Anyone in the Ozarks using a backhoe attachment on a compact tractor?

CJ · #1 05/02/07, 08:36 AM

Curious, with the soil in the Ozarks, how well these work? Say on a 40-45hp compact tractor? Not planning on a digging a basement mind you

. Water lines, septic maybe, underground utilities, landscaping, etc.

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

ceresone · #2 05/02/07, 09:12 AM

Dont know where you are--but Wilbanks in W/P used to use one--think it was the son that operated it.

mtman · #3 05/02/07, 09:16 AM

wouldnt it be cheaper to get someone in with a ditch witch and a lot less mess

CJ · #4 05/02/07, 10:04 AM

Cheaper? I suppose so. But we'll be "developing" our land over the years, and for at least the next 5, we can only work on it sporadically, and rarely with any advance warning due to hubby's job. So scheduling someone to work on it... scheduling and us don't really work very well.

Having the equipment available whenever we need and have time for it, for us, is priceless. I'm more concerned on how well these backhoe attachments work. I'm sure they're great in perfect soil, but curious with the rocky soil of the Ozarks.

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

radiofish · #5 05/02/07, 02:19 PM

CJ - when I entered the land contract for my place, it included a 1982 BobCat model 843 with the optional backhoe attachement. I have been having to do fuel system work on it. It had the Back Hoe attachement included amongst other accessories with it. Just make sure that you can do work on the hydraulics, if you buy a used piece of equipment! Plus get all of the documentation you can on the equipment!!!!! I have had so much fun tracking down the manuals for my BobCat.... I think that I have the fuel leak problem figured out, but the backhoe is a whole other story. It may need a couple of hydraulic lines replaced, it leaks when pressurized. Something that size should be able to handle any of the work you mentioned for your place....

I would post some pictures of the BobCat, but I haven't figured how to do it yet on this site. Plus, I do not use photobucket...

[IMG]New House 9-30-06 032small[/IMG]

Ramblin Wreck · #6 05/02/07, 03:21 PM

40-45 horsepower is a good sized tractor, but a lot depends upon how strong the hydraulics are. That can vary greatly by tractor and is not always consistent with the horsepower rating of a machine. I hope you get feedback from some of the Arkansas/Missouri folks, but in our area, provided you don't hit solid rock, backhoes can get a lot accomplished. Good luck and happy clearing/farming.

CJ · #7 05/02/07, 04:20 PM

Well, we will most likely get the same tractor we had before we sold our farm, as it was great tractor our needs. It's changed a bit, but not much. New Holland 45DA is probably what we'll buy, we had the 45D before. So, those hydraulics...

I'd actually rather go a bit smaller, 30/35HP, but I'd rather get bigger than we need over not having quite enough... although it needs to be manueverable too. I end up doing most of the tractor work, simply because my better half works too many hours to have time.

Once we've done the construction work, we'll mostly be using the tractor for gardening and landscaping. I don't need a fancy house. But I do enjoy having gardens fit for a queen

We intend to plant and maintain a vineyard, orchard, large gardens, a greenhouse (not even including ornamentals!) and walking trails. Everytime we add a bed, we'll be adding underground water as well. So I can see an ongoing need for that backhoe.

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

Jim S. · #8 05/02/07, 04:37 PM

I'd rent a Terramite or use a rented Ditch Witch when you need them. No big purchase price, no maintenance or storage worries, way cheaper than buying equipment you will seldom use. More than adequate for utilities, even small holes and such. Rent by the day, plan out your project so you are ready, and have at it. Those lil Terramites can git-r-done.

They run $100 for the Ditch Witch or $200 for a Terramite locally. That's a lot of days' use before you get to used price on a backhoe. Locally, if you rent it on a Saturday in advance, they let you use it Sunday free as long as it is back first thing Monday.

CJ · #9 05/03/07, 05:52 AM

We don't really have any interest in renting the equipment. Really, it's impossible to make plans with my hubby's career. It's worse than being a doctor. We'd rent something, head out to the land, and he'd get a call telling him he needs to be in some other country tomorrow.

I appreciate and understand the economics of renting or hiring out the work rather than purchasing the equipment ourselves.

But... what I REALLY want to know is if these hoes will perform in Ozark soil

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

Batt · #10 05/03/07, 06:52 AM

Quote:

But... what I REALLY want to know is if these hoes will perform in Ozark soil

Depends...Everyone seems to always be down on Ozarks soil, and yes I too get ticked-off that there seems to be so many rocks. However, there are differences and not all is the same.
I have about 3 different areas on my 20 acres. "The Glade" is nearly solid rock and you would need a rock hammer mounted on a track to put in a garden hose. On the north side where I put the "Three Sisters" garden, a single rock is unusual.

The rest, about 15 acres, is 6" of topsoil, 8' of clay and rocks, followed by several feet of sedimentary bedrock. The rock in the clay is anywhere from golf ball size to saucer size. Much of the water and electrical lines were dug by a backhoe mounted on a fairly new Case 40hp tractor. A bigger problem is tree roots.

I guess my main point is, there are many soil types in the Ozarks, so the answer to your question is..It Depends!

Ramblin Wreck · #11 05/03/07, 09:20 AM

The link below is from Kubota's web site. It brings up page one of a comparison, but if you'll switch to page two, you see information on the hydraulics of several makes/models. The pump capacity and lift capacity gives you some idea of the strength of the hydraulic system. Another thing you might want to consider would be buying the slightly smaller farm tractor you describe (which is what I did) and then looking for a backhoe (my brother and I just bought a used JD loader/backhoe). If I combine the price paid for the smaller tractor and the used loader/backhoe, it compares very favorably with the price I would have paid for a 40-50 HP tractor with a backhoe attachment. I tried to find a good value in one of the little excavators the rental places have, but those were running higher in price than we had to pay for the much bigger, heftier JD. Go figure. Again, best wishes and good luck in your search.

http://www.kubota.com/f/products/compGL4630.pdf

Bearfootfarm · #12 05/03/07, 09:53 AM

Many of the smaller backhoe attachments Ive seen have their own hydraulics and run off the tractors PTO, so the hydraulics on the tractor itself dont really matter at all.

Shadow · #13 05/03/07, 10:27 AM

A friend of mine bought one for his kobota, made me really want one for mine ran off the pto. Checked on one priced cost almost $9,000. Now for $9,000 I can have a lot of work done and they keep up the maintance and repairs. Friend has had some big repairs because he was trying to do somehting it just would not do. Also they take up a good bit of room in the barn and are not used that much. Our decision was hire it done we spend a thousand every few years just tag out where we want the digging and it happens. If they break the equipment it is theirs. And they do the work. As for renting takes time to go get take back and have some responsibility for damage to the equipmemnt not the way to go in my book for this. We do rent small things like wood spliters but not back hoes.

Ramblin Wreck · #14 05/03/07, 02:39 PM

I understand that the pure economics of renting/hiring out verses buying would seem to almost always work against buying, but like the thread starter, trying to match the "snippets" of time you have with a rent/hire out situation can get problematic too. It is a nice thing to just be able to get on a machine and make productive use of a few "found hours".

CJ · #15 05/03/07, 03:54 PM

I'll check out the comparison chart, thanks for the link.

We have a combination of soil types. Some areas are ledgerock (future herb gardens!) some are bottom ground (future gardens and orchards) some are hilly wooded areas (future homesite, wood supply and privacy buffer).

It's interesting the differing viewpoints. Over on tractorbynet, the backhoe attachments are very popular and well loved by those who have them.

Over here, few seem taken with the idea. I like to hear what everyone has to say, because we all have different and valid perspectives.

When we bought our first tractor with a front end loader, I didn't think it would get used much. Boy was I wrong! I have a feeling with the things we want to do with our land, the backhoe will be the same.

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

artificer · #16 05/03/07, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow

A friend of mine bought one for his kobota, made me really want one for mine ran off the pto. Checked on one priced cost almost $9,000.

Must have been brand new. We picked up a JD310 Tractor Loader Backhoe last fall for $10k used. It has a couple of minor problems, but its full sized. The SO thought we could sell it once we're done with exhavating, but then I built pallet forks for it, used it to load/unload the trailer...

For as much as we've used it, I don't think rental would have been cheaper. Then again, I'm sorta neurotic about doing things myself if I can. (and save money...)

It sure is nice, however, to be able to just go grab it to dig a hole, pull something out, unload pallets, bury the mystery deer carcase...

A used 3pt backhoe in good condition is going to be a lot less than new. I've seen decent ones for $3000-$5000. Just understand that they are smaller sized.

One option is to spend $100 or so and rent a small unit, and try it out on your land. Its a cheap test run, and you get something useful done.

Michael

Ramblin Wreck · #17 05/03/07, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artificer

We picked up a JD310 Tractor Loader Backhoe

One option is to spend $100 or so and rent a small unit, and try it out on your land. Its a cheap test run, and you get something useful done.

Michael

That's the same model loader/backhoe we bought. Ours has a few problems we're working on now, but I hope we can start clearing some stumps in a couple of weeks.

The idea of renting a unit for testing seems good too. In our area, Home Depot has some units loaded on a trailer and ready to roll. They're small, and rent for about $100 a day...I think.