Lifestyle Tractor Talk

[MountainMedic]

Hey spark- found this in my "research file" from when I was figuring this shit out.

View: https://youtu.be/1jhDxZ5sp6w?si=36vD3_j9B-_TfLZg

Might be useful if you decide to go rear pto backhoe

 

[White347lx]

I've tried to use those backhoe attachments on compact tractors and it's more frustrating than productive. They're too light so it tips easy, have no reach so you have to keep moving the tractor to get a good angle on your work and they're *SLOW* af. As others mentioned, you're way better off just renting a real excavator as needed to dig holes/trenches/footings/etc. If you really do use one that often, buy an older Case backhoe, replace all the hoses on it, change all the fluids and filters. You'll have a legit badass machine that will likely become your most used toy and once you're done it's still worth at least what you paid for it. This old 580 is $8500 on marketplace and it will do a days worth of compact tractor work in minutes:

 

[White347lx]

This is what I see when someone mentions compact tractor with a backhoe attachment:

 

[sparkuri]

I've tried to use those backhoe attachments on compact tractors and it's more frustrating than productive. They're too light so it tips easy, have no reach so you have to keep moving the tractor to get a good angle on your work and they're *SLOW* af. As others mentioned, you're way better off just renting a real excavator as needed to dig holes/trenches/footings/etc. If you really do use one that often, buy an older Case backhoe, replace all the hoses on it, change all the fluids and filters. You'll have a legit badass machine that will likely become your most used toy and once you're done it's still worth at least what you paid for it. This old 580 is $8500 on marketplace and it will do a days worth of compact tractor work in minutes:
View attachment 130931

Funny, I was just looking at that exact one on marketplace.
But's it's 2wd, which is not gonna fly on my land.

 

[Rambo John J]

Might be cheaper to hire @NiteProwleR & the Marios

I need some Marios.

 

[Rambo John J]

Funny, I was just looking at that exact one on marketplace.
But's it's 2wd, which is not gonna fly on my land.

Ever thought about rigging up an old Tiger 2 with some attachments
Can you fabricate? Has good power and lots of potential.

 

[sparkuri]

Ever thought about rigging up an old Tiger 2 with some attachments
Can you fabricate? Has good power and lots of potential.
View attachment 130935

Let me run that by the wife.

 

[MountainMedic]

Let me run that by the wife.

 

[White347lx]

Funny, I was just looking at that exact one on marketplace.
But's it's 2wd, which is not gonna fly on my land.

Backhoes do not get stuck. They can walk into or out of places you wouldn’t believe. Of course anything is possible, but a 4wd backhoe probably won’t go much farther than a 2wd. It would still slide against trees on muddy hillsides and sink in creekbeds. Those are the only ways I’ve been able to stick a hoe.

Edit to add pic of stuck hoe. This was when the dam broke at Lake Delhi and we got the job to salvage boats. My buddy thought it was hilarious at first, then it kept sinking every time the engine started:

 

[sparkuri]

Backhoes do not get stuck. They can walk into or out of places you wouldn’t believe. Of course anything is possible, but a 4wd backhoe probably won’t go much farther than a 2wd. It would still slide against trees on muddy hillsides and sink in creekbeds. Those are the only ways I’ve been able to stick a hoe.

I've worked with backhoes in construction and a little in the forest. I love them.
I'd love to have one, but cannot warrant the cost on a bunch of small projects opposed to the larger projects.
Plus I know guys that have them that will bring theirs from landfills and sidejob for me for $50/hr. if need be.
A subframe good contractor backhoe in the 1700lb.'ish range with thumb is all I need. I would not fuck around with a dinky 3-point.
I'm kinda right in the middle.

 

[kvr28]

I've tried to use those backhoe attachments on compact tractors and it's more frustrating than productive. They're too light so it tips easy, have no reach so you have to keep moving the tractor to get a good angle on your work and they're *SLOW* af. As others mentioned, you're way better off just renting a real excavator as needed to dig holes/trenches/footings/etc. If you really do use one that often, buy an older Case backhoe, replace all the hoses on it, change all the fluids and filters. You'll have a legit badass machine that will likely become your most used toy and once you're done it's still worth at least what you paid for it. This old 580 is $8500 on marketplace and it will do a days worth of compact tractor work in minutes:
View attachment 130931

And it's not much more than a back hoe attachment

 

[NiteProwleR]

You should be able to drag yourself out of a lot of hairy situations. We got stuck in a man lift on a flooded area and just the sheer weight of the lift/bucket when angled proper got us unstuck. Thing was a tank with monster tires, though. I can imagine if you've got a claw like them tractors it would be even easier.

 

[sparkuri]

This is nice input, but if we don't get away from backhoes and tanks, I'm afraid we're two posts from you guys convincing me I need an APC and to mow my yard with the .50 cal.

 

[MountainMedic]

This is nice input, but if we don't get away from backhoes and tanks, I'm afraid we're two posts from you guys convincing me I need an APC and to mow my yard with the .50 cal.

Now you sound like your wife

 

[sparkuri]

Now you sound like your wife

My wife is an M1 Abrams, who hates Tiger 2 tanks.

 

[kvr28]

This is nice input, but if we don't get away from backhoes and tanks, I'm afraid we're two posts from you guys convincing me I need an APC and to mow my yard with the .50 cal.

You don't have one yet? Rookie

 

[sparkuri]

You don't have one yet? Rookie

 

[sparkuri]

O down 0 apr 10 years
Out the door with backhoe installed, rock rake, box blade, bush hog, pallet forks, just under 50k.
Installing oe horn & front back cams & screen...hard to feel bad about it.


View: https://youtu.be/AlH5DLJvDZU?si=XiE1e7FtfXKX2kK7

 

[MountainMedic]

That sounds like alot but congrats

 

[White347lx]

I'm such a snob I can't even consider tractors that aren't red or green. Same with construction equipment, it's either Case, Cat or nothing for me. I'll buy a used machine with some hours on it before I consider a brand new off brand one.
My neighbor bought a couple Mahindras about 10 years ago and had some painful downtime with them. They both had out of box failures that left him scrambling to get fields baled and he had to resort to my antique Ford 4000 to get that alfalfa off the ground. It was hilarious to see that dinosaur pulling a $80K baler around while the dealer figured out how to repair both his tractors.

 

[sparkuri]

That sounds like alot but congrats

It's a lot of tractor.
Awesome cab, bluetooth heat/ac remote rear, 2500lb. Bucket, 3600lb. Backhoe breakout, 43hp/37hp pto.
Delivered tax-free to my door w/75% liquid methanol fill good to -15°.
Also a 3rd function rig for front grapple, bush hog eith the slip clutch & rubber skid guards.

@Rambo John J compound cult will end up changing religions & crossing country to get these pureblood tadpoles.
I'm looking into into spinning rims & triple gold D's.

 

[sparkuri]

It turns out the tracker I wanted has the drawbar an option rather than just coming with it which is stupid.

What advice can the community give on attachments and making things easier particularly for somebody who's old and feeble, In regards to the PTO, 3 point attachment and drawbar?

 

[kvr28]

Did you get it yet? Drawbars are cheap, I think I might have picked mine up at tractor supply for like 60 bucks.

What exactly do you to use it for? For me it was clearing trees, hauling them and loading my sawmill. Why I went with the grapple, logging winch and pallet forks.

 

[White347lx]

It turns out the tracker I wanted has the drawbar an option rather than just coming with it which is stupid.

What advice can the community give on attachments and making things easier particularly for somebody who's old and feeble, In regards to the PTO, 3 point attachment and drawbar?

A quick connect 3 point is a game changer, also stay with the level of attachments you actually need as in don’t buy cat 2 implements for your cat 0 machine. Just because you can connect a 12’ batwing to a 50 horse tractor doesn’t mean it works in the field.
nit sure what you plan to pull with a drawbar, that’s usually for ground engagement like a disc or maybe a hay rake or wagon.

 

[sparkuri]

What exactly do you to use it for?

nit sure what you plan to pull with a drawbar, that’s usually for ground engagement like a disc or maybe a hay rake or wagon.

That's my question.
Because I'm a noob other than putting a ball on it and haulng things around I don't know what it's for.
The 30 videos I watched weren't very useful other than sizing.

I'm getting a rock rake and a roto tiller and a Bush hog of course.
I'm having the backhoe installed, Now I'm wondering the easiest way to have it uninstalled or whatever so can I can attach other backattachments like the rock rake and tiller and Busch hog.