Tractor loader backhoe

I am looking at buying a farm that needs alot of work and am looking at buying a tractor loader backhoe to do the dirt work and remove some tree stumps and I would more than likely keep it for water line instillation and other work in the future. I was wondering some opinions on what would be the best kind to get. I am partial to John Deere but would be open to other suggestions.

Or what would opinions on a crawler loader backhoe be?
I should add that the budget would be about $8,000

Zach
 
Lots more maintenance with a crawler and not as
versatile as a rubber tire machine but better for
clearing heavier brush or where flat tires would be
a concern. A rubber tire machine can clear snow and
move a lot faster travelling. Lots of good machines
available depending on your budget.
 
A backhoe is probably the most useful piece to have around. You can find used ones that are still in decent shape for around 10-15,000. I would stay away from the smaller 30 or 40 horse types. They just don't have the power and the reach you need for serious digging. I would stick with something with good parts availability like John Deere or Case. I bought a 79 Case 680 2wd for around the farm, put a good set of chains on it and use it all the time.
 
(quoted from post at 15:27:11 11/11/12) How big is that 680? Does it have more than enough power for digging out stumps and digging and filling holes?

A 580 would be all that you would need and there are some on Tractor House in your price range. The Bs are very popular. You probably drive by one every other week or so.
 
I say if you ever consider buying something on tracks for the farm, keep it down to one item, either an excavator, or dozer.
At the auction where I bought my Ford 655A TLB, I had a choice of cheap excavators. But that just wouldn't work for me. I'm running around with the TLB doing odd jobs constantly.
I'm spoiled to have a small dozer. It doesn't get used much any more. But for just plain pushing, or grading it, it's great.
 
I say if you ever consider buying something on tracks for the farm, keep it down to one item, either an excavator, or dozer.
At the auction where I bought my Ford 655A TLB, I had a choice of cheap excavators. But that just wouldn't work for me. I'm running around with the TLB doing odd jobs constantly.
I'm spoiled to have a small dozer. It doesn't get used much any more. But for just plain pushing, or grading, it's great.
 
Depends on how big those tree stumps are and how hard your ground is. Generally speaking, I disagree that a "farm hoe" has to be big. My dairy farmer neighbor bought a 1964 Ford 4000 Industrial with a 724 loader and 723 hoe on it . . back in 1968. Not a big machine. He did amazing things with it over the years but he also knew how to make best use of it. He used it pull out stuck farm tractors, dug many ditches, tree stumps, and put in many septic systems with it. He bought it in 1967 and when he retired in 1995 - I bought it. I left it at a another property I own and have dug a foundation (for a new house) and a septic with it. Still going strong and parts are very easy to find.

Here at my main place I've got a Deere 300B backhoe loader and love it. Weighs 10,600 lbs., good on fuel and gets great traction. Small enough to get into tight places and big enough to do a lot of work. Our ground is all hard-pan and shale and I have no problem digging 5 foot deep trenches. Also done several septic systems with it. I paid $3300 for it at auction a few years ago and had to sink another $1000 in parts to get it in great shape.. I also have a huge Pettibone loader-hoe. Detroit diesel, air/hydraulic brakes and it weighs 18,000 lbs. Good for really big work but otherwise clumsy, gets lousy traction, and I cannot trailer it (too heavy). Also too slow to drive down the highway anywhere far.

Everything has its pros and cons. That goes for big versus little, and wheeled versus tracked.

I've also got a Case 580CK wheel hoe, along with an IH 3414 wheel-hoe and an Allis Chalmers HD4 track-hoe. Out of them all I prefer the Deere 300B. Easiest on fuel, easiest to run and easiest to trailer (except my Ford 4000). I don't like the pedal swing or the torque-converter drive on my Case.

Many of the dairy farmers in my area have Case 580 hoes or Ford 545s (or similar).

Whatever you choose - I suspect you can find a pretty good 35-40 horse 10-12,000 lbs. wheel hoe in pretty good shape for $5000-$6000 is you be patient and look around. In my area, the bigger hoes tend to sell for less $$ then the smaller ones.

That's just my opinion. Only you know what you really need and/or want.
 
well the stumps are decent size not anything gigantic and the ground is not really hardpan, the hoe would also be used for filling holes on the property and to dig and maintain water lines, I am leaning to a Deere 410 or 510 preferably a C series, or a 580 or 680 C Case backhoe, what is the horsepower of a 580?
 
Don't own a backhoe but do own two crawler dozers. The one thing about a crawler is when you turn you rip up a big patch. I always thought I wanted a crawler loader but if you are doing a lot of back and forth loading you'll make a big mess turning.
 
Last year I bought a backhoe for the same reasons you list. I wanted either a Case or JD but couldn't find one in my price range that wasn't worn out. I found a 760B Terex for $14500 that only had 1400 hours. I've put over 400 hours on it and so far have had really good service. The only problem is dealer support but they are just a phone call away and have been helpful. I have basically used it as a dozer and have cleared off over 30 acres. Comparable Case and JD backhoes were well over $25K.
 
The 580 Case series comes with either a 207 Case engine or a Cummins 239. The Case 207 is rated 55 net horsepower and the Cummins is 60 horsepower.

I'd be more concerned about machine weight and hydraulic power though. The horsepower doesn't have much to do with digging power.

Deere 401 or 410 is around the same engine power as a Case 580.
 
what would have the better hyd power, i realize horsepower has nothing to do with it but i would need as much horse power as I could get for pushing
 
A Deere 410 hoe/loader has 7500 lbs. breakout force on the front loader. Front loader can lift to full height 5000 lbs (10' 9"). The rear hoe when fully extended can lift 1,950 lbs. to full height of 11' 9". The hoe has a digging breakout force at the bucket of 9,650 lbs.

Case 580C hoe/loader has 7200 lbs. breakout force on the front loader. Front loader can lift 4700 lbs. (to 10'10"). I don't have the specs on the rear hoe.
 
A 780 is a big machine! Most of the 14 ft. class
TLB's will have similar break out force and lift
capacity. I think a 780 is a 16 or 17 ft. hoe.
Should be some specs on the net. Ford, Cat and maybe
JCB (not the real old ones)would be worth
considering too.
 
Wife's uncle who has no brand loyality says that the best parts support id JD hands down and says the next is Case. I just ask him this fall as to what I sould look for in a year or 2 when I upgrade my TLB. I have an old JCB 3CIII. I've dug out rocks that were 4-5 feet across and stumps from Oaks that were in the 18-24 inch size range. It's served as my back up bale feeder and snow plow.

Rick
 
My 680E has 80hp. weighs around 16500 and has a 21ft reach from center of rear axle, around 17 from the pin. I was looking for a 410/580 size machine when I came across this one at the right price. I appreciate the reach, getting rid of the dirt is sometimes a pain with a backhoe, where an excavator can turn 360, you can only get 180 with the TLB.
 
Thanks for the replies everybody, I am leaning to a 410, 510, 610 Deere or maybe a 580 or 680 Case I guess I wouldnt need anything bigger, I have heard that Case have foot swing, do they have a lever swing option?
 

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