Backhoes are excavating equipment generally used in construction. A typical backhoe consists of a two piece articulated arm with a digging bucket attached to the rear of a tractor or a front loader. The arm of a backhoe consists of two parts, the boom and the dipper or the dipperstick. The boom is attached via the kingpost which allows the arm movement to the left and right. The range of movement general is limited to a about 200 degrees.
Backhoes are useful for digging trenches or moving dirt. The powerful arm is capable of breaking through many surface materials like concrete or blacktop. Backhoes and backhoe loaders will make any job easier, faster and more cost efficient than the alternative. Even if you only plan to take on a one-time project involving trench digging for wires, cables, pipes or ditches, renting a backhoe loader will accomplish multiple jobs with only one piece of equipment and one operator.
Backhoes were developed in the early 50's by the British manufacture JCB. Their format of a tractor with a hoe and a front mounted loading bucket set the standard that remains today. Now the backhoe is an industry standard and many manufacturers make backhoes of various configurations. Companies like Case, BTI, Caterpillar, Hitachi, John Deere, JCB, Kubota, Komatsu and many others.