Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/548484
EquipmentWorld.com | August 2015 43 CHOOSE YOUR BACKHOE: BASIC OR SPEC'D OUT B ackhoe loaders of 14-foot-and-greater dig depth have split into two markets: rental and con- tractor. As more standard features were added to backhoes and prices crept up accordingly, customers for lower-cost, lower-spec'd units got left behind. Manufacturers are intent on offering machines for customers at both ends of the spectrum, which for many has meant rebuilding the lower end of their backhoe model lineup. One of the keys to providing lower-cost machines is engine selection. Engines below 75 horsepower have less stringent emissions requirements under Tier 4 Final than do engines of more than 75 horsepower. The cost of meeting these less restrictive standards is lower, so the overall cost of a machine is lower. Other strategies for lowering cost in- clude having canopies as standard with cabs as options and offering performance-enhancing features only as options, or not at all. Telematics and a free multi-year subscription for their use have minimal effect on the cost of a machine and are standard on many down-spec models. Because operators of lower-cost backhoes don't want to spend their days struggling to get tasks accomplished with a weak machine, OEMs have found ways to narrow the per- formance gap that would otherwise occur when moving to a lower-output engine. John Deere's 310L EP, for example, has 70 horsepower in standard configuration, but replacing the standard belt-drive fan with a viscous-drive unit bumps that to 73 horsepower. The 310L EP has a tandem gear pump with one circuit for the front and one for the rear, while some other Deere models use a single pump. Having two dedicated circuits improves performance at both ends of the backhoe, says Brian Hennings, marketing manager for backhoe and tractor loaders at Deere. Even so, there are applications where the lower power