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 | dougmch
Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3 Redding California 
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2006-05-11 129210
I am brand new here, and need some sage advice please. I want to buy a used tractor.
BACKGROUND
I have been using a borrowed Kubota B20 with loader and backhoe for a couple of months for landscaping/digging. It is OK, except the backhoe doesn't cut it with our tough clay (unit too light, not enough power I think). I do like the small size of the rig. It has a hydrostatic trans which seems pretty easy to use.
QUESTIONS
1. What should I be looking for which will fare better for backhoeing? Is performance a function of weight, hp, or both?
2. What are my transmission tradeoffs? Is something other than a hydrostatic reasonably easy to use? It seems convenient, but I don't know what the other alternatives are, and how less convenient they are.
3. I want a rototiller too. Does that limit what I should be considering for the base unit? Does it much matter?
4. Some of the ebay prices seem too good to be true. So how do I sort our the wheat from the chaff in these offers?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Doug
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina 
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2006-05-11 129226
Welcome Doug,
I can address some of what you asked. There are those here you will hear from that can address it 100%.
The hydro trans probably is your best choice for front end loader.
Yes, performance is a function of weight and hp. The weight will also have influence on the stability.
You will find little support for a 3 point mounted backhoe. Using one with a subframe would present issue with the 3 pt hitch for your roto tiller.
Ebays prices, you will find many here will tell you to be very carefull on ebay. Only consider those you can examine before you bid and have GREAT confidence it is not a stolen unit.
An option you may wish to explore is to rent or lease what you think you want for a month or so. It has been my good fortune to have dealt with some very professional sales people who went to great lenghts to find out what I wanted and needed before they were willing to really talk serious about their equipment.
kt ....
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| dougmch
Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3 Redding California
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2006-05-11 129230
Thank you kt.
Vis-a-vis the rototiller, I think you are telling me the following:
a. It requires a 3 point connection
b. A backhoe requires a different kind of connection
c. Those two dissimilar types of connections can be in conflict with one another.
Am I on track?
As far as renting, that seems like a good idea, although I did get quite a bit of experience with the B20 and have a fairly solid benchmark. Basically do the same thing, but a little better, and that works for me.
Thank you
Doug ....
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2006-05-11 129242
The info I am finding on the net indicates that the B20 is a (+/-)3000 pound CUT with a 20 horse engine. After looking at the pictures available I would hazard a guess that that weight would include the backhoe.
If all my assumptions are correct so far, it would be in the same class as my current tractor..... and all that to say this:
If you can't penetrate your soils with a B20, you may have to step way up the ladder to a full size construction backhoe to do what you want.
That might allow you to size the tractor for the remaining jobs on your list and rent something to do the heavy backhoe work. ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2006-05-12 129254
B-20's came with three point hitch that would work well with a tiller. Their hoe attaches four point into a frame that extends back from the loader and doesn't hinder the ground clearance like typical subframes that hang below the tractor. There design was as a mini commercial digger and if you are having trouble with ground engagement you will have to step up quite a bit in size to enhance performance. ....
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