Tow behind backhoe plans?

[welderShane]

Did anyone ever build or own one of those tow behind backhoes. Im looking at maybe building one and would like to find some plans for one. I found 1 site that sells plans but its 70.00 for them. If anyone can help or know where to find plans that would be great. Thanks

[welderShane]

Heres what im talking about if your not sure what i mean.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=65162

[smawgmaw]

Did not build one but ordered plans from CadPlans.com. Their plans are more than $70 though. Went so far as getting the steel required, welding up a few joints, and then winding up using the steel for a portable frame/trailer to haul my Ranger 8 around the place with riding lawnmower. Last place I worked before present job, manager had built one from their plans. He no longer owned it but said it worked great. Saw pictures of the unit he built, looked really nice. I think I still have my plans around here somewhere.

[PilotDan]

I've never built one, but that would be a really cool project! Please keep me posted on what you find, I'd love to see the progress in making one! Thanks,
Dan

[denrep]

From a practical standpoint I don't think it would make sense to shop-build a backhoe attachment today. There are so many modern backhoes of every size being dismantled, most of which would give up a factory-built hoe attachment.

The last few hoe attachments I watched sell, only brought about $500, complete with bucket, controls, outriggers.

Good Luck

[smawgmaw]

Exactly, denrep. Thats what kinda shyed me away from building mine. When I got to figuring in materials cost, time involved, and everthing else, it would have been more economical to just purchase a used commercially available unit. The building experience and satisfaction of having created the unit though would have been very enjoyable!

[smawgmaw]

Besides Harbor Freight offering one of these ready to go, I think Northern Tool offers one also.

[Knotbored]

I would sure like to have an even smaller version of that- just the arm and bucket to attach to my Kabota bucket to get after blackberries. I don't need trenches-just the scraping ability to get the roots and brambles. I have all the time in the world to reposition the tractor, and I don't think stabilizing arms are necessary if it remains centered on bucket.

[smawgmaw]

Sounds like its invention time ! If you have a front loader bucket for your tractor, you might be able to design an add on ripper of some sort to accomplish what you are looking to do.

[timrb]

"Sounds like its invention time !"

Maybe you could salvage the engine, hydraulics, and frame of an old log splitter...

Tim

[RancherBill]

The forum you want to go to is

http://www.machinebuilders.net/forum/default.asp

There are a lot of examples of this type of equipment.