Backhoes Adapt to Fend Off Compact Competitors

In the past, the backhoe loader’s name was a complete description of what it offered: a backhoe in the back and loader arms up front, nearly always fitted with a bucket.

But that’s been changing as compact equipment eats away at the market share of what once was a mandatory machine for any dirt-moving contractor.

“The backhoe loader, maybe more than any other ‘traditional’ piece of construction equipment, has been affected significantly by the explosion of compact equipment,” says Ed Brenton, product manager, Case Construction Equipment.

One way OEMs have kept backhoes competitive against compact equipment is by adding versatility – an important, but difficult challenge.

Although backhoe-specific quick-attach systems exist, backhoe loader arms aren’t well suited for common quick-attach hardware, such as a skid steer plate.

The 97-horsepower New Holland B95C has a 14-foot 6-inch dig depth and 11-foot 5-inch height to hinge pin. Backhoe digging force is 12,969 pounds. Loader breakout force is 14,712 pounds and lift capacity is 11,118 pounds. (All figures are maximums and vary with configuration.) The B95C LR Long Reach model provides greater dig depth and a 22-foot 4-inch reach. The B95C TC Tool Carrier model features mechanical self-leveling of the loader both up and down.New HollandRyan Anderson, product marketing manager, New Holland Construction, says there are no backhoe-specific attachments such as a cold planer made for use with a compact track loader. Despite this, customers are ordering attachments, he says.

Brooms and forks are popular. Machines that retain a bucket on the front are often fitted with a 4-in-1 bucket for versatility. On the dipper, hydraulic hammer/breakers and compaction tools are the most common options, and a thumb is a staple component.