BACKHOE LOADER GOING STRONG IN SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS AND STILL THE PRIMARY TOOL FOR MANY CONTRACTORS

By Brian Hoover, Senior Editor

Many of you have read countless articles about the advent of the amazing tractor loader backhoe (backhoe). Several companies contributed to the early development of the backhoe, including Wain-Roy, Case Construction Equipment, John Deere, Ford, New Holland and Cat, who sold their first branded machine in 1985. There are many accounts of who did what and when, but the important thing is that this wonderful Swiss Army Knife-like invention successfully changed how civil general engineering contractors did business. The versatility of having both digging and loading buckets on one piece of equipment meant that contractors could do more with just one machine, one investment. As a result, backhoes are used in a variety of construction, industrial and agricultural applications. From heavy production trenching to material handling, demolition, road construction and general site preparation, the backhoe has long been a favorite of contractors, cities, municipalities and government agencies. The backhoe was also the bestselling piece of construction machinery for decades, but that would change right around 2015 when sales began to decline.

1957 Case 320 tractor loader backhoe.

Case 580 EV, the industry’s first electric backhoe.

Enter the compact excavator and skid steer loader. According to reports, equipment operators and construction firms began moving heavily to the combo package of compact excavators and skid steers in 2006. The use of these machines together goes much further back, but 2006 is when sales of these units began to overtake that of the backhoe loader. However, declining backhoe sales did not signal the need to write an epitaph honoring the once-dominant machine of choice. The backhoe still holds certain advantages over the compact excavator and skid steer combo. The most important benefits are that backhoes come in a wide range of sizes and offer more reach and power, resulting in faster digging and loading times. For certain customers and specific applications, the backhoe will remain the machine of choice. Utility contractors that require an excavating machine that can trench for utilities all day long is a great example. Other situations where a backhoe makes more sense include its use for cemeteries where machines need to dig deep in hard or even frozen ground. The average backhoe can dig 12 to 16 feet deep and travel up to 25 mph on various surfaces between jobsites. The backhoe’s best asset is that it can do both digging and loading duties. It truly is a versatile do-it-all machine.

1971 John Deere 310 backhoe.

2021 John Deere 310L backhoe.

One of the cons of going with a backhoe over the compact excavator/skid steer combo is that you cannot dig and load simultaneously with a single backhoe. Although the combo package requires purchasing two separate machines, contractors argue that they are getting much more work done in the same amount of time. The phrase “time is money” may not be more accurate than when used to describe the day in a life of a general engineering contractor. Deadlines and other scheduling demands dictate that these contractors use the most efficient means possible to get the job done on time and on budget. But then there is the argument for speed and mobility. Some believe that a backhoe loader’s speed and trenching capabilities outweigh the benefits of using a compact excavator/skid steer combo. While others disagree, stating that digging and loading simultaneously gets more done in less time. Beauty or in this case, equipment choice, is truly in the eye of the beholder. At the end of the day, it seems to come down to the specific application at hand, and that is why the backhoe will continue to live harmoniously with the compact excavator and skid steer loader for many years to come.

Having safely defended the need for a backhoe loader in today’s construction scene, I must point out the obvious benefits of using the compact excavator/ skid steer combo. The skid steer and mini excavator allow a company to accomplish two tasks simultaneously. For instance, a mini excavator can be digging trench, while the skid steer follows behind with the backfill operation. The skid steer and mini excavator can also use up to 60 different attachments and get into confined spaces where a backhoe would never fit. The compact excavator also comes with a zero-tail swing and can even make its way into buildings, along with a skid steer loader. Then there is the apparent and simultaneous dig and load capability of using the two machines together. The final takeaway might be that there is a time and a place for both scenarios and neither is mutually exclusive. But don’t take my word for it. Check out the comments below from operators currently using backhoes, excavators, and skid steers on California jobsites.

1985 Cat 416 backhoe on display at Cat dealer meeting circa 1986.

2021 Cat 430F2 backhoe.

Mark and Stephanie Burros – Burros Backhoe Service, LLC – Grand Terrace

Burros Backhoe Service, Inc. is a mobile-operated excavator and backhoe service. “We choose to regularly use a backhoe versus other machines on our jobsites for several reasons. It is our opinion that using a backhoe is more cost-effective, cuts down on maintenance, and is an overall more versatile and time-efficient tool,” says Mark Burros. “Oftentimes, a backhoe comes in handy with its tremendous mobility on jobsites. The backhoe can perform multiple tasks, such as loading and transporting material from one location to another. It is also our experience that backhoes tend to require a more highly skilled and efficient operator. Therefore, it is our tool of choice for many applications.”

John Deere compact excavator and skid steer loader work in tandem on housing project.

Newman Backhoe Service, Inc. – Ron Harder, Peter Herrera and David Blake – Buena Park

Ron Harder has 35-plus years of experience operating heavy machinery. “For most of my jobs, I still need the reach, dig depth, and power that can only be found with a backhoe,” says Harder.

Peter Herrera has been an operator for Newman Backhoe Service since 1995. “Backhoes are great, but there is also the need for the mini-excavator and skid steer combo. We work in tight access areas where the combo is not only the best solution but many times the only choice due to lack of space,” says Herrera. “Then there is the advantage of having a 360degree turning radius, which makes our lives easier in many situations.”

Ford 8N tractor with Wain-Roy backhoe attachment circa 1948.

2021 New Holland B110C Backhoe.

David Blake has been with Newman Backhoe Service since 2005. “A backhoe with attachments can handle a multitude of tasks. It is one of the most versatile pieces of construction equipment around, making it the backbone of the construction industry.”

The decision to go with a backhoe or mini-excavator/skid steer combo comes down to the application and the type and size of a worksite. Where there are space constraints, the operator will more than likely go with the combo. However, where speed and power are concerned, they may opt for the traditional backhoe with outriggers and other features that allow for heavier loads and deeper digging depths. There is also the price concern of purchasing two machines instead of one, but many contractors have the wherewithal to have all three in their fleet, which is simply the best of both worlds. Cc