| The Backhoe is the most common piece of | | | | place, these two legs are jutted out from |
| machinery used in construction industry. | | | | beneath the unit. These two legs provide |
| Backhoe probably is the one which can be | | | | extra support to the unit. Once this is done, |
| mostly seen on any construction site - | | | | the operator will use one of the levers to |
| whether on roads or large structures. A | | | | reach the desired digging point by extending |
| Backhoe is essentially a digging equipment | | | | the arm. Another lever on the console is then |
| always fitted with a vehicle. It is often | | | | used to lower the bucket to make it touch the |
| termed excavator or backhoe loader. | | | | ground. Third lever in the system is used to |
| | | | start the digging operations - this lever |
| Backhoe functions much like human arm - it | | | | forces down the bucket into the earth. The |
| can dig, lift the material and throw (dump). | | | | inward motion ensures the dug material fill |
| Backhoe has three parts - boom, stick, and | | | | up the bucket. Once the bucket is filled up, |
| bucket. Boom is attached to the vehicle | | | | it is either dumped sidewise or into the dump |
| (often called tractor), and joined with | | | | truck. |
| stick. Other end of the stick is joined to | | | | |
| the bucket. Now the design is complete - | | | | Compact backhoes |
| bucket as hands, stick as your forearm and | | | | |
| boom as upper arm. | | | | Another very popular variety of backhoes is |
| | | | compact backhoes. These compact backhoes can |
| Tractor is attached with the other two | | | | be kept in the same category as those like |
| components in the system - the backhoe and | | | | skid-steer loaders, compact wheel loaders and |
| the loader. Backhoe does the digging, | | | | trenchers. While each of these types has its |
| tractor makes the whole unit movable and the | | | | own sets of pro's and con's, it is important |
| loader shifts the dug material. These three | | | | to keep in mind the main application where |
| make up the whole unit needed on the | | | | these will be put to use. Compact backhoes |
| construction sites. | | | | are known for very efficient digging, faster |
| | | | load and carry cycles and light attachment |
| Operating the backhoe | | | | use. If you are looking to have an |
| | | | application asking for digging upto six feet |
| Operator sitting inside the tractor finds | | | | depth, compact backhoes are exceptionally |
| facing the control panel in his front on the | | | | good for the purpose. Compact backhoes are |
| dashboard. It has three major consoles - one | | | | very easy to use, and need far less time to |
| each for the tractor, backhoe and the loader. | | | | be detached from the tractor unit. Curved |
| A skilled operator knows that backhoe | | | | bottom boom structures are also characterized |
| operations need more application than the | | | | by some compact backhoes available in the |
| front loader. Operator has to simultaneously | | | | market. When the application involves heavy |
| operate the vehicle (tractor) and the | | | | truck loading operations, compact backhoes |
| backhoe. The operation starts with digging | | | | have proved to be a great boon. |
| the hole and then dumping the dug material on | | | | |
| the side (or even loading a truck parked | | | | Some of the major and reputed backhoe |
| nearby). Two stabilizer legs support the unit | | | | manufacturers are JCB, Caterpillar, John |
| - once the tractor is parked at the desired | | | | Deere, Case, KPX, Massey Ferguson, etc. |