Backhoe or Skid steer and mini excavator?

[t190]

lately i have been wondering apon a backhoe or skidsteer and mini excavator.
both used the backhoes, i have looked into are case 580/90, 1998-2002. with over 5000 hrs on them for any were from 38 to 45k. the other option is the skid steer and mini excavator route. I have been looking at upcoming auctions at Rb and ironplanet and auction resluts. What i have came up with: is that i could get a decent shape, less than 1500 hrs skidsteer or Ctl for $10-18k. i could also get a good shape cat or bobcat mini-X (1.8 tones to 4tonnes) for around $10-18k. (i know the backhoe is more but if i bought it in the states taxes/customs/exchange blahblahblah would come almost equal)

so now what i need it for
-Digging fence poles
-loading hay/unloading(big square bales 1000 to 2000 pounds)
-Plowing our yard(large yard due to the fact own a trucking company) avg snow is around 2-3 feet a year
- there is alot of trenching to do
- We do have a forklift, but it would be great for moving stuff around the yard in the snow
-Must be able to go up decent hills(to fields/ sand pit)
-load a dump truck

What it must have/do
-Bucket, Forks, Blade, hay spear Q/A (skidsteer>backhoe)
-Beable to dig 8 feet deep
-joystick controls
- thumb is a big help
-Plumbed
-lift 2000 pounds +
-Lift 11 feet
-Cab/ac/heat for plowing in the winter

Well this is all i can think of now, if i do think of more i will add it.

If any buddy has any advice (pros/cons please add) to help he decide

[ksss]

I would probably go with a backhoe. Nothing you speced out really requires a small machine. It looks like a Super L series II or first series M may fall in your price range. You can find them with hyd. front coupler. Very handy as it looks like you will be switching attachments often. I see no reason to go with a skid steer. The other route. If you did go with a skid steer it will have to be a large one CASE 465/95XT Gehl 7810 sized machine. The mini ex. to be able to productivly dig 8 feet you should have at least a 5 ton machine, a little larger would be better.

In short go with a backhoe. It sounds like the perfect fit for what you want to do with it.

[dozerman21]

I would also go the backhoe route. For the jobs you listed, I think it would be a better fit.

All of the L and M models to my knowledge have been mostly trouble free machines, but I'd stay away from a K series, in case you came across a good deal on one. Definetly get the 4WD (I'm sure you know that), and I would go for the wobble sticks or pilot controls over the 3 lever, if you aren't accustomed to either style. They're nice machines that should be able to handle all your work.

[Scag48]

Yeah, don't get 3 lever, it's not fun whatsoever.

[Gravel Rat]

Whats wrong with the 3 sticks and foot pedals it takes awhile to get used to but otherwise they are not that bad.

A 4x4 backhoe is a must a 2wd backhoe is only good for doing utility work where you spend all the time on pavement. With a 2wd your constantly trying to get unstuck.

[Scag48]

No way, 3 lever with foot swing is not fun at all. Face it man, you're just old fashioned :laugh:

[Gravel Rat]

Running the old style Case controls is extra exercise :laugh:

Actually I prefer 2 stick machines and even them you need to get used to when your used to running excavator.

[dozerman21]

Some guys who have always ran 3 levers love them, but if you don't know how to run either style, the wobble sticks IMO are easier to learn. Less movement, but then I don't like foot controls on a skid either. Like gravel said, wobble sticks carry over to excavator controls.:clapping:

[Gravel Rat]

With the old Case foot pedal swing you have to be carefull the boom can swing to either direction FAST :laugh:

You watch any old timer that is used to using the multi stick backhoe controlls those levers are a extension of their body. Knowing how to feather the hydraulics is a must. Even running a backhoe with 2 wobble sticks takes skill because running a backhoe is a art in itself. A person that has run excavator all their life will have troubles with a backhoe.

Like somebody said on the site a rubber tired backhoe is a swiss army knife of machines it can do a little bit of everything but nothing perfectly.

[coopers]

I'm only 22 and I love the 3 style on case. I grew up on those (I'm not an old timer! lol :hammerhead: ). It's pretty funny to watch someone use the foot pedals if they've never used them....WATCH OUT! It's weird because when I use an excavator it's no big deal....I tried using a 310G with pilot, holy crap I was a fish out of water. It feels so unatural on a backhoe, but if I grew up on Deere I guess I wouldn't say that huh?

Blake

[Gravel Rat]

The reason why I said old timer was thats all there was back in the day Deere had wobble sticks and they were wobble sticks dads old 310 your arms are all over the place.

One of the contractors that has been a friend of the familly for years had a old 580 2wd with 3 sticks I ran the machine it didn't bother me being so used to forklifts and cranes. I watched one of his employees run the hoe on the machine he is one of those guys that is used to excavators and wobble sticks. I never seen a person scream the word ***k so many times.

The trick with the old 3 sticks is be light touch on the tops of the sticks you only use your fingers kind of like typing :laugh:

Another trait about guys that used to run backhoe allot that used to have foot pedal swing is the crotch of your jeans rip :p