Backhoe’s

[DraxTheDad]

I’ve been shopping around for a backhoe, something that I can use for digging and moving material around.  I guess a tractor with a backhoe attachment would make the most sense.   Unfortunately price tag wise, $25k is a bit steep for someone who just wants to use it from time to time.   Was thinking of getting used, but anything that is $10k seems to always have a ton of problems.   Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

[10-Ring]

I think I tractor with a backhoe attachment or the way to go. A much cheaper option, that honestly I'm not crazy about at all, are the Harbor Freight tow behind backhoes. I didn't like the thought of having to get off the machine and reposition it with a truck every time it needs to be moved. Plus there is no way that thing has enough ass to dig anything other than soft dirt. All that said there is a Facebook page dedicated to them and they get great reviews by people who actually own them. 

Another option is a Chinese mini excavator. I know basically nothing about them other than they can be had for about $5k. But I imagine that with most any Chinese clone equipment you are rolling the dice, best case scenario. 

 

[DraxTheDad]

I have thought about the Chinese mini-excavator, but something about it makes me feel like it wouldn’t be good enough.  But I don’t really know.   I guess i should go to a store and see what they have to say about them.

I agree with the harbor freight stand alone, moving it around would be a pain in the butt.   That’s why I’m thinking Tractor with attachment, gives me the best of both worlds.   

[Darrell]

I bought my Branson (Korean origin, actually Kutje) tractor about 18 years ago, along with a backhoe attachment. The thing has been almost trouble free since I bought it. The one exception has been a head gasket that failed for an undetermined reason last summer, but repair was easy enough.  My tractor is 42 hp, which seems just about right for me. It's big enough to dig up fairly large stumps, and the FEL is rated to lift a ton. And it's small enough for me to drive between trees in woods.  I'd wanted a tractor for years before I finally bought one, and honestly, I waited far too long. 

I don't use mine for any kind of commercial work, but it seems like I used it for chores at least a couple times a week. It comes in handy for all kinds of things that you might not associate with a tractor, too. Last year I bought a used four-point automobile hoist, and I used the tractor to move heavy steel parts around, making installation FAR easier than it would otherwise have been. I bought a 6" chipper for it, and that really helps with keeping my property up. Apart from the loader and backhoe, you'll almost certainly want a box-blade, too. 

My advice would be to find a tractor you like and buy it. If you find it's not being used as much as you thought, you'll be able to sell it pretty easily and recover most or all of your money. (Assuming you buy used.) 

I've been looking around for a tracked skidsteer, and I suspect I'll find that I really needed it long ago, just like the tractor. 

Edited March 16 by Darrell

[gregintenn]

My experience has been you get what you pay for.

[res308]

I really don’t know why I waited so long to get a tractor. When I got ready for one, a friend of mine sold me his 50 horse Massey Ferguson with front bucket, big box blade, and a backhoe attachment. I am very thankful for that backhoe.
I know I won’t be able to do as much work as a full size backhoe, but it’s just right for what I need. I love that thing. 

Edited March 16 by res308

[Tom B]

I have tossed around the idea of buying a TLB. I had one before we moved here and its amazing how many things you can do with it, things you never would have thought of before you had one. Then again, maybe I was just looking for excuses to use it, since its so much fun. Like being a kid again-lol.

However, I dont want to spend $15-20k on a toy. Solution, rent one once or twice a year to do projects.

[hornett22]

I have a Mahindra 1626 shuttle with a backhoe. It's a beast of a machine. 

 

1600 hours in 5 years. It's never been back to the dealer. 

Edited 14 hours ago by hornett22

[Grayfox54]

I spent much of my career fixing all types of earth moving equipment. My advice is to buy used and then only buy a brand that has a dealership near you. Saving a few bucks in price is worthless if you can't get parts when you need them. 

Avoid anything with electronics in it. Older is simple and simple is better. There are still 30-40 year old backhoes out there working all day, every day. When I started finding computers in backhoes, I knew it was time to retire. 

Personally, I'd lean toward Ford/New Holland or Kubota.  But most any name brand will probably be just fine. 

[DraxTheDad]

Thanks for all of the advice, it is appreciated.  I am looking for an older Kubota right now, but I'm not throwing anything out the window at this time as I want to make sure I get what I need.  

 

Thanks everyone!

[gregintenn]

I'd suggest one as small and as new as you can stand. Also hold out for a brand you can buy parts for within a short drive.

[10-Ring]

4 hours ago, gregintenn said:

I'd suggest one as small and as new as you can stand. Also hold out for a brand you can buy parts for within a short drive.

I'll disagree with you on the small statement. A wise man once told me "you can do little jobs with big machines, but you can't do big jobs with little machines." I've found that holds true pretty well. My neighbor has an 18HP Kubota tractor with a backhoe attachment. I've used it a good bit. The little tractor is pretty limited on what it can do, primarily because of its light weight. I've tried digging stumps with it, mostly unsuccessfully. I'll soon be in the market for a piece of machinery, I'm thinking I'm going to go the tractor with BH attachment route, because I need a tractor anyway. I plan to buy the biggest one I can afford. Probably going to forego a hydrostatic transmission, I'd say that alone would get you a lot more machine for the money. 

[gregintenn]

6 minutes ago, 10-Ring said:

I'll disagree with you on the small statement. A wise man once told me "you can do little jobs with big machines, but you can't do big jobs with little machines." I've found that holds true pretty well. My neighbor has an 18HP Kubota tractor with a backhoe attachment. I've used it a good bit. The little tractor is pretty limited on what it can do, primarily because of its light weight. I've tried digging stumps with it, mostly unsuccessfully. I'll soon be in the market for a piece of machinery, I'm thinking I'm going to go the tractor with BH attachment route, because I need a tractor anyway. I plan to buy the biggest one I can afford. Probably going to forego a hydrostatic transmission, I'd say that alone would get you a lot more machine for the money. 

You get one big enough to do the job, but you don’t need a 336 Cat to dig hedges or lay residential water lines.

[runco]

Seven years ago, I had a need to for a backhoe and a front end loader for a small project on my property.  Never have owned a tractor before, and I despise renting or hiring someone for something I can do, so I bit the bullet and bought a used Jobn Deere 1025R with a backhoe, front end loader and yard box, telling the wife I would sell it after my job was finished.  Finished the job within a few weeks, and still have the tractor today.  I did discover soon into my purchaseI was pushing my lifting limits but was able to complete my job.  What I didn't know was just how useful that little tractor and attachments were.  Looking back I have used the backhoe portion maybe 3-4X times sine my project, and actually used it this past weekend to replace my downspouts.  But what I didn't really think about when I was in the market was just how valuable that front end loader would be.  Looking back I have used that front end loader many many times, maybe 100x.  I even bought the fork attachments from Amazon (with clamp) that clamp to the bucket, and that is dang handy.  I have lifted many items out of my truck with those forks, hot water heater, move fallen logs, lift my 5th wheel hitch in/out, on and on.  I use the bucket for pushing snow, lifting dirt, pushing my large carport back on its foundation after the recent wind storms, and many other things I don't want to lift myself.  I did eventually get a small bush hog as well and use it 2X per year, and now serious considering about buying a stump grinder.  I think I have put about 300 hours in 7 years.  If you have the funds, dry storage ability, and know how much lifting capacity you need, then go for it.   I know I am undersize but I make it work.  

[DraxTheDad]

This is what I am thinking, I think that over time I would find more and more uses for it.   I have a big barn that has to be finished; but should be a good storage location.   I need to get the run up’s into and out of the barn done so that I can park it in there.   Thanks for the suggestion, I do think that a little more is better than too little, plus it doesn’t add a whole lot more cost; the first big chunk is the expensive part.  

[Jeb48]

A friend bought a used Terramite front end loader backhoe and was planning to do a summers worth of work with it and sell it.  Almost 20 years later he is still using it.  I don't know much about it but he loves it and has made all kinds of attachments for it to move logs and do other things.