How to Buy a Backhoe for a Tractor

I received this question from Graham, "What are the pros and cons of subframe mounted versus three point tractor backhoes?" Great question! This video looks at that question and how to buy a backhoe for your tractor.

While three point mounted backhoes are much easier to attach and remove from the tractor, especially on compact and sub-compacts, get the subframe mounts. That's because smaller tractors are not designed to carry to weight of a backhoe sticking out behind them bouncing across a rough field, and a three point model can actually break a tractor in two, and it's an expensive repair. A subframe mounting kit ties the backhoe to the loader and keeps everything tight together and functioning as one unit and greatly decreases the possibility of a failure.

I also recommend, along the same lines, that when buying a new tractor, get the same brand of backhoe as the tractor. That's because of warranty. If you bought band A tractor and brand B backhoe and there was a failure, the tractor manufacturer will blame the backhoe for causing it, the backhoe builder will blame the tractor for causing it and you'll be stuck in the middle with basically no warranty. If both tractor and backhoe came from the same company it will be hard for them to not cover a failure.

Backhoes require hydraulic flow to operate, if a PTO pump is available for the backhoe you're looking at, get it. The self-contained PTO pump means the backhoe is easier to hook and unhook. It's also a lot less wear and tear on the tractor to spin the PTO versus using the tractors hydraulic pump to power the backhoe.

Other options to look at when buying a backhoe include street or dirt pads; order dirt pads if you'll never be on pavement, street pads to prevent marking up an asphalt driveway; the width of the bucket and don't get too big a one for the tractor, and a hydraulic thumb option. A thumb is just what it sounds like, it's a mechanical device that enable you to pick up objects with your backhoe by using hydraulics. Get this option!

Finally backhoes are rated by how deep they'll dig. They start around 5' on the sub compacts and go up to 10' on the bigger tractors. The more power you have the deeper you can dig.

In my next video I'll discuss the options of renting, or calling a person with a backhoe, for getting your jobs done, versus owning a backhoe. I'm probably the world's worst backhoe salesman because, for me, there are better options than owning.

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