We build houses, and use a Case 580M to do everything it possibly can. We've used case machines for 20+ years, and theyve been great to us. Now, that aside, 2wd backhoes are worthless to us. Yes theyre cheaper, but if you have no experience with a backhoe, you'll get stuck the first time it rains. You can get around with a 2wd if you have the experience and know how to run the machine to its limits. With little to no experience though, a little 4wd goes a long way. Besides, if you buy a used machine, the rear tires are probably beat, and you will get nowhere without a good set of rears that will cost a lot of money to replace. We replaced the fronts on our 4wds 3 times before the rears, because the fronts make that much difference when youre pusing dirt. Also, we got by just fine without the extendahoe for years. Theyre great to have, (and we love ours) but you dont need one. Its just more maintainence and money to have one. One more thing to keep in mind- Backhoes are TOPHEAVY!!! they react differently to hills and snow/mud than farm tractors, bulldozers, or whatever. Be careful. They are not just toys that push dirt. You must always know what is happening to every part of that machine and know where every part is when you operate it. When you try out the machine, lift up the bucket and then immediately turn around and lower/raise the stabilizer arms. This will test out the reverser for the hydraulic system. The speed that it runs with will usually help to determine the quality and life left in the machine. If the arms go down and up right away, thats Very good. If theres a long delay, like more than 3-5 or so seconds, thats not so good. It could indicate some very expensive problems to fix down the road. Off the top of my head, I would recommend a case 580D for you. Theyre not too heavy, and will work very well with tough ground. Also they are pretty common, so hopefully not too expensive. Good luck!
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