Need a backhoe for small jobs made major decision to day

wilson ind · Mar 1, 2014

I need back hoe , and like the convience of having access when I want to do work. Thought of buying used, well used for possibly five to six thousand.Neighbor who has grown up beside my place for last 35 years farms with his two 20 year old sons.He has john deere 410. used but usesable which he is just finishing motor rebuild. Talked with him to day, made deal I will pay him thirty dollars per hour wet to use his machine . I might use possibly 30 hours first year then maybe 10 or 15 hours per year after. I think it"s a good deal for both of us. Your opinions wanted.

bo · Mar 1, 2014

Beats owning, storing, fixing, I'd do it.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 1, 2014

I'd second that as a great offer!

Bob Bancroft · Mar 1, 2014

Who takes care of it when something major breaks while you're running it?

Will you still have a friendly neighbor after this deal? It sounds too good to be true.

If a neighbor needs a little digging, I might go do it for them for $80/hour. But at this point, I'm the only one who's going to run my machinery.

Lou from Wi. · Mar 1, 2014

One thing to think about is
What happens when the machine breaks while your using it, who pays for it.
or you get the machine to use and it was broke before you got it, they claim it happened while in your usage?
A lot to worry about,but if your happy,who is to say.

Rental/dealership covers all with their insurance, it's just me,I'd go that route and save hard feeling between neighbors.

Just a few thoughts.
LOU

wilson ind · Mar 1, 2014

were repairs are on him unless I do something stupid.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 1, 2014

Beats not having access to one. I sold my JD 158 loader and use backhoe as a loader plus as a backhoe. Would be worth a lot not to have to go to neighbors every time needed a hoe. Buy them right and take care of them--they do not depreciate much. Paid $7500 for a 580B Case, used it 4 years,spending $35 on repairs and got my money back when sold it after buying a newer 580SE hoe.

Janicholson · Mar 1, 2014

Keep every use in writing.Keep a careful record and cell phone photo of every issue before using.

Never put it back grubby. Nor take it grubby (dirt covers leaks and cracks, and torn hose covers)
Keep the Peace. Jim

Geo-TH,In · Mar 1, 2014

Bill,
I have some rules.
Rule 1: You don't do business with friends, relatives, or neighbors.
Rule 2:
You don't loan money to friends, relatives, or neighbors.

It will always end up with someone thinking they got screwed.

6 years ago I always wanted a backhoe. Really didn't know what I was going to do with it, just wanted one. I figured why not buy one? So for my 59th birthday I bought myself a backhoe.

I purchased a 4 year old sub-compact terramite, T5C, with 435 hours on it. In 6 years I've put 1000 hours on it. Love it. Wish I purchased it years ago. The reason I chose a sub-compact was I wanted to use in the yard, only 3100#, and not make ruts like the big boys do. I wanted to be able to haul it on a 7k trailer. I wanted a gas model, no smell, easy to start in the winter, easy to work on.

Bill, you can't take your money with you. I know how much fun you'll have playing in the dirt. Yea, you can be a dirty old man with a backhoe and get paid.
George

J. Everett · Mar 1, 2014

I'd rather run mine for a neighbor or friend rather than letting them use it on their own, that way I know for sure how its been treated. I just hate the thought of borrowing any thing.
Remember, Dial before you Dig...

Whichester1 · Mar 1, 2014

Worth a try, if you start finding the machine is causing problems between you and your neighbor just back out and buy your own.

David G · Mar 1, 2014

I would not rent anything to/from a friend, that is a good way to lose a friend. It would be OK if he provided an operator.

M Nut · Mar 1, 2014

If it works for you, then it's a good deal. It wouldn't be for me. Too much risk of costly repairs. Backhoes get used hard, and repairs will be needed at one point. Like has been mentioned, I bought my own, take care of it, and I'm sure I'd get my money back if I sold it anytime in the near future.

JMS/.MN · Mar 1, 2014

A decade ago I bought a 1970 Ford 4500 TLB. Pretty much same machine M Nut has. Paid $6100. Spent about a grand on it for new hoses and some machine work for new bushings, etc after PO welded stuff w/o straightening, etc. TLB does everything I need....I prefer to own, no "deals" with others. They usually turn sour. If I couldn"t afford to own, I"d prefer to hire the job done. Get the job done, write the check. Each to his own.....

ss55 · Mar 1, 2014

That deal puts the majority of the the risk on your neighbor for not much return. It would be more fair to either:

A. Hire the neighbor to do the work.

or

B. Purchase half interest in the machine and divide future costs by the portion of engine hours used by each owner.

The term "wet hours" sounds fishy or open to interpretation to me. Engine hours are easier to record and verify.

I'm curious what works for others though.

mab570diesel · Mar 2, 2014

i don't think it will end well but i hope it does me i don't like useing other peoples equipment and i don't like anybody using mine i would rent or buy if that's an option and save the headache

Traditional Farmer · Mar 2, 2014

Hire him to do the work especially if he knows how to run a backhoe.Amateurs running backhoes create a big mess generally.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 2, 2014

George, with respect to rule # 2, I modified it, a little. I borrow money from the rich ones, lend it to the poor ones, and I don't see much of either...

I bought a gofor digger, last year, it's just a backhoe, with 14" care wheels, that you pull out of gear, and it becomes its own trailer. Get to the job site, put the wheels in gear, disconnect from the truck, and drives itself to the work. Kubota 3cyl diesel, starts easy, and only cost me 3 grand. Look around on the net, many versions of back hoes out there. Make sure you spell it back hoe, when you search, whoa boy what I did see, when I typed in an extra L in the first word, LOL!

wilson ind · Mar 2, 2014

He supplies fuel

wilson ind · Mar 2, 2014

come on guy your thinking I have no experience. I have cat now and have had had 3 other dozers I only need for possibly 20 hours total. Want to drain old pond, and couple other small projects. Purpose of draining pond as he wants to rent my place for pasture in 3 years when crp runs out. Then he will rebuild pond for his cattle after it dries out.

JDemaris · Mar 2, 2014

$30 per hour is a great deal. If I could rent one for that price -I'd rent instead of using my own if a lot of trucking was involved. I rented a friend's Ford 4000 with hoe for years and finally bought it. Eventually I bought a used hoe for every property own. Too difficult to rent. Ford 4000, Deere 300B, IH 3414 and Pettibone LDH.

To me . . . the big issue when renting from a neighbor or friend is guilt involved when something breaks. Who pays for it? Yeah sometimes it's natural wear and sometimes it's the operator's fault. Can be some major disagreements over such things.

I rented a hoe last fall in northern Michigan from a tractor dealership. It was a small Kubota. $175 a day plus $75 each way for trucking. They brought it to me at 9 AM and picked it up at 3 PM. That's not much of a "day."

NNP · Mar 2, 2014

I'd pay extra to have him in the seat, or one of his sons.
Every machine will break/break down at some point. no exceptions.
Not worth losing a friend over, especially a neighbor friend.

My stuff, need to borrow, use, rent it? ok, you also get the operator...me.
Other peoples stuff....it was fine when I picked it up..if it breaks....my fault?, long time metal fatigue? alien gremlins?
don't matter, it's on me. I pay.
That's the risk, I have to return it in the shape it was when I took it. I have to look in the mirror every day.

Case Nutty 1660 · Mar 2, 2014

Bill, you will do what you want (I know you lol) But if you want my opinion it is like many below, go and rent one from a rental company in town, I rent things here from time to time for the weekend I get to put 8 hrs total on it for those two days I have it no hurry up and forget some thing that way, YES it will cost you more but like others have said the arrangement you speak of can and very well may cause a disagreement it sounds like a time bomb to me waiting to blow. now as I am sure you will do this deal so
OK" this is my advice if you do,

1- Pay for your own fuel!!
2-service and treat the machine like your own!
3- before returning it to him grease it top off the fuel tank even if you used it for a 1/2 hr or 5
4-if you get it dirty muddy ect Clean it!
5- keep it only the time you need it and intend to pay him hrs for
6-tires this is a hornets nest, it is very easy to ruin a tire if you do its your problem not his as is any damage you inflict on it
and last treat him as you want to be treated with the deal, you are a fair man Bill treat him the same, I do NOT loan my equipment I am glad to go do the work for my friends/neighbors with my equipment most times for free depending on things, its your choice on what you do good luck my friend
cnt

kyhayman · Mar 2, 2014

I've got several machines that I rent that way. Sounds like a really good deal. Cat 257B costs me $20 an hour, I buy fuel. Challenger 100 hp runs $30 and I buy fuel. Both are off the hour meter.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 2, 2014

I thought backhoe was just one word

Need a backhoe for small jobs made major decision to day

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