your projects and life a little easier then I say go for it. Once your projects are all finished then you can always sell it at a later date and recoup some of your investment if you choose to do so.

 

[RobS]

RaT, your list is longer than mine and I was able to justify it. Yours should be a no brainer. Sure, you could rent but then you're faced with trying to get all your work done in the most economical timeframe for the equipment rental which may or may not fit your schedule or the weather. Hiring is certainly an option but you'll pay for the hoe with all that work being hired out.

Yes, there is a hobby element to owning a hoe. Get your work done on your own schedule then have it for multitudes of other applications for the rest of your life.

Changeover is a piece of cake on my JD, I assume Kub is equally easy.

Do it, don't look back and enjoy it all /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Thanks all for the quick responses. I did use my loader to dig out 40' of trench for some 2' culvert. Talk about tricky manuvering and getting your tractor at odd angles. I have briefly looked at the Woods 9000 hoe. I believe the prices are up in the $7K area. I really appreciate the comments here. I agree with Henro about "justifying" your purchases. If everything I purchased had to be justified, I'd have to think that I would have very little. That could be good but certainly boring. Thanks again, Rat.

 

[toy1]

Based on the list you have created and the list you don't even know you need to do yet . A backhoe is the only way to go 30 years ago I purchased my first hoe and have and will always own one. I just kept upgrading over the years. Two week ago I purchased a new bx23 and I am impressed at what this little machine can do. What I have found over the years That as I finish part of my landscaping if I need to go back over the area the bigger machines just do a number to the grounds, so my thinking is the bx23 will be my tractor of choice on the follow up work or maintance.I would say on the average I use the backhoe just as much as I use the bucket on my L48.and I use my kx121 more that I use the L48. As you can see I am pro hoe. As I get older I find the hoe does a lot of work that I would have used a shovel for many years ago. You can make a lot of wrong choices in life but a hoe is not one of them.

 

[rims421]

If you can afford the hoe I would not think twice about the purchase. I have owned a small hoe for approx. 7 years.
When I first bought the machine I did not have any specific project in mind for it. I quickley discovered a ton of things I could do with my "new addition to the family" I have planted,transplanted and removed all kinds of plant material, repaired septic systems, trenched power, water and drain lines. dug all manner of rocks stumps and the list goes on.
I will still rent a large "real backhoe" for projects that I cannot do in an efficient manner with my small machine.
But that hoe has paid for itself already and will only get more use as time goes on. With you building a new home you will soon look at that machine as your best friend. I sure did.

 

[gray]

Rat,

As you may know- I have an L48 TLB and the BH is an important thing to me. I doubt that I would dig a basement with it as that would be slow and troublesome in outy area.
If it is shallow aore just footings it would do a good job if only a bit slow.

I am a contractor and have liked the versitility of the BH. I have a 24" bucket for general work but if I were to do much foundation work I would get a 30 or 36" if the hoe would handle it. For trenching , I had an 18" but it was a tight squeese being in that narrow and in our area deep 5' trench setting pipes and the like. 24" was the compromise- good so far.

Should you get one? I love mine even if at times I may call in a larg BH to do full foundation work. What you do may be different.

If you want it get it- You can't take it with you so spend it while you can.
Gray.

 

[MikefromMI]

These are my feelings exactly. But also that I plan on having this thing for a life-time which for me turns this into an investment which doesn't need justification. If I ever had to sell it, I know I wouldn't have to take a loss. There's always someone who wants a use BH once they price the new one.

My biggest factor when purchasing was will the bucket get to where I need.