Marco, I responded to a similar question on another forum. Here’s the response given. (this pertains to my first compact tractor, a JD750 with a #7 backhoe which is essentially the same but a tad smaller). In 1985 I bought my first compact tractor, a JD750 MFWD. Tractor, loader, mower, back blade and backhoe. Co-workers thought I was nuts spending that much money on the rig. Soon after, though, I was beginning to get asked to do small jobs for others and even contractors that couldn't get their equipment into back yards, barns, woods, etc. Within about 5 years the backhoe attachment alone had made enough money to pay for itself and probably the whole rig. And all on only 20HP at the engine! Some of the jobs that I can remember: Countless stumps and shrubbery removed. Landscaping jobs. Prep work for sidewalks and steps. Footings dug for backyard garage, deck, sunroom additions. Two separate septic systems installed in difficult conditions. Water lines dug in below the frostline to horse barns & corrals. Underground leaks in waterlines repaired. Electrical trenches, French drains, and drainage ditches dug. Old posts and fence lines pulled. I'll surely remember more after I post this but the drift is there. All jobs by word of mouth and usually because contractors couldn't access the area with their machines, the jobs were too small, they needed it done right away, and/or they didn't want the mess that a big rig would make in their site. Almost forgot about the egress window wells being installed and the digging needed for them. I even dug out under an existing carport to put footings under the new walls and the concrete floor. Not enough room to list all the wife's landscaping jobs...…...
Regarding stumps: I was asked to remove a stump that a larger backhoe couldn’t access. It had to be close to 30 inches across at the base, cut off at ground level. I started well outside of the stump by finding the upper roots, pulling them up and cutting them off. Kept working around and getting closer to the main trunk and backfilling as needed. After a while the stump was wobbling in the hole and exposing the tap roots. Stump was pulled to the side and tied off, tap roots cut, and dirt filled in on that side. Tilted the stump up and over and filled dirt under the opposite side and repeated until the stump was walked up out of the hole. The stump was half the size of the tractor! Cleaned the remaining dirt off the stump, rolled it onto a stone boat and pulled it away. It took an easy afternoon of working smart. That was one big ash “sapling”!!
I just purchased a new B2650 last year and didn’t hesitate to add the BH77 to it. What a nice backhoe! And with the BXpanded ripper it becomes one mean machine for removing stumps. You just have to work smart and use common sense. I made a nice rolling stand for the BH77 and can have it on/off in a few minutes. Each person has their own opinions but I’ve never once questioned why I added the backhoes to my two compact tractors. Don't let that salesperson decide what you want, let alone what you can or can't do with one!!
