Well, I've been doing a lot of reading here and think I've learned a good deal (with a lot more to learn still!). What I like about HEF is I think if 5 members respond, they probably have a cumulative 80-100 years of experience with equipment. So, I think of you guys as the heavy equipment brain trust. If y'all would be so kind, I'm considering purchasing a used backhoe to work my property. I'm thinking I'd like to clear about 20 acres of chaparral brush on both flat and rolling terrain, along with knocking over some old oak and pine trees and using them for firewood here and selling some as well (I'm not looking to become the next firewood millionaire, rather just a hundredaire to buy diesel fuel). I'd also like to be able to level out a semi flat pad of decomposed granite, and set up some land to plant a nice lawn. I don't plan on running a hammer on the hoe, but being able to rent an auger attachment in the future for more post holes would be nice.
This backhoe will be for my personal use, as I'm just a weekend warrior. I've located a used Cat 430d with about 5,600 hours, priced at about $37,000. It's an open cab, 4x4 with extend a hoe and an MP front bucket, which I believe may be a must have. I don't know the history of the machine, but from the pictures it looks to have the original paint on it and serviceable tires. When I indirect it, I'll look for repairs made by the previous owner. My question to the HEF brain trust is this: is 5,600 hours on a Cat machine too high? I figure I'll put about 1,000 hours on it before I resell it. Is there anything in particular I should be looking for during my inspection? It's at a Cat dealership and I suspect it may have been one of their rentals, or maybe a trade in. I haven't called them yet cuz I'd prefer to speak to them with as much knowledge as possible beforehand. Also, anything else you guys have to add would be priceless to me. I'm hoping I can get a try before I buy type of deal with them, and I'll certainly ask for it.
So, is a backhoe really for me? I believe it is, as I've been weighing this decision for quite a few months. What should I be looking for? Should I budget for a machine with less hours or will the 5,500 hour Cat do the trick? I know equipment breaks, but I really don't wanna sink thousands into a new transmission or anything else. Thanks in advance, I can't say how much a novice such as myself appreciates the wealth of information available here.
This backhoe will be for my personal use, as I'm just a weekend warrior. I've located a used Cat 430d with about 5,600 hours, priced at about $37,000. It's an open cab, 4x4 with extend a hoe and an MP front bucket, which I believe may be a must have. I don't know the history of the machine, but from the pictures it looks to have the original paint on it and serviceable tires. When I indirect it, I'll look for repairs made by the previous owner. My question to the HEF brain trust is this: is 5,600 hours on a Cat machine too high? I figure I'll put about 1,000 hours on it before I resell it. Is there anything in particular I should be looking for during my inspection? It's at a Cat dealership and I suspect it may have been one of their rentals, or maybe a trade in. I haven't called them yet cuz I'd prefer to speak to them with as much knowledge as possible beforehand. Also, anything else you guys have to add would be priceless to me. I'm hoping I can get a try before I buy type of deal with them, and I'll certainly ask for it.
So, is a backhoe really for me? I believe it is, as I've been weighing this decision for quite a few months. What should I be looking for? Should I budget for a machine with less hours or will the 5,500 hour Cat do the trick? I know equipment breaks, but I really don't wanna sink thousands into a new transmission or anything else. Thanks in advance, I can't say how much a novice such as myself appreciates the wealth of information available here.
Backhoe purchasing advice
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