Loader Backhoe Is Sized Right for Working with Soils

Clay Dyer’s B100T loader backhoe is ideal for soil testing
work.

When Clay Dyer went shopping for a compact loader backhoe, he tested four different brands of machines on the jobsite before trying a Bobcat® B100T loader backhoe. “As soon as I used it, I knew that was the one I wanted,” he says.

The other products he evaluated had a backhoe attachment with a three-point hitch, which limited digging depth. They also had one seat for operating the loader and another for running the backhoe. Dyer preferred the ease and convenience of swinging the single seat of the Bobcat machine around to work either end of the machine. The others had a gasoline engine; the B100T has a more powerful, turbo-charged diesel engine.

However, the real attraction of the Bobcat loader backhoe was its solid construction. “The Bobcat unit is built much stronger than the others,” he says.

“The boom on the backhoe is a substantial piece of steel. It’s designed as part of the machine rather than as an add-on three-point hitch attachment.”

A geologist and soil scientist based in Holt, Mo., Dyer analyzes the suitability of soils for various types of septic systems. He uses his B100T with a 24-in. trenching bucket to dig pits, roughly 3-ft.-long and 5-ft.-deep. He goes into the pits to study soil horizons and characteristics. When he’s done, he uses the bucket to make quick, easy work of backfilling
the hole.

Clay Dyer

In the past Dyer dug the pits with either a backhoe-equipped skid-steer loader or a compact excavator. However, they weighed a ton or more than his 4,865-lb. B100T. That extra weight posed problems since many of his jobsites are located on undeveloped rural land such as pastures, cultivated fields or wooded lots.

“If the ground had any kind of moisture, my truck and trailer would get stuck or I’d have to park the truck and trailer on the shoulder of a road, which can create safety concerns,” he says. “My B100T is so much easier to haul. Also, I can load and unload the smaller loader backhoe in half the time of the bigger equipment. That, plus easier access to sites, means I can get more work done.”

The B100T’s 31.5 hp engine provides plenty of power for digging and backfilling the pits, Dyer reports. At the same time, the operator’s platform gives him ample room to work the controls which are easy to reach and operate.

His Bobcat loader backhoe does more than dig soil pits. “I always carry a 13-in. trenching bucket with me,” Dyer says. “If home builders are on the site when I show up, they often find extra work for me, such as excavating areas to bury propane tanks or digging trenches for water lines.” The Bobcat-X-Change® (backhoe) and the Bob-Tach™ (loader) attachment mounting systems make changing buckets fast and simple, he adds.

Dyer receives excellent service and support from his dealer, KC Bobcat, Blue Springs, Mo.

“They’ll come right out to the jobsite to service my equipment. I don’t have to lose an entire day for maintenance or repairs.”

A great machine and great dealer support add up to one satisfied Bobcat loader backhoe owner. “I wish I had my B100T years ago,” he says.