I've been on the fence about picking up the 260 backhoe for my 2305 - mostly out of concerns how much I would really use it. I live in a community that is about 240 acres and I'm the youngest member by 15 years, I'm also one of 4 people who own a tractor or any sorts of equipment. Also, one of the few who has any dirt work experience. (Growing up on a farm helps, a lot. Especially with a father who was a contractor for a while.)
With that said, there is a lot of ditching, tree planting, general maintenance work that needs done around the property, however - it's not all on my shoulders to do.
Add onto this, I have access at nearly anytime to a Cat 301.5 mini-excavator down the road at my family's farm, but it's about an 2 hours to go get the goose neck hooked up, get the excavator out, load it up & chain it down then drive it to where I need it and finally, take it back. Where as, about 5 minutes to hook the backhoe up and drive it down the street.
Do you guys who have the 260 (or a small backhoe for that matter, BX series or whatnot.) Find yourself using it for small jobs here or there? Or should I side list it for now, until I move to more property? (A goal in the next 5-7 years is to buy 20-40 acres around where I live.)
I can regularly find 260's used for $3500-4000 and the powerbeyond kit is only $300 from my local dealer. So, all in all - lets say $4500 for the entire kit. Worth it for the 'freedom' of having it, or would it just take up space and collect dust in my garage?
With that said, there is a lot of ditching, tree planting, general maintenance work that needs done around the property, however - it's not all on my shoulders to do.
Add onto this, I have access at nearly anytime to a Cat 301.5 mini-excavator down the road at my family's farm, but it's about an 2 hours to go get the goose neck hooked up, get the excavator out, load it up & chain it down then drive it to where I need it and finally, take it back. Where as, about 5 minutes to hook the backhoe up and drive it down the street.
Do you guys who have the 260 (or a small backhoe for that matter, BX series or whatnot.) Find yourself using it for small jobs here or there? Or should I side list it for now, until I move to more property? (A goal in the next 5-7 years is to buy 20-40 acres around where I live.)
I can regularly find 260's used for $3500-4000 and the powerbeyond kit is only $300 from my local dealer. So, all in all - lets say $4500 for the entire kit. Worth it for the 'freedom' of having it, or would it just take up space and collect dust in my garage?