What size backhoe?

[Dippybird]

I have learned a lot reading these forums so thanks everyone. I am looking to add a backhoe to an old l2900. I know a separate excavator would be better but I am just using it around my yard for trenches planting etc. and the cost is significantly more. My question is how how does one figure out the correct size for a tractor. I have been looking at used woods bh9000 or bh7500. They offer a subframe for my tractor for each and I will be using with the pto pump. I am an engineer and I am used to being able to find some sort of information or calculations and i haven’t been able too. Is there some rule of thumb (backhoe should be %30 tractor weight or 3pt hitch lift or something)
Thanks

 

[Lil Foot]

Back when I started researching tractors & implements, a lot of the aftermarket manufacturers sized their hoes by tractor HP, especially the 3pt hoes.

 

[Dippybird]

Back when I started researching tractors & implements, a lot of the aftermarket manufacturers sized their hoes by tractor HP, especially the 3pt hoes.

Lil foot
Thank you. You are correct there just seems to be a large overlap with tractor hp. The woods bh9000 weighs about 1400lbs and the bh7500 weighs about 800lbs. That seams like a big difference.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Lil foot
Thank you. You are correct there just seems to be a large overlap with tractor hp. The woods bh9000 weighs about 1400lbs and the bh7500 weighs about 800lbs. That seams like a big difference.

it looks like the kubota BL4690 was the normal backhoe used, the weight of those units are around 900 lbs. I have quite a few attachments by Woods all quaLily stuff.

seems like the BH7500 is the correct unit for you.

 

[Dippybird]

it looks like the kubota BL4690 was the normal backhoe used, the weight of those units are around 900 lbs. I have quite a few attachments by Woods all quaLily stuff.

seems like the BH7500 is the correct unit for you.

Upnorthmi.
Thank you for your response. The bl4690 was a 3pt hitch unit also no subframe which I don’t like. Is there a reason not to go with a bigger unit especially mounted on a subframe. Woods tells me the bigger unit won’t hurt the tractor?

 

[UpNorthMI]

Your tractor weight is around 2,600 - 2,750 lbs and produces around 25hp at pto, my view is that the larger unit at 1,400 lbs without bucket of approximately 200 lbs is just too large and heavy to drive around with your size of tractor. I think you will be happier with the smaller unit you are looking at. The larger unit wants more hp than you have.

 

[Dippybird]

Your tractor weight is around 2,600 - 2,750 lbs and produces around 25hp at pto, my view is that the larger unit at 1;400 lbs without bucket of approximately 200 lbs is just too large and heavy to drive around with your size of tractor. I think you will be happier with the smaller unit you are looking at. The larger unit wants more hp than you have.

Your tractor weight is around 2,600 - 2,750 lbs and produces around 25hp at pto, my view is that the larger unit at 1;400 lbs without bucket of approximately 200 lbs is just too large and heavy to drive around with your size of tractor. I think you will be happier with the smaller unit you are looking at. The larger unit wants more hp than you have.

Upnorthmi
You are probably correct. I did forget to mention that I have a fel and loaded rear turf tires so I should be over a little 4000lbs but it still may be too big. I don’t really need the additional length I just like the idea of the greater bucket force.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Upnorthmi
You are probably correct. I did forget to mention that I have a fel and loaded rear turf tires so I should be over a little 4000lbs but it still may be too big. I don’t really need the additional length I just like the idea of the greater bucket force.

I do a lot of serious work with my equipment and I often think that bigger is better when it comes to ground work, I did all the research on backhoes and was about to buy one to fit a MX5800, at the last moment I found it hard to justify, but 2 years later I just purchased a kubota excavator. It's nice to have attachments and options when taking on all those tasks that we justify need to be done!

I think you will be happy with the Woods BH7500, it is sized right for your tractor, they are a very capable piece of equipment. What tasks do you have plans for with your backhoe, digging, stumps?

 

[Dippybird]

I do a lot of serious work with my equipment and I often think that bigger is better when it comes to ground work, I did all the research on backhoes and was about to buy one to fit a MX5800, at the last moment I found it hard to justify, but 2 years later I just purchased a kubota excavator. It's nice to have attachments and options when taking on all those tasks that we justify need to be done!

I think you will be happy with the Woods BH7500, it is sized right for your tractor, they are a very capable piece of equipment. What tasks do you have plans for with your backhoe, digging, stumps?

 

[Dippybird]

Upnorthmi
Thanks for the response. I have seen a couple used for about $3k and used the bh7500 and the bh9000 are about the same price. I know the separate excavator is better I just can’t rationalize the cost and upkeep. A coworker even has a case 580 but it would just destroy my yard. I live on four acres and it was pretty hard to justify the used tractor. I am not clearing any land so probably don’t need to dig stumps. More likely dig holes to plant trees. Would like to do a couple trenches in the backyard for drainage pipe. My ten year old would like an underground bunker but that is pretty unlikely. I would never admit it to her but as much as I tell her it is a tool she is right when she says it is a toy.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Upnorthmi
Thanks for the response. I have seen a couple used for about $3k and used the bh7500 and the bh9000 are about the same price. I know the separate excavator is better I just can’t rationalize the cost and upkeep. A coworker even has a case 580 but it would just destroy my yard. I live on four acres and it was pretty hard to justify the used tractor. I am not clearing any land so probably don’t need to dig stumps. More likely dig holes to plant trees. Would like to do a couple trenches in the backyard for drainage pipe. My ten year old would like an underground bunker but that is pretty unlikely. I would never admit it to her but as much as I tell her it is a tool she is right when she says it is a toy.

Dippybird,
Toys are good, it's better to have too many than too few, I have a very large piece of land, mainly woodland, the excavator is so handy to pull roots, clear roads and dig trenches for drain culverts, maybe I could have lived without it but the toys ..oops tools make life so much easier. I had a fork / rake made to fit on my excavator rather than using the bucket all the time, it is so useful, they are also made for backhoes, it allows me to pull small stumps (5' diameter or less) without very much soil disturbance.

An underground bunker sounds like a great project for your backhoe, even if it's only temporary and you fill it in, that's a great memory for a 10 year old and her dad. You are smart looking for a used one, it seems that most people buy one and end up not using it too much, see if you can find one that has been stored in doors.

Let us know when you finally get your backhoe and share a couple of photos, I hope to see the bunker, good luck to you.

 

[Dippybird]

Dippybird,
Toys are good, it's better to have too many than too few, I have a very large piece of land, mainly woodland, the excavator is so handy to pull roots, clear roads and dig trenches for drain culverts, maybe I could have lived without it but the toys ..oops tools make life so much easier. I had a fork / rake made to fit on my excavator rather than using the bucket all the time, it is so useful, they are also made for backhoes, it allows me to pull small stumps (5' diameter or less) without very much soil disturbance.

An underground bunker sounds like a great project for your backhoe, even if it's only temporary and you fill it in, that's a great memory for a 10 year old and her dad. You are smart looking for a used one, it seems that most people buy one and end up not using it too much, see if you can find one that has been stored in doors.

Let us know when you finally get your backhoe and share a couple of photos, I hope to see the bunker, good luck to you.

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Upnorthmi
I don’t have a lot of experience with a backhoe but that looks like a great idea. Thank you again for the advice.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Upnorthmi
I don’t have a lot of experience with a backhoe but that looks like a great idea. Thank you again for the advice.

Dippybird,

You can also get a frost ripper type attachment for digging stumps & roots, it's a single heavy blade attachment, it makes much less mess than having to use a bucket which requires removal of a lot of dirt. For moving materials use large wide buckets, for trenching use a bucket width that is applicable for the trench you want.

Good luck with your backhoe purchase, they are amazingly useful attachments.