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Backhoe Input Please! "Constructive" Positives and Negatives

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by WeldrDave, Sep 2, 2018.

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  1. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

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    Calling Gasifier ..

    My advice because money is a factor.. Backhoes tend to be around a grand a foot.. Get tractor you use a lot.. Once or twice a year rent an excavator for weekend for 300 dollars.. Excavator is at least 5x faster than backhoe.
     
    Canadian border VT, Sep 4, 2018
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  2. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    That is a good idea, I was going to look into that as well. Although, I would want one around for the time in a pinch, That's why I'm looking at used stuff hard. I really like getting everyones input, there are things others think of that you may not. :)o_O
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 4, 2018
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  3. ironpony

    ironpony

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    Used Case loader backhoe, will do everything you need and then some.
     
    ironpony, Sep 4, 2018
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  4. DNH

    DNH

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    6D67980A-0CDA-4BA3-88D1-5E0661A80832.jpeg
    I’ll second this but use caution!
     
    DNH, Sep 5, 2018
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  5. Jon_E

    Jon_E

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    I can't imagine myself owning an actual backhoe. After 30+ years of watching all but the most experienced operators struggle with operating and moving them around in the field, I would not want one. I have all of about 12 hours of time in a John Deere 110TLB (nice little machine but discontinued) and it was a pain to use. I second Canadian border VT's opinion to get a decent tractor and rent an excavator for those times when you need to actually dig. I have about 350-400 hours of seat time in various small excavators up to about the 30-ton class, most in mini's in the 3.5-5 metric ton range. By the time you're done messing with positioning, moving the seat, figuring out the controls (and you can forget the 4-stick controls on a Case, I won't even go there), making sure your front bucket is down, dropping your outriggers, and then realizing when you extend your boom that you're about a foot short of where you needed to be....... I've already got the hole dug with my mini and I'm moving on.

    I don't know how versatile a backhoe attachment on a skid-steer is, but there are various types ranging from a straight stick to a full-on hydraulic articulation, some even have a side shift like some of the compact JCB machines. I would look into one of them for versatility, maybe a small tracked skidloader and then you can get attachments as needed.
     
    Jon_E, Sep 10, 2018
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  6. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    Think real hard about what tasks you have out in front of you. Gasifier changed machines to suit the work he had in the immediate future.

    Construction TLBs are tough SoBs and will embarrass a compact or even a utility tractor when it comes to hydraulic power and sheer durability. But they don’t do tractor things well at all like bush-hogging, wagons, or anything that might require a 3pt hitch or PTO.

    Nothing even gets close to out-digging an excavator. Well, maybe dynamite. :whistle: But for stump removal and log stacking, an excavator would likely be a much more productive machine. And actually, a decent bulldozer would make an excavator look silly for clearing stumps and brush.

    The point of my rambling is that no one machine is going to work miracles and do it all for you. You need to gauge the scope of your work, buy something that will do approximately 75% of that, and then rent/hire the heavy duty toys. The other (successful) approach is to buy something big, ugly, and used, to knock out your initial heavy work and then sell it for close to your initial investment, turning that around on something not as beefy, but shinier and much more versatile.

    For what a backhoe attachment costs on a large frame compact, you could easily rent a mid-size excavator (with a thumb and blade) and a dozer for a week each and finish what it might take you many weeks to accomplish with just the compact TLB. Not to mention the wear and tear saved on your freedom machine.:yes:

    And renting a mini-ex for the occasional digging project costs a few hundred for the weekend with the bonus of being a lot more fun and productive than any backhoe attachment. Just my opinion, but, backhoe attachments only make sense if you have to have it on a moment’s notice, use it on at least a weekly basis doing light-duty tasks, or won’t miss the money!
     
    MasterMech, Sep 10, 2018
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  7. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Thanks Brian!!! That's exactly why I put this out, "All" are very great points and helping me with my eventual decision. When I was at Well Seasoned's place, his new Kubota was "AWESOME" and I believe I'll be doing the similar type of work. I do like the TLB's a lot! Actually, up ^^^ in DNH's post there is a case, that is a very nice size. I'm looking for something around that size. I'm in agreements with everyone now about an excavator and rental. I have a lot of stumps that will need to come out eventually. I greatly appreciate everyones points because many of you own or operate these. I was more on the construction side of the fence with a backhoe and have a few hundred hours in operation time. I'm really leaning hard at the TLB's for my needs. :) Hey, on another note *BE SAFE* with this hurricane barreling in, :eek: hope your on high ground.
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 11, 2018
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  8. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

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    Just an FYI, on prices here, a good friend, just bought a 30,000 pound excavator for 35,000. He's building a new house and putting in a new driveway. And the excavator bill was more than the cost of the excavator. He will use it for what he needs it for and then sell it again used. It does have the advantage of being diesel mechanic before retired. Now the best news of this as I get to use it for a few weeks before he sells it:dancer:
     
    Canadian border VT, Sep 11, 2018
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  9. DNH

    DNH

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    WeldrDave that Case is a wonderful size, to big for city use but perfect for light farming and general use. I did some landscaping and moved about 200-250 tons material with it.
     
    DNH, Sep 11, 2018
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  10. Screwloose

    Screwloose

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    Maybe try a want add or two. A lot of stuff just sits until someone asks if they'd sell it. The old "never hurts to ask" can pay out big sometimes. When I bought my tractor in 08 I bought the backhoe with it. I removed it about a week later and it's been sitting in the garage ever since. I never even tried to dig with it. A older Massy TLB by me was scrapped because of a bad clutch, supposedly even limped onto the trailer.....they got $225 for it and it was a diesel. I was really upset because I occasionally thought about stopping.......
     
    Screwloose, Sep 11, 2018
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  11. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    From what I can see, thats exactly the size in in the market for. :yes::cool: Do you have any more pic's possibly:D... :whistle:
    I am not afraid to knock on someones door at all! I hear you load and clear. :cool: I bought a boat like that many years back, the owner passed away and the kids sold a $15,000 boat for $250.00 :banana: They just wanted it out of the yard. o_O
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 11, 2018
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  12. DNH

    DNH

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    I’ll take some more pictures tomorrow.
    1D9DECAC-3C1E-423C-8175-0D559845270A.jpeg E04328C0-ACA1-4B52-A543-E997B422B453.jpeg
     
    DNH, Sep 11, 2018
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  13. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    I am about as far inland as one can get in SC, but we are still watching this storm with interest and bringing in the patio furniture!
     
    MasterMech, Sep 12, 2018
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  14. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    WeldrDave, Sep 12, 2018
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  15. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    WeldrDave, Sep 12, 2018
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  16. Flamestead

    Flamestead

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    I see several of those are at Townline. That’s where we bought, and prior to this Kubota I used them for Farmall parts. Good people, I would deal with them again.
     
    Flamestead, Sep 12, 2018
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  17. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Yes!!! I'm looking hard up there :yes: If I buy soon, I may ask an FHC member :handshake: for some rental space to keep it on for the time being :whistle: I know theres a few up there. :D
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 12, 2018
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  18. Deer Meadow Farm

    Deer Meadow Farm

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    Here's my $.02, I have a 52HP tractor that I could have bought a backhoe for. What I did instead, was buy a used CAT 426 hoe. It does more work than my Massey sized hoe would have. It's there when I need it. I don't have to hook it up to my tractor which is used for dozens of other tasks and digging isn't done much. I paid $10K for it. A hoe for the Massey would have cost $9K plus the plumbing requirements. The CAT has a ton of hours on it, and leaks quite a bit, but it runs great and it'll dig to China.
     
    Deer Meadow Farm, Sep 12, 2018
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  19. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Anyone have input on a New Holland? A local man I just found this morning has one for sale.
     
    WeldrDave, Sep 13, 2018
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  20. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    The older ones were good...but our local dealer steered us away from NH on a recent shopping trip for a 75HP tractor for work...
     
    brenndatomu, Sep 13, 2018
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