After a prolonged sales slump, backhoes are recovering nicely.
New features have supported this recovery, as has a better understanding of what backhoes do well, and what they don’t do so well.
Technology catches up
The 695SV is one of two new side-scroll backhoes from Case; the other is the 580SV. The 695SV is powered by a 110 gross horsepower FPT engine mated to a Powershift transmission with four forward and three reverse speeds. Maximum digging depth is 19 feet 7 inches and operating weight is 22,245 pounds.CE houses
The pilot’s control levers are being replaced by electro-hydraulic joysticks. Versatile couplers are included on both ends of the machine to facilitate the use of accessories.
On the front end, these attachments include 4-in-1 buckets, angled brooms and snow removal tools.
At the rear is the full range of compact excavator attachments. Compaction tools and hydraulic breakers are the most popular. Thumbsticks are gaining popularity and extendable poles are available in various models.
Auxiliary hydraulic systems are now more widely available. Hydraulic systems and couplers can be factory-specified on new machines, but many are also available as field-installation packages.
The Cat 420 XE has a Cat C3.6 engine rated at 100 gross horsepower at 10,000 feet. All-wheel drive and Powershift transmission are standard. Maximum operating weight is 24,251 pounds. Standard counterweight is 256 pounds; maximum counterweight is 1,014 pounds. Standard digging depth is 14 feet.caterpillar
Backhoe cabs, which have always been more spacious and comfortable than compact machine cabs, are getting more comfort features.
Telematics is becoming commonplace in backhoes, and the fleet management benefits they offer are expanding.
However, 2D and 3D machine control must prevail in backhoes.
Strong points of the backhoe
John Deere’s 320 P-Tier has a Deere PowerTech EWL 4.5L engine rated at 84 net horsepower and a powershift transmission. Operating weight is 17,434 pounds. The dump height with the general purpose bucket is 9 feet 1 inch and the digging depth is 14 feet 3 inches. Mechanical front-wheel drive is automatically disengaged in fourth gear to reduce tire wear.John Deere
Being able to drive on the road has always been a key attraction for municipalities, but it also works well for development contractors. With typical speeds between 20 and 30 mph, backhoes can travel to the construction site and nearby job sites. They eliminate the need to find space to park a trailer and tow vehicle on site. Backhoes also have good maneuverability during travel and during work.
Versatility comes from having two working ends that allow loading, lifting, grading, trenching, placing and filling, plus many other applications accessible using the expansive list of attachments . The lift and break numbers for backhoes are in line with 8 to 9 ton compact excavators.
Backhoes are fully mature. Its repair, maintenance and operation are familiar to anyone who has been in the industry for any length of time.
Electro-hydraulic joystick controls and assist functions such as return to dig make it easy for new operators to gain proficiency. The aftermarket for backhoes is also well established, making resale easier.
With an MSRP under $81,000 (see dealer for details), the Kubota M62 is among the value-oriented models on the market. Standard features include a 63 gross horsepower engine, six-speed HST Plus transmission and ROPS/FOPS operator station. The M62 also has a rear PTO with 46 horsepower and 540 rpm and a three-point rear linkage to operate tractor attachments.Kubota
The backhoes’ locking differentials and four-wheel drive options, along with ample ground clearance, provide excellent performance in poor ground conditions. The use of stabilizers with the front bucket on the ground provides levels of stability not seen on other machines, especially on uneven terrain. The buckets at both ends of the backhoe have a larger capacity than usual in compact machines.
One of the best attributes of backhoes is value, which refutes the perception that they are expensive machines.
The initial cost is higher, perhaps double, compared to many compact machines. But backhoes generally have a higher production and residual value percentage, along with lower maintenance and repair costs and a longer service life than compact equipment.
The ability to use one machine offers further cost advantages, eliminating the need for two machines and two operators when opting for compact equipment, along with the added savings of being able to travel by road, rather than tow, the backhoe to the places.
Weaknesses of the backhoe
Backhoes are not the perfect machine for every application. They have good maneuverability, but nowhere near that of skid steers and skid steer loaders, which remain the preferred choice for very confined jobs.
Likewise, while their capabilities are superior to those of compact machines, they are inferior to those of dedicated loaders and excavators. The backhoe is a poor choice for production work. V-pattern loading, for example, is best left to a wheel loader. Backhoes can also take a back seat when it comes to spreading material and finishing grading.
Towing a backhoe requires more of the trailer and tow vehicle than towing a single compact machine, or possibly even two compact machines, due to the weight and size of the backhoe.
Some of the pros and cons of backhoes depend on the situation and the skills of the operator. Positioning the machine during trenching may be easier with a backhoe than with an excavator, or not. The uncertainty of which machine is better can also be said in terms of soil disruption and compaction.
In short, backhoes are very good at many things, but they are not the best at anything.
Expert vision
The New Holland B75D is designed as a cost-effective tool to serve multiple industries. The B75D has 75 gross horsepower with either a four-speed manual transmission or a PowerShift automatic transmission. Operating weight is 17,457 pounds; lift capacity is 8,157 pounds and the maximum reach of the backhoe is 22 feet by 1 inch. An optional LED package includes 10 lights for 360-degree illumination.New Holland
- James Gill, JCB Product Manager: “A backhoe is always a compromise. It’s not the best mini digger. It’s not the best loader. You need the best backhoe, the one that’s most versatile with the highest road speed.
- Doran Herritt, New Holland Product Manager: “New Holland and other OEMs are now offering value-oriented models that are smaller and have less power, such as our B75D. Customers who still think that the acquisition cost of a backhoe is too high they should review the market.”
- George MacIntyre, Case Product Manager: “There is strong interest in electric backhoes and the buying profile of key segments of the backhoe market is a good match for the electric backhoe. Case plans to introduce the 580EV electric backhoe in the North- American in the near future.”
- Emily Pagura, director of product marketing for John Deere: “Think of a backhoe that you can use a machine to unload pipe pallets, dig the trench, lay the pipe and fill the trench. This is just one of many examples of how the versatility of a backhoe increases utilization rates and lowers labor costs.”
- Tyler Weyenberg, Kubota Product Manager: (Kubota uses the term “tractor backhoe,” or TLB, in keeping with the company’s focus on its tractor products.) “A good deal on the Kubota line is the ability to remove the backhoe quickly and easily. These machines are equipped with a rear PTO and a three-point linkage, which transforms the machine from a backhoe to a more traditional tractor that uses a rear PTO.”
- David Young, Caterpillar Product Application Specialist – “Don’t overbuy. Our 416, for example, is available with 74 or 96 gross horsepower. The 74-horsepower model has the same performance in the backhoe and only slightly reduced performance when using the loader compared to the 96-horsepower model, but has a lower initial cost and aftertreatment of the ‘easier escape’.
