I want a backhoe,but

[johnday]

I'm wondering if I could make it pay for itself? As it is, I charge $50 an hour for moving dirt, gravel, grading and raking with the TC. At $7000 bucks installed for the NH hoe I want, I'm looking at quite a long time for payback. Any of you guys have any thoughts on this latest brainstorm of mine? I thought of advertising I can get in and out where a fullsize machine can't. I know I'm nuts, but the time doesn't start til I hit the ground. In an earlier life, we'd start charging when we left the yard, but that was with 480 and 580 Case machines.

 

[OkeeDon]

I have never seen the point of a backhoe on a compact tractor. If you're thiniking about $7,000, you should look for a mini-excavator; I've seen them often in decent condition for $8,000 to $10,000. Much more versatile, much more productive, and you can charge for 2 machines on site as they work together. Bob S will likely chime in here; he's rented one, and has mentioned that he'd buy one if it popped up in front of him (and was sufficiently dirty that the lovely Mrs. Bob would think it had always been there).

 

[johnday]

Don; Excellent observation. For some reason that never crossed my mind. Also, instead of beating the TC to death, it could be used more for backfilling and grading than digging. Probably save half the wear and tear on it. I do know I'm not a fan of anything but a subframe mount simply for the reliability of it. Where as a miniexcavator is built specifically for digging. Thanks for the insight. Gives a different twist to my idea.

 

[GaryE]

I'm wondering if I could make it pay for itself?

Probably not. That did not stop me! Go for it, have some fun!


Gary

 

[JayC]

Not that I have any experience with backhoes or real tractors in general, but the way I see it is you only live once. I say go for it.

 

[OregonAlex]

John,

I really wanted a backhoe too to do light digging and removing stumps, but I was pretty sure I didn't have enough work to justify buying a backhoe. However, renting a backhoe is kind of a inconvient compared to having the capability sitting at home. I ended up with a Markham Welding Grubber bucket. Haven't really put it to the test yet, but it looks like it will do the job for around $350 and for that price it was worth a shot. For more serious jobs, I will rent a backhoe. Just a thought.

its 14" across the front, and about 3' deep. Uses skid steer QA so its easy to get on and off the FEL.

 

[BadAttitude]

I'm wondering if I could make it pay for itself? As it is, I charge $50 an hour for moving dirt, gravel, grading and raking with the TC. At $7000 bucks installed for the NH hoe I want, I'm looking at quite a long time for payback. Any of you guys have any thoughts on this latest brainstorm of mine? I thought of advertising I can get in and out where a fullsize machine can't. I know I'm nuts, but the time doesn't start til I hit the ground. In an earlier life, we'd start charging when we left the yard, but that was with 480 and 580 Case machines.

John
A coworker of mine is currently doing exactly what you have in mind..."I thought of advertising I can get in and out where a fullsize machine can't..."

and does just that. He has a TC48 with BH and started this past spring. It's only been a side gig, but the volume has been so great, he's planning on going FT next year. In fact so good...this past Friday, he just picked up a new 05 F550 with a 11' dump...$45K . He's gettin a good return I'd say.

It might depend on your locale as to what you can expect. But as Gary and Jay said ...Go For It...You only pass this way once.
BA

 

[v8dave]

Well, I'm not in it for pay. But, I've got a backhoe on my compact and I've rented an excavator for some jobs bigger than my rig can handle.

Excavators are pretty handy, one thing they can do is transport material in their bucket. Which you really don't want to do with a TLB.

In case you haven't seen it on that other site. Here is what I used the excavator for. If you get one get a thumb with it.

 

[OregonAlex]

Excavators are pretty handy, one thing they can do is transport material in their bucket. Which you really don't want to do with a TLB.

Unless you have the right FEL attachment.. right?

 

[Mith]

I you are doing work for others you gunna need insurance, probably mess around with tax and things, etc. You cant really do work like that just on the side becuase if you hit a gas line and blow up their house youre in trouble. Lots to go wrong with dirt work.

What Don said about the digger, very useful tool. If youre gunna buy one get someone experienced with them to check it out, they are usually beaten and there is lots to break.
I rent one of these diggers once every year to do work, this year I dug a new drive and dug out a cristmas tree stump, the stump was about 20'' diameter, the pit I dig way about 20foot in diameter.
I wouldnt want to work t any harder than what that tump did, I could feel the slew pin was right on the verge of failiure, lots of play after I had finished.

Sure got it done though.

 

[Melensdad]

I have never seen the point of a backhoe on a compact tractor. If you're thiniking about $7,000, you should look for a mini-excavator; I've seen them often in decent condition for $8,000 to $10,000. Much more versatile, much more productive, and you can charge for 2 machines on site as they work together. Bob S will likely chime in here; he's rented one, and has mentioned that he'd buy one if it popped up in front of him (and was sufficiently dirty that the lovely Mrs. Bob would think it had always been there).

There is really not much I can add. But having used both, there is no comparision between the two. A mini-ex will out work, in every measurable way, a tractor mounted backhoe.

BTW there is a nice used Yanmar mini for sale in town. Unfortunately it is spotlessly clean and even looks like it was waxed!

 

[bczoom]

There's been mention of a mini-excavator but I'm surprised nobody threw in a skid-steer machine.
It'll probably out-perform and get more done than your TC and a mini-excavator combined. Start with the dirt bucket and backhoe but as $ become available or needs dictate, get:
Auger/PHD
landscape rake
tilller
Blade
Broom
Grapple bucket or forks
jack hammer
snow blower
stump grinder
trencher
compactor
...

The list/capabilities go on-and-on.

 

[Cityboy]

John-

If you know you will enjoy this venture to the point that you will look forward to getting out of bed every morning, then make it happen. You can over anal-ize things if you're not careful. There's no doubt you can make money doing it if you do it right. Worst case, you get to write off a $7000 backhoe. You'll probably get your return on investment pretty quick and then you'll have another paid for attachment to play with for fun and profit.

 

[johnday]

That little excavator sure has some advantages over the TLB. I'm thinking the tracks would also have less psi/sqft than the tires. Would have less impact as far as compacting soil and harming a seepage bed. It would most likely be able to get into smaller areas too. The only drawback would be transporting it. I only have one trailer to carry loads like that. May have to move excavator one day, then TC the next. That could happen!

One other concern, the tracks tearing up a finished yard more than tires. And another like Mith said is insurance. I didn't do it, no really, but I do know a guy that hit a gas line on a project I was running. Scared the Shizbah out of us. Nope, don't think I care to go there again. I'm hearing liability insurance policies of 1M is pretty much minimum.

Oh well, construction season for me is about over this year anyway. We only have two seasons here, winter and construction, or snow and orange barrel. Think I'll give this a little more thought. Sure was easier when I worked with a guy that already had this stuff!

 

[bczoom]

I'm hearing liability insurance policies of 1M is pretty much minimum.

And that buys less than 20 minutes if you hit a fiber-optic line. You break one of those, and you're liable for upwards of $50,000/minute of down-time.

Risk and insurance for digging has scared many potential contractors away from a project or out of business completely.

 

[JayC]

We only have two seasons here, winter and construction, or snow and orange barrel.

Those are just Schneider eggs.

 

[johnday]

Those are just Schneider eggs.

Hey, I saw one lay one the other day! They sure like to jump out quick don't they!LOL