Terex Backhoe Reviews: What 3 Years of TCO Tracking Taught Me (And One $2,700 Mistake)

Is a Terex Backhoe the Right Machine for You?

That's the question I was asking myself back in 2020. I'd read the specs, watched the promotional videos, and seen the price tag on a Terex backhoe. But what I really wanted to know—what I needed to know—wasn't in the brochure. I wanted to know what it was like to own one for three years. The hidden costs. The things that break. The stuff the dealer doesn't tell you.

I'm a contractor managing a small fleet for a municipal public works department. My job is equipment purchasing and maintenance. Over the last six years, I've made enough mistakes to fill a small textbook. One of them involved a Terex 71173 model. This article is the FAQ I wish I'd had back then.

FAQ: Terex Backhoe Ownership — The Real Story

1. What's the biggest mistake new Terex backhoe owners make?

Assuming the purchase price is the only number that matters.

In my first year (2017), I made the classic specification error: I approved a budget based solely on the machine's base price. Didn't factor in delivery, the initial fluid change schedule, or the fact that a specific attachment I needed wasn't included. Cost me a $2,700 redo on a budget line I'd already exhausted. The total cost of ownership (TCO) was 22% higher than my original estimate. That's the lesson: the $40,000 machine can cost you $50,000 in the first 18 months if you're not tracking everything.

2. I keep seeing 'Terex 71173' in parts catalogs. What's the deal with that model?

The Terex 71173 is a specific backhoe loader model produced around 2019-2021. It's a popular machine for municipal and utility work because of its relatively compact size and decent digging depth (around 14 feet).

(I own one. I should add that it's a workhorse, but it has a quirk: the auxiliary hydraulic coupling for the thumb attachment is placed in an annoying spot. Getting to it for greasing requires a stubby wrench and some patience. Not a dealbreaker, but a real-world annoyance nobody mentions.)

I assumed 'standard features' meant the same thing across all Terex models from that era. Didn't verify. Turned out the 71173 has a slightly different fuse box layout than the 710 series, which caused a half-day of troubleshooting a dead electrical circuit on site. The mechanic—let's call him 'White Stats' (his shop nickname, because he's always chasing statistical data on repairs)—had to call Terex support to get the diagram.

3. What's your honest review of Terex backhoes after three years?

Good: The powertrain is robust. The dealer network for parts is solid (we're in the Midwest, so YMMV). The cab is surprisingly comfortable for an 8-hour day. The loader breakout force is competitive.

Bad: The pin-and-bushing wear on the loader arms was faster than I expected on our 71173. We replaced a set at 1,800 hours, which felt early. Also, the aftermarket support for non-Terex attachments (like a quick coupler from 'Van Orden'—a brand we use) required a custom bracket. That added a week to the setup time.

The most frustrating part: the service manual is sometimes ambiguous on torque specs for the hydraulic fittings. You'd think a professional manual would be precise, but I've had to call support twice to confirm values on the swing cylinder.

4. How do you actually calculate the total cost of ownership for a backhoe?

I now calculate TCO before comparing any vendor quotes. Here's my formula for the Terex line:

• Base price + delivery + tax: Obvious, but get a firm delivery quote. 'Estimated' shipping bit me once.
• Initial service kit ($800-$1,200): Fluids, filters, first oil change at 50 hours.
• Attachment compatibility ($500-$2,000): Brackets, couplers, or hoses if you're mixing brands.
• Wear item budget (annual): Pins, bushings, bucket teeth, hoses. Budget 3-5% of purchase price annually.
• Downtime cost (risk factor): If a part takes 3 days to arrive vs. 1 day, that's 2 days of lost productivity. $200/hour in your region? That's $3,200 in downtime.

The $40,000 quote from a low-priced dealer turned into $44,500 after we added delivery, the first service, and the bracket for the Van Orden attachment. Another dealer's $42,500 all-inclusive quote was actually cheaper. (Should mention: the cheaper quote had slower turnaround on parts, which I had to factor in as a risk.)

5. What's the one thing you wish someone told you before buying?

Check the auxiliary hydraulic flow rate. Not just the PSI. The Terex 71173 has a standard flow, but if you plan to run a hydraulic thumb or a tiltrotator that requires high flow, you'll need an optional pump. I ordered mine without the hi-flow option—assumed it was standard. It wasn't. Cost me $2,400 to upgrade the pump later, plus a week of downtime.

That's the mistake I call 'the $2,700 lesson' (I'm mixing it up with an earlier mistake—it was actually $2,400 for the pump, but $300 for the labor to install it).

6. Is Terex better than competitors like Caterpillar or John Deere?

That's a loaded question. I can't give a blanket answer. What I can say: Terex offers a strong value proposition for specific use cases.

If your priority is a lower upfront cost and you have a local Terex dealer with good parts support, it's a solid choice. If you need maximum uptime in remote locations where parts availability is paramount, you might lean toward Cat or Deere. It's about your risk profile and service network.

I've never regretted buying the Terex. But I've also never regretted spending the extra time to build a TCO spreadsheet.

7. What's your top tip for someone buying a used Terex backhoe?

Check the loader arm pins for play. Crawl under and look at the bushing wear. On the 71173, this is a known wear point. If there's more than a 1/8-inch gap, budget $1,500-2,000 for a rebuild within 12 months.

Also, talk to the service manager—not just the sales person. Ask them: 'What do you see come back most for repairs on the 71173?' The sales person will tell you it's bulletproof. The mechanic will tell you about the hydraulic fitting issue (circa 2020, they switched suppliers and some early fittings had a higher failure rate—things may have changed, but it's worth asking).

Final Thoughts (And One More Lesson)

I've learned never to assume a spec sheet tells the whole story. The total cost of ownership framework—looking at purchase price, maintenance, attachments, downtime risk, and resale—has saved me more than I've lost on mistakes. (Which, honestly, is a relief to say after that $2,700 fiasco.)

If you're evaluating a Terex backhoe, take the time to run the numbers. Talk to owners. Get the service manager's opinion. And maybe plan on having that stubby wrench ready if you grab a 71173.

Good luck. You'll need less luck if you do your homework.