Backhoe Loader 101: Purchasing/Leasing Guide
Backhoe loaders are highly adaptable agricultural, industrial, and domestic working devices. They serve a wide variety of functions. Many models’ strength and load capacity has increased by over 20% in recent years. So, to get your money’s worth, you need to make sure you’re buying the best.
Backhoes are a beneficial machine, but they may be difficult to handle if you have little experience with them. In Addition, backhoe loader sizes, procedures, and conditions come in a variety. So, you must select the best backhoe loader for your needs to ensure years of reliable service.
Backhoe Loader Buying Guide
This backhoe loader guide will cover the knowledge about your backhoes, allowing you to narrow down the type and size you require. However, shopping with a reputable dealer with many alternatives is critical.
The dealer you select will be responsible for the initial advice on the purchase. They’ll help ensure you have the proper degree of power for your work and backing for any essential post-sale service.
For choosing a backhoe loader, we recommend you hire a price comparison service to make your buying decision simple.
Maintenance Plans for a Backhoe Loader
Like any other piece of heavy equipment, Backhoes require routine maintenance to operate reliably. It will also help to minimize downtime.
A service level agreement details these service features line by line. they can include personnel and parts and expenses connected with regular maintenance.
It precisely locks in future services’ expenses and helps you budget for them far in advance.
What to Look For in a Backhoe Loader
Like any other equipment, backhoes are constantly upgraded with newer designs and features. A newer model will function more efficiently and cost-effectively.
We’ve chosen the following as some of the industry’s most significant developments. These factors can affect pricing and convenience.
Minimal Size and Maximum Power – Backhoe Loader Sizes
The compact design of the backhoe in comparison to some other earth-moving equipment is one of its key advantages. Backhoes can also equip body modifications. These boost their utility and lower their environmental imprint. In turn, this allows them to negotiate tiny alleyways or side streets.
CASE and New Holland are pioneers in this movement, providing a variety of smaller 14-foot machines. As a result, some construction companies have begun to investigate switching their fleets. Bigger 15-foot machines have been the industry standard but it’s shifting to the more compact kind.
Improving the machine’s hydraulic system allows power production to remain at peak levels in a smaller package. Although, there are still many instances where are larger backhoe remains more powerful. Therefore, they’re more appropriate for certain working conditions.
Buying Backhoe Loader (New, Used, and Rental)
On average, A 14-foot to 15-foot backhoe costs around $70,000. The 15-foot and 16-foot variants can range from $84,000 to $110,000. It may be too expensive for smaller businesses, which has resulted in a growth in the secondhand market. Even huge construction organizations that require a fleet of machines may need to opt for smaller backhoe loaders.
On the other hand, used backhoe loaders frequently deliver the same production and dependability as new machines. But at a fraction of the cost.
Due to the high cost of the original investment, an increasing number of enterprises and individuals are purchasing old machinery or renting initially.
These machines are commonly covered by a dealer’s warranty. And, are eligible for post-sale assistance and maintenance to keep them in good working order. If you’re in the market for a secondhand backhoe or looking to resell them in the future, you can connect with us to help with that.
Inspecting a Used Backhoe Loader
Backhoe loader components must be able to withstand corrosive operating conditions. Even if it’s the most recent backhoe and just used for a day, you should carefully inspect any used (and sometimes even new) backhoe loader to evaluate wear and detect significant issues.
Inspect the Loader Bucket
Check that the loader bucket’s teeth are not loose, missing, or worn. Check to ensure that all of the bolts are still in place. The cutting edge should not be scalloped and switched if one side appears to be unduly worn.
Inspect the Loader Arms
Backhoe loader arms should be free of cracks and apparent re-welding operations. These can indicate that the backhoe has overworked or flipped over in an accident. Make sure to inspect the backhoe boom and stick as well.
Inspect the Hydraulics
The hydraulics need an inspection for hose breakage and scratches. The couplings should be in good condition and not worn or loose. Similarly, cylinders should not be leaking or otherwise damaged, including dents and scratches that might lead to leaks.
Leaks can contaminate the hydraulic fluid with dirt and other foreign objects. When using an attachment, you should have no trouble steering, and the pressure should remain constant.
Inspect the Engine
Make sure you check out the engine both off and running. There should be no leaks, loose belts, or filthy filters on the backhoe’s engine.
The service date on the air filter may or may not be visible. This information can help establish how conscientious the prior owner was about routine maintenance.
The stabilizers should be free of leaks, cracks, and dents, and the shoes should be flat.
Inspect the Cab
Ensure that the seat, joysticks, and foot pedals all function when you’re inside the cab. Examine the hour meter and compare it to the cab’s present condition. If the backhoe loader appears to be considerably older than the hour meter indicates. It might indicate tampering.
It might not be possible for you to visit your buyer directly, in which case, contacting an intermediary service could be a good idea.
Specifications
Regulatory commissions rate backhoe capacity by their horsepower. But, it’s not the only factor to consider when comparing backhoe models, and it’s far from the most significant.
The true strength is frequently found in its attachments and capabilities, particularly digging, lifting, and hauling. Because these accessories receive power from the hydraulic system rather than the engine, they must be assessed independently of horsepower.
Be mindful of horsepower when selecting a backhoe, but pay far more attention to the following five criteria:
Maximum Depth of Excavation
When purchasing a new or used backhoe loader, one of the most critical technical concerns is how deep it will dig in contrast to the extent of your job. Backhoes range in depth from 7 to 60 feet. However, most common models have a digging capacity of 14 to 17 feet.
Smaller backhoes are far easier to operate in tight spaces and far more cost-effective than bigger ones. They may also give significant savings as long as their digging depth is within range.
Full-sized machines between 15 and 16 feet in length can reach at least 14 feet. Compact types, such as the 14-footer, sometimes may only dig 8 to 10 feet.
The Breadth of Backhoe Bucket
Another factor that significantly influences productivity is the bucket width of a backhoe. The widths range from 12 to 60 inches. They have carrying capacities of 2.5 ft3 to 20.25 ft3 and weight capabilities ranging from 250 to 670 lbs.
In addition to the backhoe itself, you may want to consider equitable items such as hammers, crushers, and various buckets.
Width of the Front End Loader Bucket
The front-end loader, also known as a loader bucket, is the “front” of a backhoe and is most similar to a bulldozer. It accommodates quick-coupler attachments like forks, grapples, and snowplows blades, just like the “back” side.
Operating Weight
Although far from the least important, the final technological component is operational weight. A backhoe’s functional weight typically ranges from 13,000 to 24,000 lbs. The lighter end of the spectrum is reserved for customers seeking the smallest feasible footprint.
On your job location, the weight of the equipment may or may not be an issue. It will be heavily influenced by the working area in which the equipment will be utilized – for example, dirt vs. paved asphalt or groomed fields.
Emission Classification
Backhoe manufacturers must deliver IC engines that meet state and federal emissions rules, specifically EPA Tiers 1 through 4. These rules are currently in place, with tougher hydrocarbon (HC) limitations likely to arise over time.
Tractors, excavators, bulldozers, logging equipment, portable generators, and, of course, backhoe loaders are examples of regulated machinery.
Check that the backhoe you’re thinking about buying complies with all existing and future requirements. Have your dealer identify every facet of the machine’s compliance as part of this process.
Which Backhoe Design Best Suits Your Needs?
The sort of job you need to undertake determines whether you need a center mount or a side-shift backhoe. A center mount backhoe is typical for farming and wide-open construction operations rather than landscaping or road building. On the other hand, side-shift backhoe loaders are perfect for road construction and landscaping.
While both types perform similarly in terms of digging depth and operational weight, they differ in maneuverability and stability.
Center Mount Backhoes
When space is not an issue, center mount versions are frequently the machine of choice. This kind, often known as center pivot backhoes, has a backhoe positioned in the middle of the machine’s rear frame. It also has swing-down stabilizers called “gullwing” legs, which allow for a broader stance.
These legs increase the machine’s stability and are essential on job sites with sloping terrain that need the movement and carrying of rocks and other large objects.
The design also improves safety while lifting and shifting large goods to the machine’s side and, according to reports, gives a higher degree of ground clearance.
Sideshift Backhoes
A sideshift machine is the opposite type. In contrast to the center-mounted variant, this one has a backhoe positioned on a carrier with frame rails and stabilizers. The operator may move the backhoe from one side of the machine to the other and even vertically by using these rails.
The main advantage of this design is its mobility. Sideshift backhoes are for regions with limited space, including alleys and small streets. As a result, they are famous for working in fixed locations, such as regions with delicate landscaping or neighboring structures.
A sideshift backhoe may work close to buildings and other structures while causing no harm to items or adjoining property.
What are the Most Common Jobs for a Backhoe Loader?
Backhoe loaders are excellent for medium-sized operations. They are safer to travel on the road than larger equipment and do not need to be moved for various functions, reducing project costs and delays. The functional two-for-one design enables backhoe loaders to do multiple tasks, classified into three major categories: agriculture, construction, and landscaping.
Agriculture
There are many reasons farm employees need to swiftly dig a hole and fill it with a backhoe loader, whether they are laying irrigation lines, burying livestock, or fixing posts for your following barn site.
Construction
The construction sector is undeniably the backbone and driving force behind the success of backhoe loaders.
Whether for home, commercial, or industrial applications, Backhoe loaders are highly versatile pieces of construction equipment. These machines are convenient for modest demolition work since they allow operators to demolish structures while hauling the rubble with the same equipment.
Backhoes are also excellent instruments for moving soil during road building, as they can dig and grade.
Landscaping
Backhoes perform a range of tasks in landscaping due to their different capabilities. Large backhoes may uproot whole trees and remove obstinate stumps.
These machines are especially suitable for building minor to medium-sized artificial ponds.
They can conduct much excavation work while completing other chores, such as lining the spillway with pebbles. Backhoes are also perfect for precisely stacking big rocks and arranging stones for more complex landscaping tasks.
Choosing Backhoe Loader for Your Job
You have learned that the backhoe loader is a multi-purpose construction machine that combines a tractor, a loader, and a backhoe.
Now it’s time to look at your individual needs. You can shop for a backhoe loader that, with proper maintenance, will faithfully serve you for many years to come. We can help with that. We also offer plenty of other services that can help your business grow. Check them out here.