Backhoe or Tractor w/backhoe, your suggestiosn?

Jeepwalker · Aug 11, 2011

Hello,

Need your advice. Got a couple construction projects that I want to tackle myself. Considering buying a backhoe setup like a Case 580B, or a newer one w/4wd. Or, I have tossed around buying a tractor with a backhoe setup. I'm a newbie, not having used a backhoe before, but definitely understand Ag equipment. Mostly plan on trenching for a couple of foundations and flattening ground for sheds, other misc projects around the property. But, with farm tractor w/backhoe attachment, I would be able to remove the 3-pt backhoe and use attachments for haying, etc. How well does an Ag tractor with a 3-pt hitch dig trenches? I have a lot of rock. Also how much of a difference do the 2WD backhoes dig with the bucket compared to the 4WD units?

Thanks,

Anonymous-0 · Aug 11, 2011

There's no comparison between an industrial backhoe and a 3 pt. backhoe. As far as digging with the hoe, there is no difference between 2 and 4 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive helps when using the front bucket and in soft conditions. Unless you plan on digging heavy packed clay in sloppy conditions, 2 wheel drive will work fine. The hoe on the back will give you a lot more traction than wheel weights or loaded tires. You might want to consider a mini excavator and use a farm loader to move the dug up material. For rock I wouldn't use a 3 pt. hoe.

BOBM25 · Aug 12, 2011

A 4wd backhoe all the way! Backhoes are DESIGNED TO DIG! Tractors are designed to farm. Big difference. Dedicated hoes dig faster, deeper and stronger...and on a side note, a 4wd hoe is like a bulldozer when it comes to PUSHING snow, dirt, stone, etc. Always seemed strange to me. Most hoes has small engines, but never seem to run out of hp or hydros. I suppose if you could hook a 580K to a 30 ft field cultivator tho, it'd be a different story.

FarrviewSouth · Aug 12, 2011

Yup, been there done that...Unless you are digging
in light sand then the tractor attachments are just
no where near equal to a backhoe.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 12, 2011

My two cents, I agree get a backhoe but try it out. Some are very light in the frontend and difficult to push or grade with, or even drive up a hill. 4x4 have more weight in front and work better for frontend work

Anonymous-0 · Aug 12, 2011

I needed the same. After a couple weeks searching, I got double the machine for my $$$$ by buying a GOOD used Ditch Witch. It has a hoe, trencher bar, and vibratory plow.

My needs were "smaller" than a contractor. I have a 160 acre "tree farm". BUT, I passed up a lot of much bigger machines.....MUCH BIGGER... I got a Ditch Witch 3500 for $6K .....A422 Backhoe.....60" trencher bar....and, 24" cable plow .... 816 hours ....normal "idiot" abuse that cost me about $1K after purchase to bring up to top shape. WOW ...I just buried 2700 ft of 1.5 inch sch 40 PVC from my pond to orchard, laid 300 ft of power to my new shop, dug a septic tank and drainfield, and am now working on a 20 x 16 root cellar/tornado shelter (70 miles from Joplin MO ...OUCH ).

Anyway, within the limitations of the machines configuration...I figure that I got double for my $$$ spent.
My $.02

Lou Kocon · Aug 12, 2011

Backhoe is the way to go. I bought a used JD 310A about 10 years ago. Best piece of equipment I ever bought. It has paid for itself many times over. LOL!

Jeepwalker · Aug 12, 2011

Ok. Great advice. Thanks. Let me ask you this: how well do back hoe tractors 'dig', like say I wanted to level out some uneven ground for a shed foundation, and even dig into and through the sod? Maybe move the sod aside and take it down to the clay for a cement pad. How do backhoe tractor buckets compare to a bobcat for digging? Sorry for the newbie questions, I just don't know where else to ask. I've used a lot of farm machinery, and farm loaders (which don't dig very well), but never used a backhoe.

Thanks in advance.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 13, 2011

A backhoe like a 580 will have around 10,000 lbs of digging force with the backhoe bucket cylinder. 10,000 lbs. force on a 24" wide (or less) bucket will dig most anything with relative ease. A Bobcat with about 10,000 lbs. of digging force will be pushing about a 7 ft. wide bucket. A hoe will take more practice and the best way to use a hoe is to try to use 2 functions at the same time. The loader on the front will dig pretty good but be harder to make smooth than a Bobcat. The nice thing with a hoe is that you sit in one spot and can see exactly what you're doing. If you're removing sod, you can see exactly how deep the top soil is to avoid mixing it with the clay underneath.

jm. · Aug 13, 2011

Look at a new L 39 KUBOTA has a ridgid mounted heavy hoe that can be removed in minutes and you have a 3 point tractor. Trouble free units and will definately do some work.

Backhoe or Tractor w/backhoe, your suggestiosn?

Jeepwalker

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Anonymous-0

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BOBM25

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FarrviewSouth

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Lou Kocon

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Jeepwalker

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Anonymous-0

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jm.

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