Questions we are asked
What contractors ask us before they choose between a backhoe and an excavator.
Price and where to buy
Where can I buy a used backhoe loader?+
From our Qingdao yard, with the price and the hours published. We hold a British built JCB 3CX now and source others to order.
How much does a used backhoe loader cost?+
Ours is USD 47,000 FOB Qingdao with 1,558 hours. Price moves mainly with hours, make and whether the machine has four wheel drive and extending dipper.
How much is a used JCB 3CX?+
USD 47,000 as it stands in Qingdao, a 2020 machine with 1,558 hours and a JCB engine, built in the United Kingdom.
Where can I buy a cheap JCB backhoe?+
Buying from the yard that owns the machine removes the dealer margin, and JCB machines carry a large one because the brand holds its value.
Is a backhoe loader worth buying used?+
Yes, and the 3CX is among the safer used purchases anywhere. There are so many of them that parts, operators and resale are all straightforward.
Backhoe or excavator
Do I need a backhoe or an excavator?+
If you are digging all day, buy an excavator. If your work is half digging and half moving material, and it is spread across sites, the backhoe is the better machine.
Can one backhoe replace two machines?+
For small contractors, often yes. It removes the need for a separate loader and the transport between jobs, which is where the saving actually comes from.
What work is a backhoe loader best for?+
Utility trenching, drainage, small foundations, backfilling and site tidying. Municipal and roadside work is where you see most of them.
Can a backhoe loader drive between job sites?+
Yes, at road speed. That is the single biggest reason to own one, because a low loader costs money every time the work moves.
How many hours is too many on a backhoe loader?+
Backhoes often work in short bursts rather than long shifts, so the meter reads lower than the wear suggests. Check the loader arms, the stabiliser feet and the seat before you judge it by hours.
Buying and shipping
Are JCB parts easy to find?+
Yes. JCB has dealers on every continent and the 3CX is common enough that independent suppliers stock the wear parts too.
How much does it cost to ship a backhoe loader?+
Less than most machines of its capability, because it goes in a container. Tell us your port and we will confirm the rate.
Can a backhoe fit inside a container?+
Yes, once the loader arms are lowered, which makes it one of the cheaper machines of its size to move by sea.
Can you source a backhoe loader to order?+
Yes. Tell us whether you want JCB or another make, the hour ceiling and whether you need four wheel drive, and we will look.
Can I inspect a backhoe before I pay?+
Yes. Come to Qingdao or send an inspector, and have them work both ends of the machine rather than only the digging end.
