OT - backhoe-loader combos

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

If - and that would be a huge if, I were looking at a small backhoe/loader....what are ya"lls thoughts? I would use it to do small landscaping, maybe make a small pond - 1/4 acre or so and general handiwork - I dont want to open pandora"s box here - but would like to know who has what and WHAT someone should look for in one. My BIL has a kubota that he got a while back, I got to play on it, dayum nice!! I am looking for a new one or old - like in the $20,000 range.....thanks!

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 12:10:50 04/23/12) If - and that would be a huge if, I were looking at a small backhoe/loader....what are ya"lls thoughts? I would use it to do small landscaping, maybe make a small pond - 1/4 acre or so and general handiwork - I dont want to open pandora"s box here - but would like to know who has what and WHAT someone should look for in one. My BIL has a kubota that he got a while back, I got to play on it, dayum nice!! I am looking for a new one or old - like in the $20,000 range.....thanks!

That's a hefty budget. The Case hoes are nice machines and 20K will get you this 1994 4WD 590K with cab and enough left over to buy a couple N's. That's just one of many I found with a quick search - you can probably do alot better if you spend some time at it.

TOH

 

[old]

Very hard to beat a Case CK580 which is made on many models. They are a construction grade machine and I have friends who have them and they are hard to beat and you can find them for a good bit less then the price your looking at. Big thing it to be sure they are not 100% wore out. Matter of fact I have a hyd cylinder off a 580B in my shop right now that I just rebuilt for one of those friends and the cost of the kit was less then $40

 

[Jimmyjack]

Depends on how big you want to go, but I have a Kubota B20 and love it. Its more than just a toy.Its probably not big enough to dig ponds, but for trenching, putting in culverts, and general ditching its the pips.

 

[William Fissell]

for $20,000 you should be able to get a very very nice TLB. A case 580C would cost a lot less than that in my area, or a Ford 555.

Older hoes around here are about 4-7k. Theres a nice mf35 with a woods 3-pt for 6900; if you look at my 'stuck' post you can see my to30 with a pippin that cost me under 5K.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

If you don't want to make tracks in your yard, keep weight in mind. I would want a hydrostatic tranny. Look at how many clutches get fried not to mention you are always shifting gears. It's easier to fill the front bucket with a hydrostatic. I like to set in the same seat when I use the hoe and then have to move it. You may want to think of transporting it too. How big is your trailer? How big of tree stump do you want to remove? If you want to put dirt in a dump truck, how high will the loader go? Then keep in mind how much fuel will it burn. After market add on loader/hoes tend to burn more. Look at all the options. LOL

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

JJ,
I used one of these a couple of weekends ago - perfect machine for what I have in mind! Finding a used one should be tough!

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

thank for the input - I have found a few of these somewhat locally. Might be worth a look!

 

[oldtanker]

I got a TLB a couple of years ago for using on the farm. I got an older one as I don't need it that often and paid 4500. I've been able to dig out 24 plus inch stumps and rocks over 4 feet in diameter. Very handy to have around.

Rick

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 09:21:39 04/24/12) thank for the input - I have found a few of these somewhat locally. Might be worth a look!

Just to offer another option - I rent one from a local equipment rental whenever I have a need. I have been getting their Case 580 Super-M 4WD with extend-a-hoe, electric shuttle shift, and heated/AC cab - runs about $700/week. You can do a lot in a week of seat time.....

TOH

 

[old]

As long as the pins and bushing are not 100% wore out those 580s are almost bullet proof and will take one heck of a lot of hard work before you have to work on them. They have models from the 580A all the way down someplace to the L or M model each of which is newer then the other as in the A being the first model

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 11:54:05 04/24/12) As long as the pins and bushing are not 100% wore out those 580s are almost bullet proof and will take one heck of a lot of hard work before you have to work on them. They have models from the 580A all the way down someplace to the L or M model each of which is newer then the other as in the A being the first model

Here is a rather definitive chronology of the 580 and 590 series hoes:

Case Back Hoes

The original model that followed the Case 530 was simply the Case 580. That was followed by the 580B, 580C, ... In the early nineties the 590 introduced a second larger series. Today they are up to the 580N and 590N plus the various "Super" variants. I've used both and the difference in performance and ease of use between a 580K and a 580 Super-M is massive.

TOH

 

[Geo-TH,In]

If you are looking at a Bota, take a look at a Terramite. There are 3 models. One is a diesel and 4 wheel drive. You will have to go on line to find one. No dealers. Either you buy a used one on ebay or buy a new one from the factory in W Virgina, 800,428,3772. Or you could go to your local DIY rentals to see one. Most likely that's what you will rent. They only weigh 3100 pounds, 4 feet wide for small places, 8.5 ft boom reach. Down side is they don't have a road gear. Up side is they do have a hydrostatic. Fuel cost is about 1 gallon of gas/hour. New ones around $20,000 used ones are around $10,000. Made in the USA and USA parts. Easy for the DIY guy to fix.

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

sounds perfect - thanks for the number and tip !!!

 

[Geo-TH,In]

FTI, I bought a 2004 terramite T5C that was 4 years old and had 435 hours on it. The T5C is only 2 wheel drive. Less than 1% of the time I wish it was 4 wheel. If I get stuck, I use the backhoe and pull myself out. Never really been stuck where I needed help getting out. I paid $8500 for mine. I just love it. In 4 years I have over 1400 hours on it. That's a 1000 hours of good tractor therapy. I use mine for landscaping, water lines, electric lines, footers, cleared the ground for pole barn, push snow, made an 8 ft snow blade, move dirt, made a driveway using sand and gravel from my gravel pit, made forks and use it as a fork lift, and much more. 99% of the work I do is for myself. I find that a 10ft 10k dump trailer is a good adition, because the terramite only goes about 4 mph. Some people want to use their hoe to truck materials a great distance. However, I use my loader/hoe for doing work in a small area. If I want to move lots of dirt, I load the dump trailer and a farmall C to pull the trailer.

Go rent one and see if you like it. They are a stout little machine. Everyone that sees what I can do with it are impressed. However there are Bota people who will think otherwise. That said, I don't think Botas are made in the USA.

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

doing some digging on the net:

http://www.machinerytrader.com/list/list.aspx?ETID=1&catid=1046&Manu=TERRAMITE
is yours diesel? gas? make of engine? I see that they have several engine types.

looks like a perfect type of machine. And like you said - cost is between 7000-12000.

I am not sure I could ever get my money out of one, but I have a hundred uses for it in my mind right now !!! thanks again for the info
TERRAMITE

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Mine is a T5C. New are around $20K. Used on ebay are $8-10K. You will find they drop in value real fast, but a 5 year old, 500 hour, T5C is worth as much as a 15 year old one with 2000 hours. Mine has a 20 hp Kohler Commando, gas, Hydraulic valves, good solid motor, has 1400 hours on it and doesn't use oil. Not sure if a honda engine is an opition. Have seen used ones with a honda. A new Kohler engine is around $1800 at small engine warehouse. The boys that rent terramites, say they would replace with a Kohler and not a honda. Have to make too many changes to convert to honda.

A new diesel 4x4 model is too pricey for me.

Get a used one, you can sell it and get your money back. Check out ebay and see what I'm telling you. I found mine on ebay, drove 300 miles with my truck and trailer and pulled it home the same day. Good luck finding one locally or on craigslist.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

If you are interested in a terramite and want to travel to find, go to searchtempest.com. This is a search engine for craigslist and ebay. I found some nice ones in virgina and w virgina cheap. BTW, w virgina is where they are made.

Also discovered the diesel engines used on terramites are kabota engines. Standard gas is a kohlar.