L-series Backhoe with Tractor Purchase vs. Upgrading Later

[NF6X]

I hope that y'all can tolerate another silly noob question from me. I'm looking at replacing my Bobcat 753 with a nice L-series tractor, like an L3301HST. It'll still be a few more days until I can make it to the local Orange dealer to pester them with questions and drool on their showroom floor. This will be my first tractor.

I'd sure like to get a backhoe for it, but I don't think that will fit in the budget right now. Aside from the inconvenience of bringing my tractor into the dealer later for installation, are there any problems with buying the tractor now and adding a backhoe a year or two later vs. buying the backhoe along with the new tractor?

It seems to me like it shouldn't be a big deal for them to bolt on the subframe and hook in the hydraulics later, but I just want to know if there would be any hidden surprises or costs that I don't know about.

 

[fendley]

When I bought my L3901 in Dec, I purchased the BH77 to go with it. The dealer told me they could not install the BH for a couple of days, but I didn't want to wait, so I installed it myself. No issues with the install, works great. Will not be an issue to the dealer to install the BH at a later date.

 

[NF6X]

Thanks! It's good to know that I have options. How hard was the installation? Was it just bolting on the subframe and screwing in some hoses?

 

[jbbepic]

If you can fit in your budget now, maybe have the subframe added. And then when your ready for the backhoe thats all you got to do is buy it. May save on labor costs and time as well as taking the machine back to the dealer. Also may be helpful if there are good financing deals like 0%. To include that sub frame now. Just an idea!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[NF6X]

Oh, that's an interesting idea. I didn't even consider that buying just the subframe and plumbing for a later upgrade might be an option.

If I can figure out how to fit the backhoe into my budget now, then it would sure be nice to take advantage of the 0% financing on it. But I don't want to blow everything on the tool and not be able to afford to do any home construction projects with it for a few years! I think I'll need to sell off my M923 5-ton 6x6 military truck to get funds to buy the backhoe, and that will take some time and work. But I'd like to at least replace my Bobcat with the tractor and a few implements pretty quickly, while the financing program is still running.

 

[fendley]

Thanks! It's good to know that I have options. How hard was the installation? Was it just bolting on the subframe and screwing in some hoses?

Took me about 4 hours.

You have to take the rear wheels off, mount the left and right subframes.

Then you remove the power beyond hose that goes from the loader control to the hydraulic block that sits by the hydraulic filter.

The kit comes with two hoses; one that goes from the loader power beyond connection to just behind and below the PTO control lever. This hose ends in a quick connect fitting on a bracket that is bolted on place. The second is a a hose with the opposite fitting that sits next to the bracket and returns to the hydraulic block. When the BH is not installed, these two hoses are connected together so that the hydraulic fluid from the loader has a path to return to the tank.

Once the hoses are installed, the wheels can be installed.

The rest of the install is mounting the seat and platform to the BH, and relocating the toolbox.

Then yon install and remove the BH the way that you use it normally.

 

[NF6X]

Thank you for your detailed description of the process. It sounds like something I might do to save money and/or time, but also something I wouldn't mind letting somebody else do for me. It's good to have options.