Backhoe replacement

[Fools Gold]

Hi all currently running an ageing Jcb 3cx for farm use and might soon be in the market for an upgrade, main duties include filling feed wagon from clamp, stacking bales and unloading lorries (pallets, fertiliser etc) loading several thousand tons of dung and some occasional digging
I realise the best tool for my job is probably a tele handler but having never owned one I have never missed any benefits of lift height and manoeuvrability they may bring, in my case a skid steer does all close quarter tight work in the sheds. Plus every man and his dog has a handler these days and I like to be different!
So the question is, what would be a good digger for my use? JCB, New Holland, Case would all have reasonable back up locally, and has anyone any idea of the likely cost of the afore mentioned, I look after my kit and would prefer to buy new and keep for a long time.
cheers

 

[startinghandle]

I can't really advise as I never used digger but I know someone that says JCB are not as good quality as they once were

 

[Sharpy]

I have been very impressed by a neighbours New Holland, one thing to be aware of is they seem to match backhoe and loader reach to horsepower, hence the multiple models.

 

[nick...]

What ever make you go for you will have a job finding anything.
nick...

 

[agrimax]

Ah go on.Get one of these and give us a full review...

BELARUS EP-491: Minsk Tractor Works

Minsk Tractor Works

www.belarus-tractor.com

 

[KB6930]

New Holland used to have a very high back actor when folded right in compared to jcb so wasn't as good in lower sheds

 

[H200GT]

Id stick with JCB. Heard opinions from some that others are better, but none have sold in the uk on the same numbers as JCB. I have only really used JCB in anger so cant comment on others.

For long term backup, parts and general knowledge on how to fix them, id stick JCB. You can still buy the many of the main parts for 3C machines to this day from JCB, not sure same can be said for Ford or Massey diggers of that age?

Also I have found I can operate JCB X pattern fine, (jcb was the first machine I learnt to operate), excavator + pattern with leavers on the side again no problem. But put me in a backhoe with leavers to the front on + pattern and I go to pot completely

 

[Zebbedee]

Jcb is probably the best long term machine but reading the jobs you do a forklift may actually be better, we have both and if I had to let one go it would be digger

 

[Lincs Lass]

Civils guy I know has a newish jcb ,the fitters have had it apart more times than its been running ,,he had a Cat before it and it wasnt much better and had a jcb before that which decided to turn its self off going up the main road out of town ,,plod rolled up and told him to move it ,,sorry I cant ,the computer has locked out ,,they fined him for blocking the highway but the court through the case out after reading the jcb fitters report .
The moral of this is dont buy a jcb or a caterpillar .
Hes an owner driver and changes them every other year ,,new

 

[deleted user 837354]

Was an early morning so I may have been hallucinating but I swear I saw a CAT the other day with 4 equal sized wheels?

 

[Lincs Lass]

Was an early morning so I may have been hallucinating but I swear I saw a CAT the other day with 4 equal sized wheels?

 

[goldeneagle]

Do you have a lot of buckets for your 3cx? The NH has a wider hitch so would be expensive to change.
I changed from a 89 3cx with a manual hitch to a 99 NH 95 with a manual quick hitch.
The 3cx was ok but half the dash lights didn’t work and the cab was suffering usual tin rot.
The NH has been a revelation, quich hitch is a must as use buckets as a face shovel a lot of time, has loader suspension as well which when not on you notice. Has been relatively reliable, on 8k hrs and had usual burst hoses and a starter. Parts for the New Holland seem reasonably priced I found compared to JCB.
The controls on stick based NH were the same as JCB so no familiarisation needed.
If I was buying another backhoe would be a LB 110.

Understand they are the jack of all trades master of none but where you need to dig a hole that takes an hour or so to do and transport materials at same time they are invaluable. Bought mines for house build and also had to put in 500m of road so paid itself in no time with its versatility and ability to move location quickly.

Would think you will need at least 50k to buy something relatively new if that’s what you intend.

 

[Farmer_Joe]

you need your head testing, get a loadall and save hours very day which you can spend resting drinking tea.

 

[Fools Gold]

Than you all for the input so far, I have to say that my current machine has been very reliable over the 20 years I’ve owned it and parts when needed have been cheap enough and easy to obtain
Would a new 3cx have add blue on it? I have a tractor with it and don’t think long term reliability of it will be great
Staying jcb would also make sense in terms of using my existing quick hitch and attachments provided the new machines loader spec hasn’t changed that is.

 

[Sharpy]

Than you all for the input so far, I have to say that my current machine has been very reliable over the 20 years I’ve owned it and parts when needed have been cheap enough and easy to obtain
Would a new 3cx have add blue on it? I have a tractor with it and don’t think long term reliability of it will be great
Staying jcb would also make sense in terms of using my existing quick hitch and attachments provided the new machines loader spec hasn’t changed that is.

You can spec a quick hitch to fit any machine to lift any pin configuration, plenty NH with jcb spec quick hitches, same as there are plenty of jcb handlers with matbro heads. Done right its not a problem.

 

[Laggard]

Another vote for a New Holland LB110. Changed from a JCB 3CX and it’s been great.

 

[Renaultman]

Do you have a lot of buckets for your 3cx? The NH has a wider hitch so would be expensive to change.
I changed from a 89 3cx with a manual hitch to a 99 NH 95 with a manual quick hitch.
The 3cx was ok but half the dash lights didn’t work and the cab was suffering usual tin rot.
The NH has been a revelation, quich hitch is a must as use buckets as a face shovel a lot of time, has loader suspension as well which when not on you notice. Has been relatively reliable, on 8k hrs and had usual burst hoses and a starter. Parts for the New Holland seem reasonably priced I found compared to JCB.
The controls on stick based NH were the same as JCB so no familiarisation needed.
If I was buying another backhoe would be a LB 110.

Understand they are the jack of all trades master of none but where you need to dig a hole that takes an hour or so to do and transport materials at same time they are invaluable. Bought mines for house build and also had to put in 500m of road so paid itself in no time with its versatility and ability to move location quickly.

Would think you will need at least 50k to buy something relatively new if that’s what you intend.

I have an NH 85, and will almost certainly change for another one, very heavy back end that takes a bit of holding steady when digging but it just gets in with any job I ask of it. Cone and pin QR and a couple of tie tip buckets are a godsend

 

[Fools Gold]

you need your head testing, get a loadall and save hours very day which you can spend resting drinking tea.

I could drink a whole pot of tea after loading feeder with 3cx and toe tip before I’d be finished with a handler!

 

[andybk]

Seen some good low hrs ex army jcbs at witham auctions , problem is they are green lol , we used to buy ex service lorries (usually navy) most were like new for 50% new price or less . and most were serviced to death ie all teething issues sorted ,
They were selling case cx90s (with just a sun cab ) few months back brand new £16-19 ,000 which i though was cheap

 

[Fordson1]

Maybe get a tele handler or pivot steer for feeding and loading, and keep your 3CX for digging and as a good back up if the loader happened to be out of action.