The Many Talents of the Backhoe

How many construction vehicles can lay gas and water lines, pound railroad ties into the ground, remove mounds of snow, break chunks of concrete into little pieces, and even dig graves?

How about that most handy of all fleet vehicles, the backhoe loader?

Contractors have long turned to backhoes to handle everything from cutting marble to clearing brush and, yes, to digging fresh graves. The versatility of the backhoe makes it one of the first machines that most contractors order as they grow their businesses.

And there’s some good news from backhoe manufacturers. The companies that make and distribute these machines are constantly upgrading them to provide greater lifting and digging power.

The message is clear: contractors ready to boost the efficiency and bottom lines of their businesses need to invest in a backhoe. This one machine will allow them to tackle most any task that a job site will throw at them.

“It really comes down to the attachments,” says Rafael Nunez, backhoe product manager with manufacturer JCB North America. “There are so many attachments that contractors can use for both the front and back ends of their backhoes. They can attach buckets, saws, or forks so easily. The attachments really transform the backhoe into this truly versatile, adaptable machine.”

CASE Construction, another manufacturer of backhoe loaders, provides a good example of the versatility of backhoe loaders. Enbridge Gas Distribution once relied on a CASE backhoe loader to install a gas main that would serve 135 newly built homes in Ottawa, Canada.

Because the backhoe can take on so many jobs, it ends up saving contractors money over the long run. Instead of having to buy several machines to take on several different duties, contractors can invest in a backhoe that can work a variety of jobs at once.

Because of this, the backhoe is often one of the first machines in which growing contractors invest.

“Whether it’s needed for site preparation, digging, trenching, installing, or site cleanup, a backhoe loader is handy to have on any project,” says Ferguson. “In addition, backhoes are great tools to load and unload trucks, to break up concrete, and to dig post holes. Backhoe loaders are designed with the specific purpose of being versatile on any job site.”

Many contractors use both sides of the backhoe equally, says Ferguson. Contractors will use the loader side of the machine to carry tools and materials to, around, and from the work area. They’ll then use the excavator side to pick and place material.

Ferguson says that his company’s backhoes were developed to boost the productivity of grading and excavation contractors who need both a wheel loader and an excavator on their sites. Because of this, Terex backhoes can switch from digging a trench to bringing in material to backfilling. The machines’ front loaders come with mechanical controls that give operators the maneuverability and efficiency of working with a wheel loader. The excavator end also features its own set of pilot controls that give the machine its excavator capabilities.

“With margins on job site bids tight, contractors are relying more heavily than ever on these machines and, more specifically, on the attachments that make them so versatile,” says Ferguson.

Some of the attachments that contractors use today include everything from buckets, hydraulic breakers, augers, and pallet forks to brooms, grapples, and snow plows.

Ferguson says that these attachments can make all the difference in how versatile a backhoe is. He points to a typical seven-in-one bucket attachment. This attachment allows contractors to use a backhoe to spread and level landscape materials like mulch or dirt over larger areas. Pallet fork attachments can carry trees, shrubs, blocks, stones, and railroad ties around a job site.

Auger attachments can be used for drilling fence posts. Grapple attachments can pick up, carry, and place large rocks to help build retaining walls.

A Most Important Machine
Ferguson says that backhoe loaders are a top choice for grading and excavation contractors because operators can use these machines to tackle the majority of tasks on a job site.

“From digging to reaching, lifting, or loading, backhoe loaders are designed with the specific purpose of being adaptable,” says Ferguson. “In fact, backhoe loaders can help increase productivity and reduce operational costs because they can handle deep digging as well as heavy lifting.”

Ferguson says that he’s seen backhoe loaders used for placing and burying utilities such as sewer pipes or storm drains; digging, compacting, and backfilling trenches; breaking up concrete; and digging deep post holes.

But backhoe loaders also excel when it comes to underground applications, says Ferguson. That’s because these machines boast good stability and balance, something that their operators appreciate. They also offer strong visibility, which makes it easier for operators to see the hole or trench in which they are working. You can thank the machines’ large windows and the way operators are positioned inside their cabs for this benefit.

Finally, these machines come with two-speed hydraulic circuits that boost both the speed and control enjoyed by operators.

“With the variety of attachments available for backhoe loaders, the possibilities and uses for this equipment are extensive,” says Ferguson. “Lawn care and landscape professionals use these machines to dig holes for ponds or other landscaping features, as well as to shape banks on existing water features. Backhoes are also the ideal tool for sprinkler system or drainage pipe installation applications.”

A Smart Investment
Kathryn Pullen, brand marketing manager with the backhoe division of CASE Construction, says that the sales of backhoes are on the rise for a specific reason: these machines are a wise investment because they can do so many of the jobs that are required on the typical work site.

“They can do the job of two machines,” says Pullen. “You only have to purchase one and pay just one operator to get all that work out of a backhoe. That makes these machines a sound investment for growing construction companies. Backhoes kind of have that Swiss army thing going on.”

Pullen says that backhoes are often one of the first machines contractors purchase when they make the jump from needing just a skid-steer. And this trend has only increased since the national economy has started its gradual but steady improvement, says Pullen.

“This is the machine that contractors look first at when they want to grow,” says Pullen. “It is a machine that does everything most contractors want to do. With the economy getting better, this is what people are buying. It’s a good time to be in the backhoe industry right now.”

This wasn’t always the case, of course. Pullen says that many contractors put off buying backhoes for years because of the uncertainty of the national economy.

Those who did wait, though, are fortunate: backhoes today are more powerful and are stronger performers than they were just 10 years ago, says Pullen.

As an example, Pullen pointed to the 74-horsepower backhoes that CASE now offers. The performance of these machines far outpaces that of the 74-horsepower machines of 10 years ago, says Pullen.

For instance, several CASE backhoes have higher lift capacities than in the past. Because of this, owners can purchase a smaller backhoe—as long as they don’t need the longer reach that comes with larger machines—for a lower cost than if they were forced to purchase a bigger machine. This, too, is a positive for contractors struggling with tighter budgets today, says Pullen.

“You can purchase that smaller machine and still do the same lifting that you would have done with a larger machine in the past,” says Pullen. “These machines have taken a huge jump in the past five years when it comes to lifting power.”

The increased power that backhoes boast today has only increased their versatility, says Pullen. She points to the now frequent sight of contractors using backhoes to pound railroad ties.

“This is not new or unexpected. Contractors have been using backhoe attachments for years that allow them to pound railroad ties,” says Pullen. “But to actually see it in action is a pretty cool thing. It just showcases how versatile and handy backhoes are.”

Maintenance Matters
Just because backhoes are versatile doesn’t mean that they don’t require regular maintenance.

Boulds says that it’s important for contractors to follow the maintenance timetable set by manufacturers. It’s especially important, he says, for contractors to grease their backhoe’s pivot pins on a regular schedule. Doing this minimizes the wear and tear that backhoes suffer, says Boulds.

This is sound advice. Backhoes are important to any job site because they can take on so many jobs at once. But when backhoes are in the shop for repairs? They’re not improving the efficiency of any work site.

That’s where preventative maintenance comes in. By taking the little steps now—like greasing pivot pins—contractors will increase the odds that their backhoes won’t be out of service for longer periods of time. They also reduce the chance that their backhoes will require more costly repairs in the future.

That’s important today when the still somewhat sluggish national economy means that all contractors need to work harder than ever to maintain a healthy bottom-line profit.

Ferguson says that maintaining a backhoe doesn’t take much time.

“A lot of problems can be caught or prevented if operators simply take 15 minutes before start-up each day to check the fluids and general condition of the machine,” he says.

Specifically, operators should check their backhoes’ hydraulic fluid, engine oil, antifreeze, and fuel. If any of these liquids are low, operators should refill them.

Next, operators should walk around their machines, checking for any leaks or damage from previous use. Operators should check common wear points such as hydraulic hoses, tires, bearing brushes, and their vehicles’ pins and bolts.

“And always have a grease gun handy during your daily walk-arounds of the backhoe loader,” says Ferguson. “The life expectancy of all the critical components is dependent on how well the unit is lubricated.”

Operators should also check the backhoe’s safety features, such as the brakes, lights, and mirrors.

Weekly maintenance checks are important, too. During these checks, operators should make sure all of the ground-engaging points of their backhoe loaders—such as the extend-a-hoe, bucket leveling, and return-to-dig—are properly adjusted and in good working order. When it comes to the dipper stick, operators should check the bushings and pins to make sure that they are not showing excessive wear. Operators should next check the components on the backhoe’s center mount to make sure they are not loose or worn out.

Regular engine maintenance is another important step. Operators should inspect air filters daily and change them on a weekly basis if the backhoe loader is working in extreme environments.

Pullen says that one of the great benefits of a backhoe is that they are so easy to keep up and running. Doing so requires just a few minutes out of an operator’s day, she says.

“You just have to do your daily maintenance checks on it,” says Pullen. “Walk around and make sure there isn’t anything out of the ordinary. When you’ve parked it, make sure that everything is locked in, that you grease up the machine. It’s just like with your car. Aslong as you do daily maintenance, you should be OK.”

This is a welcome change from some of the other machines commonly found on construction sites, says Pullen.

“If you hear something that sounds a little goofy or you see something that doesn’t look quite right, check it out,” says Pullen. “Backhoes are kind of nice that way. With the Tier 4 machines, if you see debris caught under the machine, it’s easy to clean that off at the end of the day. Make sure you let it warm up a bit if you are operating it in the winter. If you are operating in extreme heat, give the machine time to idle down at the end of the day before shutting it off. That’s about all you have to do.”

Always Improving
Backhoes have long been versatile, functional machines. This doesn’t mean that manufacturers don’t work to improve them over time.

Ferguson pointed to the work that his company, Terex, has done during the last five years. The company has surveyed customers about what features and functions they wanted in backhoe loaders. Company officials study these surveys when designing improvements or changes to their backhoe loaders.

Ferguson points to Terex’s Tier 4 final electronic engine. This engine boosts the fuel efficiency of backhoe loaders significantly when compared to the older-generation mechanical fuel pump. Terex has also incorporated auto-idle to provide an additional increase in fuel efficiency, says Ferguson.

“These features are designed to reduce cost of ownership to the end user,” he says.

Terex has also made sure that its entire line of backhoes have the hydraulic capacity and flow to power nearly all of its customers’ hydraulic attachments, including loader buckets; multiple-purpose, high-capacity, and grapple front buckets; thumbs; hydraulic breakers;forks; angle dozers; compactors; and a broad range of rear buckets.

Terex has also designed its backhoes with a pattern change lever inside the cab. This allows operators to switch from Society of Automotive Engineers to ISO control patterns, which operators can choose according to their personal preferences.

The company’s backhoe loaders also come with a joystick override switch that allows operators to stand while operating their backhoes.

This, like the large windows that backhoes feature, helps give operators a clear and unobstructed view inside whatever trench in which they are working.

Today’s backhoes also come with safety features designed to protect operators and others working on job sites. For example, Terex backhoe loaders come standard with four-wheel drive and front counterweight to provide greater fore and aft stability, says Ferguson.The machines’ stabilizer legs feature a lock-out valve in the circuit so that they remain down during operation.

Nunez says that JCB North America is adding telematics to many of its backhoe loaders. Telematics, of course, can provide owners of these machines with key information about how long the backhoes have been used and where they are at any given time.