Trencher with Backhoe recs

[bobw]

I'm looking at next season and getting pretty serious about adding a bigger piece of machinery to the stable. What I think is going to solve most of my equipment headaches is a small-mid size ride on trencher with a backhoe attachment.

Anyone have much experience with these?

I'd be looking for something well used (2000hrs or so) so obviously there are compromises to occur, but the ideal machine would have a single station setup so I wouldn't have to move to a different station for using the backhoe.

So far, the Case (or Astec) RT360 is looking like the "ideal" setup, but I'm pretty open to any recommendations.

What's everyone using?

[M L Thomas]

Buy what you can parts for locally is my #1 recommendation. Even if you buy new you are going to need parts sooner than you think.

I have always had Vermeer equipment and have always been happy. Current trencher/hoe is a V3150 I think it is trencher/backhoe. No major problems in 10 years - Bearings and bushings mostly.

[bx24]

I'm looking at next season and getting pretty serious about adding a bigger piece of machinery to the stable. What I think is going to solve most of my equipment headaches is a small-mid size ride on trencher with a backhoe attachment.

Anyone have much experience with these?

I'd be looking for something well used (2000hrs or so) so obviously there are compromises to occur, but the ideal machine would have a single station setup so I wouldn't have to move to a different station for using the backhoe.

So far, the Case (or Astec) RT360 is looking like the "ideal" setup, but I'm pretty open to any recommendations.

What's everyone using?
I have a pipe puller for my Kubota and a backhoe...I use pipe puller 90% of the time but the backhoe comes in handy. I think a trencher is worthless.

[bobw]

I have a pipe puller for my Kubota and a backhoe...I use pipe puller 90% of the time but the backhoe comes in handy. I think a trencher is worthless.

I have a Ditchwitch 100sx puller and a Ditchwitch SK350 with puller and trencher.

I am doing mainly installs on commercial sites and those are all pretty trenched, whether by a wider trencher or by a backhoe. I'm just trying to cover my bases with what work I do and actively pursue.

[ARGOS]

I use my skid steer all the time. When I need to trench something larger then 4" I go to the mini excavator that will go to 12". I rarely use our backhoe.

[BrandonV]

i really like those ditch witch xt1600, get everything you want all in one.

[ARGOS]

The ditch witch xt1600 is a pretty nice piece of equipment.

[bx24]

I just looked at a used 2006 ditch witch xt1600 for $39,000.

Um my Bota does the same thing for new $18,000

[bobw]

I just looked at a used 2006 ditch witch xt1600 for $39,000.

Um my Bota does the same thing for new $18,000

What model Kubota are you running?

[bx24]

What model Kubota are you running?

BX25 with a pipe puller from FL....More then what I need...Goes down (2) feet and no issues with "tree stuff". But It will stop the machine when pulling 1.250 poly by 12" oaks.

And the price I paid was with a MMM..

[Wet_Boots]

You must have extremely 'friendly' soil to pull anything 2 feet deep with a BX 25.

[Tom Tom]

You must have extremely 'friendly' soil to pull anything 2 feet deep with a BX 25.

Must be something in the water

[bx24]

You must have extremely 'friendly' soil to pull anything 2 feet deep with a BX 25.

I did not say I installed 2 ft down in every job now did I? I can and most times it is only 12 inches down..No need to go below.

[bx24]

Must be something in the water

Or a razer shap pipe-puller and no magical maybe I think either...It does.

[Wet_Boots]

Small tractors don't have the frame to support a real heavy-duty shaker box, even if they had the hydraulics to power one.

[bx24]

Small tractors don't have the frame to support a real heavy-duty shaker box, even if they had the hydraulics to power one.


Yup and again, my pipe puller works just fine around 90% of the installs I did.. The most diff, was oaks over 27+"inches in DIa where I cannot go down for the 12" inches about 2 feet away...Even then that is where 80% of the other installers do for depth....Depth is a non-issue.

Lat install was with 1 /14 poly and down about 18 inches...WAY deeper then needed and was a pain for BS and heads.

For the 50% less in equ., I will take it since the other direction does not add much valve.

[Wet_Boots]

I'll wait for the video on Youtube. Unless you are in sand, 18 inches on the power from a BX 25 stretches my credulity.

[bx24]

I'll wait for the video on Youtube. Unless you are in sand, 18 inches on the power from a BX 25 stretches my credulity.

Well bud, since you know-it-all, put all that edu to make some $$$, then buy one...Let me know and post.

Since I have one, I know what it does and have done..You do not even have a clue on the pipe puller...Unreal...

I am not going to debate this since I know how you are and you are making comments on stuff don't even have (aka own).

[Wet_Boots]

Not interested. If I did have the camera and a time machine, I could show how to plow inch-and-a-half poly in heavy soil with a ten horsepower Pipe Piper. Just for the record, unless you work in pure sand, I call BS on you. It is always possible to exceed operating recommendations in certain instances, but it isn't anything you build your business model on. I explored this avenue many years ago, and could see that a tractor doesn't have the strength of construction to support a serious shaker box you want for rock and clay, not to mention they lack the center articulation of a dedicated plow.

[Mike Leary]

Not interested. If I did have the camera and a time machine, I could show how to plow inch-and-a-half poly in heavy soil with a ten horsepower Pipe Piper. Just for the record, unless you work in pure sand, I call BS on you. It is always possible to exceed operating recommendations in certain instances, but it isn't anything you build your business model on. I explored this avenue many years ago, and could see that a tractor doesn't have the strength of construction to support a serious shaker box you want for rock and clay, not to mention they lack the center articulation of a dedicated plow.

The man is on.:clapping::clapping::clapping:

[bx24]

Not interested. If I did have the camera and a time machine, I could show how to plow inch-and-a-half poly in heavy soil with a ten horsepower Pipe Piper. Just for the record, unless you work in pure sand, I call BS on you. It is always possible to exceed operating recommendations in certain instances, but it isn't anything you build your business model on. I explored this avenue many years ago, and could see that a tractor doesn't have the strength of construction to support a serious shaker box you want for rock and clay, not to mention they lack the center articulation of a dedicated plow.

Again, you are making comments on equ you do not have not used! then throw in years ago! WTF... In fact, you are comparing a little 10hp pipe puller to a compact tractor with attachments, puller you have zero time using and know about, who to use etc? Talk about clueless.

Again, You do not know the set-up I am running etc. Weight of unit(s), type of pipe puller etc. In fact, the speed etc on mine is about 2 to 1, etc. A pipe puller, in your case, is a single use too. Mine is multi and comes with way more usefull. But ha, little pipe puller have a nitch.

I can pull the wire and poly in one time. Next time stop talking BS and have "hands on" exp on something you are talking about...Looking into and using are two diff things. Oh, I forgot, you know all from "looking at years ago".

This is why I do not like debates with your kind..always right blah blah but you are talking "BS" since you do not use it, know anyhing with facts etc. You are like a new college grade. Know all from books but have zero exp on the topic at hand.:cry::cry:

But ha, you want to be King of nothing.:hammerhead:

[Wet_Boots]

Who cares about your pie in the sky? Or your undisclosed site conditions? Or your secret plow attachment for a tractor?

BS all the way.

[Junior M]

well while yall are arguing, I'll say something that might help someone:

Dont get a Case trencher, biggest pieces of garbage you'll ever have. Atleast thats my families experience with them, Dad demo'd one when in business(cant remember model) but it was freakin horrible and he now has them at his job with the power company and just the way they are set up is horrible. And I ran one with my old company as a demo because our Ditch Witch was older than dirt and I put that piece of crap back on the trailer and went and got the ditch witch..

[bx24]

Who cares about your pie in the sky? Or your undisclosed site conditions? Or your secret plow attachment for a tractor?

BS all the way.


No, your "BS all the way" is coming from you with lack of anything on this topic...Nothing magical about it but you are posting this and that without knowing anything !!!!! Getting pretty poor WB.:hammerhead::hammerhead

[Wet_Boots]

If someone claims they can pull 2 feet deep with a compact tractor, BS is the call. You can demonstrate otherwise if you care to, but not with a keyboard.

[bx24]

If someone claims they can pull 2 feet deep with a compact tractor, BS is the call. You can demonstrate otherwise if you care to, but not with a keyboard.


Again, you are posting without knowing anything. Simple (really) if you know what you are doing, the tools / equ at hand etc. Poly pipe is not some huge deal and need some huge equ for. Magical in your eyes it is since you are posting on blindness.

You are still missing at your lack of knowledge (your own BS) on this and keep going...I do not need to or care to since you "know all". I know what I do since I own this stuff. Do you? Opps, I forgot you looked years ago...WTF..sad really sad.

[Wet_Boots]

Oh wait, I think your Magic Tractor has made a television appearance or two.....

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2007/bobthebuilder.jpg

[bx24]

Oh wait, I think your Magic Tractor has made a television appearance or two.....

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2007/bobthebuilder.jpg

Wait, at least Bob has "run time", uses it etc..All you have are wet dreams (could have) and stuff from years ago...That is the best the great holly grail WB can do???...You are losing it more and more old man.:dizzy::dizzy::hammerhead::sleeping::hammerhead::sleeping:

[Wet_Boots]

Suuuuuuure. Your secret plow has it going on. We all know that. Pull eight inch cast iron pipe seven feet deep in bedrock. At six feet per second.

In the rain.

[hoskm01]

Suuuuuuure. Your secret plow has it going on. We all know that. Pull eight inch cast iron pipe seven feet deep in bedrock. At six feet per second.

In the rain.
Without a raincoat. Do that, Jack Bauer, 24.

[Rotor_Tool]

Without a raincoat. Do that, Jack Bauer, 24.

Apparently Boots has forgotten that the guys in the Northeast know all. Just ask them, I have never met one that didn't.

[hoskm01]

Apparently Boots has forgotten that the guys in the Northeast know all. Just ask them, I have never met one that didn't.
And youve just described a good reason why I will always be a coast wester! Decent to visit the East, but theres no place like home.


http://goodbadandugly2.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/home.jpg

[Mike Leary]

And youve just described a good reason why I will always be a coast wester!

:::cancels trip to Colorado if that's what they're wearing this season:::

[hoskm01]

:::cancels trip to Colorado if that's what they're wearing this season:::
Because I think the East coast carries the pomposity of a bus-full of senators?

[Mike Leary]

pomposity

One of my favorite terms, not that I have anything to do with it. :rolleyes: