Yt347/359 B90 backhoe

[cabover4us]

When my yt235 was delivered, Mark the driver showed me a deal where the backhoe comes off and sits on it's perch, using the bucket to stabilize the whole unit. I did that and the outriggers relaxed and backhoe sunk and front of backhoe mount went down. So much so I couldn't hook up, pulled out and stationed loader over top of backhoe to lift and position a block under mount so I could back tractor up to main frame. This is when I found the weak hydraulics and hydraulic oil leak contributing to my weak acting cylinders. Had to use a 2 x 4 and steel bar to adjust the backhoe frame mount by using a large wooden block. Was extremely frustrated with a brand new tractor and hydraulics just felt weak from the delivery on until 2 visits fixed her.

 

[oregunGuy]

My dealer is quoting $12k for the backhoe to go on a new yt359. I love the tractor but this price is making me decide to go another direction.

 

[normanb]

I never recommend buying a backhoe for a tractor. It is one of the least used and most expensive items you can add to a tractor. Futher you can easily rent a trackhoe for a couple hundred a day that will get any of the jobs done quicker and better.

 

[nrosario]

Sorry but that notion of recommending to rent an excavator... Because they only cost couple of hundreds...
In my experience is more complicated and expensive than that.
First just the equipment will cost you $300-$400 per day, then add transportation, fuel and insurance.
On top of that you always need more than one day and you need to plan around the weather.

To me owning a Backhoe has been the best thing ever, specially afternoon adding a thumb. I just used it like a mini grapple while waiting for EA root rake.

 

[normanb]

I guess it may be different, it costs me $250 a day, or 1k a week to rent a 6k trackhoe with any number of buckets. I have a truck so I can haul it.

For me, I can finish the vast majority of my digging projects ( 2k yards of drainage, trees and brush out, etc) in a week

I can use my 359 with a grapple , bucket, or blade to finish the work. The idea of spending 12k on something I may use at max 30 hours a year doesnt make sense.

Your milage may very.

With that said, for 20k you can pick up a used trackhoe

 

[LindenBruce]

Some good points on to buy of not to buy a hoe with your tractor. Some guys would only need the hoe for a few days and their projects would be done. Money ahead. But some guys have lots of projects and can not devote multiple days to do them. Besides, you can always put a hydraulic auger on the hoe stinger and drill fence post holes. B.

 

[ning]

I work full-time, and can only spare a couple hours here and there - often a full day on a weekend if necessary, but most of my digging jobs are much smaller.

I got a backhoe for my tractor because before I had the backhoe, my small digging jobs couldn't wait for enough of them to pile up to make renting worthwhile, and renting also incurs two hours (travel & time at the yard).

To me, an expensive backhoe attachment was worth it, and I've used it at least an hour every week since I've had it - and that hour would've taken well over a day of back-breaking manual digging otherwise.