Almost pulled the trigger……just could not do it.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I've been needing a new backhoe for a while. My 555C is on its last leg. I'm starting to spend a little more on it in repairs than what I want to and really its not necessarily the money as much as its the down time.

Nobody stocks parts anymore….they just say we can order the part….it'll be here in a couple of days.

I love my backhoe……quick detach of the forks, 4 in 1 bucket and the back bucket for digging and reaching out to pull slabs.

I demoed a new Kubota 7060 4x4 with front forks today, AC and heat, 3 point hitch and all the other stuff for farming……..but NOT for logging.

It just did not fit my bill for a good support unit for sawing.
Tomorrow I'm going to Columbia, S.C. to demo a few of the Caterpillar Backhoes.

The Kubota was nice but basically "just a set of forks". I gotta have more.
 

  

 

[Cedarman]

I have killed a few logs myself that tried to get away.  Other people may shoot them , but like you I stab them.

[Dave Shepard]

Ag loaders just don't have the lift that an industrial machine does. That Kubota looks like a nice machine, but your 'hoe will easily outlift it.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I have killed a few logs myself that tried to get away.  Other people may shoot them , but like you I stab them.

  Didn't go through the wood………..this time.  :

[hackberry jake]

Just a kubota with forks definately doesn't cut it!

 

 

[ozarkgem]

nobody stocks anything any more. As you say they can order it , well I can order it. Ask them if they have air for your tire "no but we can order it". I would be interested to see what you think of the Cat hoe. Never been in one. I didn't know I needed a backhoe till I got one.

[thecfarm]

I don't feel a 2-3 days,shipping time for a part is bad. There are so many things that are made diffeant every 2-3 years now.

[Hilltop366]

I was warned by a guy that has sold used backhoes and other equipment for years, he gets most of his stock from a new equipment dealer that would drop off the trade-ins and tell him the price that he was buying them for, it worked great for years for both parties until they dropped of a used cat with electronics. $4000.00 in repair bills from the cat dealer (they could not work on it themselves like they usually did) and it still didn't work right.

In my opinion if you plan on working on your hoe yourself avoid electronics and stay old school mechanical.

Happy shopping!

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

In my opinion if you plan on working on your hoe yourself avoid electronics and stay old school mechanical.

Happy shopping!

Good point Hilltop. Thanks!

[Delawhere Jack]

Just a kubota with forks definately doesn't cut it!

 

 (Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

You just need a couple offbearers to stand on the 3pt for ballast... 

[drobertson]

if it were me, and the money was there, which it is not, I would go kubota, three friends have them in all the ranges of size, no complaints from any of them, they researched and sized for the application.  no need for a one pony show.

[hackberry jake]

Just a kubota with forks definately doesn't cut it!

 

 (Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

You just need a couple offbearers to stand on the 3pt for ballast... 

It has a 55 gallon drum filled with concrete... This kubota might have just had a hard life, but the next tractor I own will not be a kubota. I think I'm a MF kinda guy.

[Magicman]

That hoe hanging off of the back end is good ballast.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I'm not knocking Kubota at all. We have thousands of dollars worth of their equipment on the farm as well as New Holland.
I'm just saying….a backhoe fits my needs best…..your needs may vary. 

[Delawhere Jack]

Just a kubota with forks definately doesn't cut it!

 

 (Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

You just need a couple offbearers to stand on the 3pt for ballast... 

It has a 55 gallon drum filled with concrete... This kubota might have just had a hard life, but the next tractor I own will not be a kubota. I think I'm a MF kinda guy.

I've worked with a couple of those smaller Kubota's. I call them "horse farm" tractors. Good for hauling horse poop and maybe plowing snow, but no match for a 2,000 lb log. To be honest, it's usually me and the second helper acting as ballast, funny since I'm only 150 lbs.  Takes a lot of faith in the guy behind the wheel, and constantly thinking which way should I jump when this thing rolls.... 

[Delawhere Jack]

So David.... would you take $300 for the 555C?

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

So David.... would you take $300 for the 555C?

I might next week. 

[ScottAR]

I haven't looked up the specs on the bigger Kubota loader/tractors but the average Backhoe loader will handle 5000-6000 lbs. and some will pick more.  It's just a different level machine.  The tractor somehow got a lot smaller when we got the 580d Case.

 

[NWP]

Have you thought about trying a skid steer?  I used to load/move logs with a tractor and forks. Since I've had a skid steer, you couldn't hardly pay me to use a tractor and forks again.  They're so much maneuverable and convenient. You could keep the backhoe to use the rear boom every now and then. I would highly recommend at least checking out a skid steer with a quality grapple.

[underdog]

Telehandlers are supposed to be real handy.
For a backhoe Case is hard to beat.
As with anything you have to do your homework to find the models/brands that are giving good service.