The backhoe loader is a piece of excavation equipment nearly everyone has seen. Most children have had a Tonka version even. It’s a tractor that has a scoop in the front that can push and life dirt, as well as a more maneuverable scoop and bucket with a near robot arm on the back. Due to their setup and move ability, they are extremely useful on construction sites and other places needing excavation.

The backhoe loader was invented in 1857 in Burlington Iowa. It was designed similar to the classic farm tractor. It was simply a loader in front of it, and a backhoe attachment in the rear.

While some may actually call it a tractor, most always refer to them as a backhoe loader, as they are seldom used for towing, and many don’t even have the usual PTO shaft. There will be a small operator’s seat at the back of the backhoe that swivels with the loader. Even removable backhoes will have these.

These machines are very common, and are useful for many tasks including moving materials, digging holes, and even changing automotive engines. In construction they are often used for breaking pavement, and paving the roads too.

There are often other ends that can be exchanged with the backhoe bucket for things suck as jack hammering rock, pounding holes, and digging wells even. There are also fancier, specialized buckets such as one that has a hatch that can open and drop the contents faster.

Retractable bottom loader buckets offer a lot of benefits in grading and leveling out sand. The forward assembly on a backhoe can be permanently attached, though some are also removable. Again, this bucket may be replaced with other tools as well. Some use couplers that use hydraulics to control them. Often you will also see those mowing roadsides that aren’t level as well, though these are getting replaced with other tractor attachments these days.

A number of backhoe loader manufacturers include: New Holland, Caterpillar, John Deere, Alice Chalmers, and Case. Many modern ones will have cabs as it may be required by OSHA, though not all of them. Also found in most new ones are air conditioning, radio, and many other features you will find in your automobiles.

The backhoe loader can serve many purposes, including excavation, road work, well drilling, driveway clearing and many other utility jobs found anywhere.
Hauling equipment and supplies, moving dirt fill, and digging trenches (then covering them), are just a few more things done with everyday backhoe loaders.

You will find though, that with all this power, and flexibility, they are also easy to operate. Though it is wise to pay attention to all safety instructions, and there may be operator certificates required when doing work for hire with them. Often they do qualify as farm use vehicles to, for those that want to know that.

Caterpillar
When Caterpillar introduced their D series, they delivered an excellent version of their 446 backhoe loader. It features 102 horsepower and a new operator station with optional joystick controls as well. It increased it’s capability by 10% in dig force on the backhoe as well.

Komatsu
Among their 5 model line of backhoes, Komatsu offer the WB140 and the WB150. Within them, there are several optional enhancements. The WB140 is 87 horsepower, and the WB150 94 horsepower. Their engines are Tier 2 emission compliant; they have faster hydraulic speed, and better components. They all can have optional excavator style joystick controls.

One variation of the WB150 has an all star wheel design, power shift transmission, and a anti-theft prevention system. All standard models include a four speed transmission.

Bobcat
Bobcat offers a compact line of backhoe loaders that received a power boost when they introduced their second generation of their B series. The 31.5 horsepower B100 found a 45% boost in bucket breakout force as well as a 27% increase in the force of its dipper.

Their 46 horsepower B300 also increased 44% in its dipper breakout force and 21% advance in the bucket. Their third model, the B250 is a 31.5 horsepower side shift unit is like a B300 with 4-wheel drive and steering.

Ingersoll-Rand
The BL-580 compact backhoe loader from Ingersoll-Rand can dig as deep as 12 feet with its backhoe. As a loader, it can handle an operating capacity of 3406 pounds and has a breakout force of 9370 pounds.

Their loader and backhoe both have auxiliary hydraulics utilizing a 2-way flow to fit a number of attachments. These include booms, breakers, augers, compactors, and a number of others available. They have hydrostatic four wheel drive, and all wheel steering to accommodate tight squeezes.

Case
Case’s M series backhoe loaders added a lot of features. First off they changed to their family 3 engines to meet Tier 2 emission standards. They feature quieter, more powerful (larger displacement) engines. With this, they have extra torque for faster lifting and lowering in their back loader tasks, as well as better lugging capability.

With the maintenance cycle of 500 hours between oil changes with easy access to the transmission mounted hydraulic pumps, the M series will impress many backhoe operators.

John Deere
The gem of the John Deer backhoe loaders is the 410H. It features 92 horsepower, the total machine control system that brings better control of the engine, transmission, hydraulics, and breaks. It will respond to a wide variety of job demands.

Terex
Since they acquired the Fermac line, Terex has maintained a full line of remarkable backhoes. The models include the 92 horsepower TX760B, the 100 horsepower TX860B, the 100 horsepower 860SX, 860 Elite, and the 970 Elite. The 760 and 860 both have four speed shuttle gearboxes and can travel at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

New Holland
All four of New Holland’s backhoe loaders use the same 4.5 liter turbocharged diesel engine, which meet Tier 2 emission standards. It is new and offers a number of upgrades. This came with the launch of the B series machines. They include less fatigue in operator control, and work great for both excavator and loader usage.