I need some work done and none of the excavators call me back. I'm thinking about buying one and doing some part time work with it if the demand is so high they wont return calls.
This Site Might Help You. RE: How much does it cost for a decent backhoe? Read On..? I need some work done and none of the excavators call me back. I'm thinking about buying one and doing some part time work with it if the demand is so high they wont return calls.
I have been looking into it for awhile now. I have a lot of work to be done and have decided it would be cheaper to buy a used machine and do the work myself, then sell it when I'm done. I find that prices start around $8k for an OK used machine like a John Deere or a Case. For that much it will be pretty beat up but it should work OK for the average homeowner. If you wanted to make a business out of it I would plan on spending around $15-20k for a reliable machine then add the cost of truck and trailer to move it around and don't forget insurance. Ripping out an underground line can get expensive to repair.
Backhoe work can be expensive. I feel fortunate that we have a guy in the area that does this work at a reasonable fee. He is a farmer first, then does backhoe work on the side when he has time. He doesn't even have a set price per hour, and is very bashful about asking for much at all when he has the job done. Last time I hired him I had a six foot burried hydrant replaced in the burried water system going between buildings. He worked about an hour to ninety minutes and I paid him $30 - $40. Contractors can be a very independent bunch. Look for someone in your area that either 'moonlights' or does this type of work as a hobby rather than tries to make a living at it. As far a buying a back hoe for your own use, be careful. These are high maintenance machines and you might be purchasing some else's problems. Cylinders and other components can very quickly cost you several hundred dollars should you have a failure, or need to work on it. Good luck,
