The weight of a backhoe depends on its size, digging capacity and other factors. A two-wheel-drive model from manufacturer John Deere that digs to a depth of 15 feet weighs about 13,500 pounds, as of 2014. A four-wheel-drive model that digs deeper than 15 feet weighs about 25,000 pounds.
A backhoe is a large excavating vehicle with a scoop for digging on the end of a mechanical arm. The part of the arm closest to the vehicle is the boom. The section with the digging bucket is the dipper or dipper stick. The digging arm typically swivels to about 200 degrees. Backhoes dig by pulling earth backwards rather than by lifting it forward.
