Installing a thumb on a Harbor Freight Backhoe Trencher 

One modification I found extremely useful is to get some 22x11-10 high load 4ply atv tires with 10x10 on 4on4 pattern rims... The added width of the tire tread helps to prevent getting stuck while walking it in muddy or soft soilsand the extra inch of clearance aids in walking over stumps/logs/rocks

Thank you for posting this! I just assembled my backhoe, and am very pleased with it's performance. I purchased a similar thumb, and am glad to see how it works. After pricing small tractors and finding out adding the backhoe attachment would be $8000., no matter the brand of tractor, I spent less than $4000. on the Harbor Freight machine. I've watched many, many videos, joined a Facebook group, and generally soaked up all the knowledge I could find about this backhoe. I love this thing, and look forward to many years of cool, and fun, work with it.

I upgraded this as well. 3/2/2024 I'm planning on welding the plate before I start building my cabin this summer. This fit exactly as you said. Great video.

I have the exact same thumb for my HF backhoe and I love it. You actually don't need to remove the, "brace piece," when switching to digging. It's designed to flip up between the plates and thumb and held in place with the same pin that holds the thumb.

Great video, short and to the point with good instructions. I decided to drill the dipper and bolt my thumb on so I can totally remove it when not needed. My thought was the extra weight of the thumb may put some extra wear on the main pin over time. You are right, the thumb really adds to the usefulness of the trencher.

Your videos are very well detailed AND AWESOME

Very nice!

At 1:37 I thought there was a deer in the background, but rest assured people it was only a goat.

Outstanding

The goats will make short work of that seat lol

Nice upgrades. I did the same, welded backplate of thumb. Used it to pulled up a cement slab. Did you gusset the outrigger? Mine was not and ripped apart. I eliminated the joint, and welded 1/4" wall square tubing in it's place. Hard to find a good metal scrap yard around me. One cylinder bent, replaced so far digging deep hard dry trench. Curious if the wheels could just flip u, use as foot rests as well? LOL Great job!

Great video! Thank you! I can't find dimensions for the assembled machine! I need to know them so I know what size shed to buy to store the trencher in! I was looking at 10 x 10 sheds but my wife doesn't think that will be big enough? Would you be able to help us with this? Length, width and height would be helpful. I imagine the boom could be "folded" to save room? We would really appreciate your help! Don't want to leave a brand new machine out in the weather! Thank you!

We added the same thumb to ours. Have you had any issues with the using the thumb and messing up the or breaking the bucket. We don’t know for sure but are thinking that is what caused our bucket to break at the welds from squeezing to tight.