Backhoe
 

I know this is a I cub cadet site and this is not a cub cadet product but its pulled behind my 1872 :biggrin2: I bought a D.R. back hoe to aid in my excavating projects around the properties. Theres some that will say its just a toy and others will say why not a full size backhoe? In answer to those issues, this is defiantly not a toy and it will do everything I have to do around here, maybe not as fast but close enough. Secondly the subcompact backhoes go for a lot more money if you can even find one in a decent radius around here. For me the portability makes it a done deal and the smaller foot print means it can be stored in the tool shed. Now all I have to do is wait for it to arrive from the factory which it takes 3 days to build and 3 days to ship it will be a long week.

So, I guess my question is if you haven't used it yet, how do you know it will do what you want and it's not a "toy".

I've ran full size backhoes, trackhoes, mini excavators, mini backhoes (on the back of SCUT's) and I can tell you, all the smaller ones will do good work, and they beat the living hell out of a shovel, but most definitely the more "name brand" you go and the bigger you go makes a difference. For example, anything I've ran made by Bobcat or Kubota or Deere is good for what it is. I've ran some Massy Ferguson mini hoe's and wasn't impressed. Looks like that DR is still up there in price. Several thousand, depending on what exactly you bought. Personally, I wouldn't want to buy one unless I got to use it some first on a demo. That's a lot to spend and not have got to test it out. I was going to buy a mini excavator about 5 years ago. Had some big plans to do some business with it, but money suddenly got tight and I didn't go ahead.

Either way, hope it works out for you. I'm not convinced it will be what you think it will. I don't know if you have ran a backhoe before, but if you have, I think you might be disappointed.

How about a link to the backhoe you purchased. I wonder how long it will be before you mount it to the back of your 1872?????????

I like having a backhoe, they are fun to operate and as said beat a shovel in most instances. I predict you are going to have lots of fun (but not the waiting part).

Any update on your DR backhoe purchase? Pictures?

I cheated today,, and dug a 150 foot trench, 8 inches wide, and 8 inches deep.
The trench was for a 4" black plastic corrugated pipe, to carry the water from a wet weather spring.

Instead of a backhoe, I used the Gravely, and rotary plow,,,

https://i.imgur.com/5wd0uDa.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/UfKPskv.jpg

This was after about the third pass.

It took 6 passes to get to max depth.

If a rotary plow can dig an 8" deep trench,, surely the DR can do much better,,, :bigthink:

You've gotten younger John..... that doesn't look like you digging the trench....

I’m sure the son in law has learned a lot from Mr. Plans and seems to be the operator these days on the CAD estate.

True, true,, The SIL never operated a tractor before moving into the 12 acres next to me,,, :bigthink:

after the ditch was dug, he hauled the pipe to the ditch with his first tractor purchase,,, and that purchase was a "smoker" :biggrin2:

https://i.imgur.com/1R7NYBM.jpg

then, he also has the 2284,,,

https://i.imgur.com/Gk41cOf.jpg

and he has run the JD 4105,,,

https://i.imgur.com/9o3ZZ0l.jpg

not bad for only a couple years removed from being a "city boy",,, :bigeyes:

(he still drives a Yaris,, I have not fixed that,,, yet,,, :banned: )

Just my 2 cents on the backhoe thing. If you only need a backhoe once in a while rent it or hire someone with a hoe to do the job. :beerchug:

You can rent a lot of hoes for the price of the DR one, plus it will have a bucket up front.