Is the backhoe loader a thing of the past?

doobin

doobin

Well-known member
I guess that's their downfall- is there really enough in a day rate to cover that for backhoe work. You'll be competing with towable diggers for much of the bread and butter work and larger 360s that are cheaply hired for the bigger jobs. I can see why not many about anymore.
In a word, no there isn’t.

It’s handy to have about for your own jobs, but as a hire proposition no chance. Especially roading on white diesel.
 
Simon edwards

Simon edwards

Well-known member
I had a quote from my local dealer for a new Holland lb110 for just under 85k nearly 2 years ago,(he would not budge and I saw it listed with them a while ago still new 62k)
Backhoes do work financially admittedly the regularly achievable rates aren’t that much better than a 3 tonner, but if You think a bit laterally and with a range of complementary kit and some labour it works.
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
I had a quote from my local dealer for a new Holland lb110 for just under 85k nearly 2 years ago,(he would not budge and I saw it listed with them a while ago still new 62k)
Backhoes do work financially admittedly the regularly achievable rates aren’t that much better than a 3 tonner, but if You think a bit laterally and with a range of complementary kit and some labour it works.
I’d offer the prick £50k now.

New Holland pricing is always retarded when it comes to construction kit.
 
Danny

Danny

Well-known member
My brand new wheel digger turns up this month to go alongside our Tb295w, which is a little bit too slow on the road, not that the wheel digger will be much quicker!

I get a lot of calls for wheel diggers due to dig depth for trial pitting, and over the years, I’ve always pushed them towards my 8t or 13t, but when haulage starts at min £150 each way, it's make or break if you get the job sometimes.

I will utilise it on my work when it’s not out on hire. I haven’t bought it as a machine that will be out every day working. There is still a market for it but it does take time to get on their approved suppliers list. Usually, there’s a 10 page document to fill out, and then there is Chas, net 30 payments, etc it’s not for everyone
 
Simon edwards

Simon edwards

Well-known member
At the time a dealer inDorset had 3 in stock at advertised at 72k,I showed him the email from their rep,offered me 5 buckets and 3 yr warranty ,delivered.Local chap said they still could’nt budge.Mental!It was also nearly 10 k more than Jake I eventually bought,which I occasionally drive in there to go in the store😁
 
doobin

doobin

Well-known member
My brand new wheel digger turns up this month to go alongside our Tb295w, which is a little bit too slow on the road, not that the wheel digger will be much quicker!

I get a lot of calls for wheel diggers due to dig depth for trial pitting, and over the years, I’ve always pushed them towards my 8t or 13t, but when haulage starts at min £150 each way, it's make or break if you get the job sometimes.

I will utilise it on my work when it’s not out on hire. I haven’t bought it as a machine that will be out every day working. There is still a market for it but it does take time to get on their approved suppliers list. Usually, there’s a 10 page document to fill out, and then there is Chas, net 30 payments, etc it’s not for everyone
Is that the 590sv you mentioned?

What will it go out for per day?
 
Storrsy

Storrsy

Well-known member
What's a days hire represent though? 8 hours working time on site with fuelling/greasing/travel/breaks all on top of your overhead? That machine will sup a full tank a day if working hard.. £120 on a really bad day?
Plus potentially an hour's travel each way...
 
Danny

Danny

Well-known member
Anything hourly/day rate will always raise a few eyebrows, and the client also needs to put their mark up on the job and still win it on their end!

Trial holes are very easy, and hardly any diesel gets burnt and are normally wrapped up by mid day and always paid for the shift, so you will win on some jobs and lose on the other in terms of fuel burnt.

We have just done a month of trial pitting with the rubber duck it was left in the clients compound every night, full day rate, x2 holes a day and paid to stay at home on full day rate when raining as they didn't want to mess up any fields. - winner!
 
Simon edwards

Simon edwards

Well-known member
I know I could’nt get anywhere near those rates on regular work.Currently 80% of my workload is on an estate for one client,the rates are keen but I have several machines and a couple ground workers onall the time,the mixers,wacker plates,towers ,dumpers,etc. all add up and make it work,I often use the jcb for an hour and switch to a 3 tonnear but charge for the Jake.It is 10 mins from home ,we run the jobs,paid on receipt etc.Won’t get rich off it but it’s pretty cool really.
When this runs out I might condense the fleet put the rates up and see how it goes,but over the years I have learnt that it’s a balancing act of work you enjoy and knowing you will get paid vs chasing the rate and dealing with the sharks and twats along the way! Just my opinion and I had a very different mindset for many years,older and maybe a little wiser now!
 
Simon edwards

Simon edwards

Well-known member
If all you have is one machine on a daily rate,then you are going to have to fight very hard for every hour and every pound on that rate,a very tough game and it always has been on plant hire .On the flip side a mainline machine on a small fleet can be a bit of a loss leader but as I said before when you add in all the bits it works.
 
pettsy

pettsy

Well-known member
After fuel/depreciation and expenses I can't see the operator earning much more than £100. What's the point!

I guess if it’s regular council work you’re not going to be working 8 hours, and maybe not travelling that far? I could be wrong but locally only see some pavements being stripped and loaded into a low-bodied lorry. Infact last one I passed was parked helping rebuild a wall!
 
D

DaveDCB

Well-known member
Round here a 3cx and driver is £320 plus vat. 8 hours Inc travel.

Hence why I just hire in as needed now.
So rates have gone down in the last 10 years… 🤨 I was always 8hrs Plus travel time& half.. on white diesel travel time would now be double time as they drink the juice!
I did loads of day hire with my 3cx & minis but was going toward the contracting/price route more and more.. trail holes were the best bit! First person to set up ‘trail holes digging uk’ is onto a winner!!
 
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