Going uphill with backhoe attached

[PWarton]

I'm thinking of purchasing a backhoe for my B2320. I live on a hill, so slopes all around. Most of the slopes are about 15 degrees, but we'll say 18 degrees for safety. Years ago I filled all the tires with water for stability and added spacers. I have the bucket, always attached.

My question is going uphill with the hoe on. They weigh about 1000 pounds. What are your thoughts, is this a dangerous thing or ???

 

[BAP]

As long as you keep your loader on, you should not have any problems. If you feel it is light on the front, put a little dirt in the bucket for ballast. I have a BH65 for my B2920, and it does make it a little more light on the front, but it is not too bad.

 

[Tarmy]

My place is similar...no issues or concern. I keep the front loader in a lower position, backhoe folded up for travel.

An issue to be aware of is traction. I have a 4wd...and with a good amount of the weight in the rear as you go uphill...the back wheels take on a lot of the drive effort. I have spun the rear/s at times on wet soil/lawn. I now make sure I have enough speed to get up the slope and not bog down.

 

[Henro]

I'm thinking of purchasing a backhoe for my B2320. I live on a hill, so slopes all around. Most of the slopes are about 15 degrees, but we'll say 18 degrees for safety. Years ago I filled all the tires with water for stability and added spacers. I have the bucket, always attached.

My question is going uphill with the hoe on. They weigh about 1000 pounds. What are your thoughts, is this a dangerous thing or ???

Going up and down is relatively safe. It is not likely you would flip over backwards with the backhoe behind you.

Going down, make sure you are in 4WD so your front wheels offer breaking if your rears tend to lift off the ground. Again relatively safe IF you have a 4WD tractor.

Crosswise on side slopes is always a worry. Best to avoid that...probably...certainly is for me!

 

[jajiu]

My driveway is very steep and curved and have never had a problem with my L3560HSTC. I am usually in M range and shift on the fly to the low M range. I have been working in the woods pulling out fire wood and things and that is off road and VERY steep. I back up the hill to assure good traction and keeps the weight from behind and lifting my front tires off the ground.

 

[greenacresnorth]

I have a 27-28% grade behind my house that spans about 1/2 mile, I can walk up and down it all day long with my L2501 and hoe on with zero issues. like others have said, use 4wd up and down or things can get sketchy real quick. the only time I struggle up the grade is with a box blade or harley rake full of material, then she starts power hopping and threatening to rapidly disassemble the front diff.

 

[PWarton]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

It appears it wouldn't be a problem. I always run my Kubota in 4wd, so no issue there.

Does anyone have a Woodmaxx backhoe? It appears the center of mass must be at least a couple of feet behind the 3pt.

 

[jajiu]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

It appears it wouldn't be a problem. I always run my Kubota in 4wd, so no issue there.

Does anyone have a Woodmaxx backhoe? It appears the center of mass must be at least a couple of feet behind the 3pt.

The one thing to think about with the Woodmaxx is a frame mount. I looked at the Woodmaxx before I got my Kubota BH and a 3-pt hitch BH puts a lot of strain on the 3-pt, the rear axle and the connecting points. It also voids any warranty on your Kubota. Something to think about.

 

[Henro]

The one thing to think about with the Woodmaxx is a frame mount. I looked at the Woodmaxx before I got my Kubota BH and a 3-pt hitch BH puts a lot of strain on the 3-pt, the rear axle and the connecting points. It also voids any warranty on your Kubota. Something to think about.

Are you sure about the voiding of the warranty?

I ask because my 3PH Kubota backhoe that I bought new with my B2910 did not void any warranty that I know of.

Of course that was then, and this is now...

 

[SidecarFlip]

Are you sure about the voiding of the warranty?

I ask because my 3PH Kubota backhoe that I bought new with my B2910 did not void any warranty that I know of.

Of course that was then, and this is now...

When Kubota quit offering the 3PH mount backhoes (I had one way back when), they also changed their warranty on the tractors to exclude any warranty claims arising from damage caused by a 3PH mounted backhoe. I happen to know a guy who bought a Wallenstein 3PH mount hoe for is GrandL and split the rear axle case. If I remember correctly, back then it was almost 7 grand for the repair and Kubota denied it all.

I broke the stabilizer chains on my little Kubby many times with that hoe.

I have not had the need for a hoe in years. If I need one, I rent one from Blackswamp Rentals, usually a Case Extendahoe. or a JCB 150 bucks a day. Excavators are 250 a day.

 

[Henro]

Good to know this. I know my 3PH backhoe required a heavy duty top link bracket be installed.

Personally, today I would now only consider a subframe mounted backhoe.

Thanks for the details Flip.

 

[jajiu]

Thanks Flip for the clarification. I do know that with my Kubota BH92 I am glad I have that frame mount as the use of the BH really jostles the tractor around even with the frame mount.

 

[Bulldog]

Seems most are saying it's fine but I'll go the other way. I put a bh on my B7100 and made it into a all but useless machine. At that time I had a tilt deck trailer and even pulling all the way to the front I couldn't make the deck tilt back down. Had to load it backwards. Any hill at all and the front was in the air. Even after loading the front tires and hanging weight off the front I still had to back on the trailer.

Ended up getting a L series tractor which handled it fine but only having 540 pto made the hoe so slow I hated it. I ended up selling it and buying a mini x.