Visit just about any construction site and chances are you’ll see a tractor-loader-backhoe, or TLB, at work. There’s a good reason for that, says Bob Tyler, John Deere marketing manager for backhoe loaders: “It’s a jack-of-all-trades.”
With its loader bucket on the front and excavating bucket on the back, a TLB can save an installer from owning both a front-end loader and an excavator. And it can out-lift a skid-steer loader and out-dig a compact excavator. “With this single machine, you have just one engine to service and one fuel tank to fill, and you don’t need a trailer to move it from one job site to another,” Tyler says.
A TLB offers the versatility and power to tackle a wide range of digging, loading, material handling and other tasks. You can use it to excavate a hole for a septic tank, dig trenches for sewers or drainfields, put in a footing for a house, backfill a retaining wall, or load gravel into a truck. Add various attachments and you can put it to work in even more ways.
This adaptability to such a variety of jobs explains why, by Tyler’s estimate, about one out of every four construction machines sold in the United States is a TLB. Depending on make and model, the latest machines offer such features as:
• Extendable dipper sticks to match different digging and loading assignments.
• Four-wheel drive to keep working in challenging ground and terrain.
• No-clutch shifting on the go to save time and effort.
• Automatic idling to save fuel when not operating the loader or backhoe controls.
• Electronic monitoring of machine systems.
• Longer intervals between oil changes to lower maintenance expenses.
For enhanced comfort and convenience, you can outfit new TLBs with options like ride control to eliminate porpoising when traveling between work sites; quick couplers to save time and effort when changing attachments; smooth, easy-operating pilot joystick controls for operating loader and backhoe functions; and power ports for your cell phone.
The intent of advances in TLB design and technology is to improve productivity. Consider one feature of tool carrier option available on selected John Deere TLBs. “It makes the front end of the machine perform like a forklift and a wheel loader,” Tyler says. “At the flip of a switch, you can choose self-leveling to keep the bucket level with the ground as you raise or lower it, and so prevent spilling. Or you can choose parallel lift for working with the fork attachment, to keep a pallet or other load level with the ground when loading and unloading.”
Here’s a look at some current TLB models and features they offer:
JCB 3CX and 4CX
The redesigned 3CX and 4CX models cut fuel bills an average 6 to 16 percent at typical daily work rates, mainly because of a new, three-pump hydraulic system. It provides the same hydraulic output at lower engine speeds and improves performance of the extending dipper stick. The optional EcoLoad package automatically resets the shovel to dig position and diverts hydraulic power to the loader for faster lifting. Other options include a heated front windshield and 29-foot hose reel to power handheld hydraulic tools. 912/447-2000; www.jcb.com.
New Holland Construction B95B TC
Powered by a 97 hp (gross) turbocharged engine, the B95B TC (tool carrier) loader backhoe offers 14,109 pounds of loader breakout force for digging in tough conditions and a self-leveling feature that keeps forks level when raising and lowering loads. The curved, narrow boom design reduces transport height, increases digging power and improves visibility, while the slim cab pillars and sloped hood enhance visibility to the loader bucket’s front edge. The flip-up hood and one-side, ground level access to daily service points make routine maintenance easier. 888/365-6423; www.newholland.com.
Case 580 Super M Series 3
At the heart of the five-model Case Series 3 loader backhoes is the 580 Super M. Powered by a turbocharged 91 hp (net) engine, it has a 14-foot 5-inch digging depth, a 6,182-pound lift capacity, and a 9,164-pound bucket breakout. Optional power-shift transmission with three-speed reverse produces up to 15 percent more pushing power in first and second gears for more bucket-filling productivity. The Pro Control System provides precise control of the back-hoe; eliminates over-swing for faster, accurate placement of buckets or attachments; and cushions quick stops. For faster turnarounds, the stabilizers can be raised while swiveling the seat to the loader position. 866/542-2736; www.casece.com.
John Deere 410J TMC
Equipped with a 98 hp (net) engine, the 19,022-pound 410J TMC loader backhoe provides a digging depth of 16 feet 1 inch, a 10,210-pound loader breakout force, and a loader lift capacity of 7,340 pounds. Optional Total Machine Control includes armrest-mounted electro-hydraulic joystick controls, so you can operate the backhoe while facing to the side. In addition to automating formerly manual functions, the joysticks have fingertip buttons that replace foot pedals and levers for controlling the stabilizers, extendable dipper stick and front/rear auxiliary hydraulics. The mini-joystick on the right-hand controller lets you move the backhoe and loader simultaneously to maneuver around obstacles. 309/765-8000; www.deere.com.
Caterpillar 420E
The most popular of Caterpillar’s four backhoe loaders, the high-performance 420E is available in a conventional version as well as an integrated tool carrier configuration with parallel-lift loader linkage for easier truck loading and handling of palletized materials. The 89 hp (net) unit, with standard pilot-operated joystick controls, has a maximum digging depth of 14 feet 4 inches (17 feet 11 inches with extendable stick) and offers a factory-installed thumb. The AccuGrade BHL grade and depth check system boosts accuracy and productivity and lowers operating costs. A low hood, which tilts forward for easy service and maintenance access, enhances sight lines to the loader. 309/675-1000; www.cat.com.
Terex TX860B Elite
The 100 hp (net) TX860B Elite loader backhoe handles a 1.32-cubic-yard loader bucket and other multipurpose attachments, such as a grapple front bucket and angle dozer. Weighing 15,964 pounds, the machine has a maximum digging depth of 19 feet 3 inches and a lift capacity of 9,796 pounds. It comes standard with four-wheel drive, counterweight for greater stability, mechanical loader controls, thumb-switch-operated extendable dipper stick, and piloted backhoe controls. A joystick override switch allows the operator to stand when digging for a clear view inside the trench. The rear-tilting hood gives easy access to all maintenance points from the ground. 218/327-3434; www.terex.com.
Volvo BL60 and BL70
Volvo center-mount backhoe loaders are outfitted for fuel efficiency and high-torque performance. Powered by an 83 hp (net) engine, the 16,178-pound BL60 digs to 14 feet 5 inches. With a loader bucket capacity of one cubic yard, it has a loader lift capacity of 5,460 pounds. The 90 hp (net) BL70 weighs 17,248 pounds and provides a 14-foot 9-inch digging depth and a 6,953-pound loader lift capacity. Bucket breakout force ranges from 11,330 pounds for the BL60 to 12,445 pounds for the BL70. Both come with hydrostatic steering and load-sensing hydraulic systems and can use a variety of attachments. 828/650-2000; www.volvo.com. n
