Backhoe v's Tracked Excavator

[Selectamatic]

Bit of a nonsense question, I know, but just a thought...

If I gave you, say, £15000 and sent you on your way to come back with either a Backhoe or a Tracked Digger, what would you come back with and why? What make and model? And what would you avoid?

I'd be doing some of my own work with it, as well as some contracting.

 

[john432]

A backhoe loader is something from the past. I've a JCB 3cx. Spent a day in it last week cleaning out the small ditches on the sides of the farm lane to take the flood water. Nearly drove me to dispair. Moving on half a bucket at a time, and trying to load the tipping trailer directly behind. Road was far too narrow for my 13 tonne excavator.

 

[TripleSix]

Either an 8 tonne or 13tonne tracked digger.

 

[Thick Farmer]

Tracked. No question about it.

 

[Lincsman]

Depends if you want it as forklift or loading shovel as well as dig a trench... or nip up the road to dig a gatepost hole without getting a low loader.

 

[robs1]

Tracked everytime, we had a 3cx now have 13 tonne digger, we have an adapter plate so can use it with pallets forks and man cage, its brilliant for using to clear out high gutters, for digging/ditching and loading it runs rings round the 3cx, the only disadvantage is as lincsman says is popping up the road to do ten minutes work, but would never go back to a wheeled digger.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Not a digger expert but we had a hitachi120-5 and now wev a volvo 140. No comparrison between the 2. Volvo is so much better in every way and is easy on juice. Also contractor had run hitachi for years now has a volvo and i hear hes mighty impressed. Burns lot less fuel.

 

[ollie989898]

Not a digger expert but we had a hitachi120-5 and now wev a volvo 140. No comparrison between the 2. Volvo is so much better in every way and is easy on juice. Also contractor had run hitachi for years now has a volvo and i hear hes mighty impressed. Burns lot less fuel.

Pictures man, pictures.

 

[Henarar]

Bit of a nonsense question, I know, but just a thought...

If I gave you, say, £15000 and sent you on your way to come back with either a Backhoe or a Tracked Digger, what would you come back with and why? What make and model? And what would you avoid?

I'd be doing some of my own work with it, as well as some contracting.

I would buy something like an old 50B with a cluch gearbox for 3k or so and spend the rest on a 13 ton slew, that way you have an extra loader 4 in 1 and a slew is a pathetic waste of time for small jobs
The thing you dont mention is if you get a slew you also need a trailer and something to pull it if you want to go any distance

 

[Wombat]

Tracked, having bought one 4yrs ago I have no idea how we farmed without it

 

[daveydiesel1]

Pictures man, pictures.

Ok al be workin near it today. Al try get a few snaps if i remember. Iv a memory like a sieve

 

[Boohoo]

Tracked for sure but it's going to have to be something special to be an upgrade from the 996 and backactor.

 

[acorn]

....well having gone from a 3cx to tracked.....I'm seriously considering going back. I find it a bind to have to load up and bugger about to get to and from jobs.....

 

[Henarar]

....well having gone from a 3cx to tracked.....I'm seriously considering going back. I find it a bind to have to load up and bugger about to get to and from jobs.....

yep it all depends on what sort of work you are doing and how big the jobs are

 

[Henarar]

You would think they would make a slew with wheels so you could just drive it down the road wouldn't you

 

[robs1]

You would think they would make a slew with wheels so you could just drive it down the road wouldn't you

They are available but not much good for tracking in hardcore etc, railway use a lot of them with adaptors that lower steel ones to run on the line

 

[nick...]

Having been a major user of both 360 is the way to go.never see them on sites anymore and then they are usually used as wheel barrows.sold my last backhoe 6 years ago and not had a call for one since
nick...

 

[Henarar]

They are available but not much good for tracking in hardcore etc, railway use a lot of them with adaptors that lower steel ones to run on the line

I know, nearly went to look at one years ago then thought better of it

 

[daveydiesel1]

You would think they would make a slew with wheels so you could just drive it down the road wouldn't you

Ther called a rubber duck

 

[Hooby Farmer]

I seen a backhoe on fb just yesterday and thought flip thats not bad money pity I dont have a use for one of those