JCB are the world’s largest manufacturer of backhoe loaders – many are made in the UK, but the company also has a huge backhoe loader factory in India.
Inventors of the backhoe loader in the 1950’s, JCB have remained the number one choice for site operators in the UK even though they have started to call them ‘Excavator Loaders’.
The popular 3CX backhoe has been in production for more than 40 years and is still going strong today. Read more about the history and current model lineup below.
Typical Used JCB Backhoe Loader for Sale - Here a 3CX Contractor from 2003
The JCB 3 went into production in 1961, followed by the JCB 3C in 1963 and the JCB 3CII in 1967 – a model which stood the test of time, staying in production for the next 13 years.
To the uninitiated, the original 3CX is not massively different to the most modern of today’s backhoe loaders from JCB. Soon after its launch, the Sitemaster version was added to the 3CX range. This had a multi-function jaw bucket.
Early engines were courtesy of Leyland, but these were replaced by the Perkins 4236. By 1985 the cab had received a facelift and three years later in 1988 the motor was again changed – this time from the Perkins 4236 to the 1000 series.
In 1990, the smaller 2CX joins the line-up, with equal sized wheels and four-wheel steering.
The relaunch of the 3CX Backhoe loader range saw a revised ‘black’ cab and a reworked chassis. It was at this point that the 4CX was first launched with an all-wheel drive and all-wheel steer system.
Buyers could also opt for the more powerful ‘Contractor’ version of the 3CX at that time.
1993 saw the launch of the 3CX Super with wheels of equal size. In this period the 4CX outsold the 3CX.
Fewer changes for this version – there was a facelift and some new hydraulics and interior cab levers. 1999 saw the Perkins 1000 series increase in displacement to 4.2 litres.
A lot more glass in the new cab and changes to the transmission with a digital display introduced in 2009. The most significant change was the change in engine in 2004 to meet the tier 2 emission standards. The Perkins name stayed, but the 1100 series was introduced at 4.4 litres.
This engine was short-lived, as JCB had been beavering away on their own engine and launched the 444 engine in 2005 with upgrades in 2008 to meet the tier 3 standards.
2010 saw the ECO backhoe loader launched with JCB’s Ecomax engines. in 2014 JCB launched the 5CX with a larger bucket and extended dig depth. Sharing the driveline with the 4CX, 5CX’s equal sized wheels mean top ground clearance.
Read more below about the most recent lineup…
The 1CX resembles closely a skid steer loader with a rear backhoe – because that’s just what it is. It is, in addition, a ‘proper’ JCB with swivel seat for the driver to operate the loader or backhoe end. The 2021 mode has a operating weight of 3254kgs and is driven by a 50hp diesel. The maximum loader shovel capacity is 0.8m3
The 1CX is also available as a tracked version the 1CXT. All the specifications remain the same, with the exception of the increased operating weight to 4 tonnes.
Launched between September 2020 and March 2021, at stage V the 3CX range became available as an Eco, Plus or PRO version.
All dimensions are the same across the three backhoes – the differences are mainly in the driveline.
The ECO comes with JCB’s 3-litre, 55kw engine, whilst the 3CX Plus or 3CX Pro comes with the 4.8 litre 81kW engine.
The choice of transmissions across the range is similar, with the 6-speed Autoshift available to replace the Powershift transmissions on the PRO versions.
Operating weights are 8,320 for the ECO and 8,600 for the PLUS and the PRO and all models are two wheel steer.
As far as digging dynamics are concerned, all models have the same capabilities, unless the 3CX Eco is specified with the standard dipper, as opposed to the extradig which is standard across the other two models.
For specialist roadworks operations, JCB have launched the 3CX Pothole Master. This comes with a choice of the two higher output engine version of 91 or 109HP. Instead of the standard backhoe, the rear attachment uses a patch planer (400mm) with a sweeping collector at the front.
Originally launched in 1991, the 4CX is a similar machine to the 3CX with the main difference being the use of four wheel steering.
Originally with the Perkins 1000 range of engines, 2008 saw the 4CX fitted with JCB’s own 444 engine.
The most recent stage V models come in ‘PLUS’ and ‘PRO’ versions (no ECO for the 4CX).
Launched in 2014, the larger 5CX, which also has a successful Wastemaster version, Is very similar to the 4CX with the exception of the size of the bucket and the extended dig depth to 6.51 metres.
JCB machines from landmark years of Her Majesty the Queen’s 70-year reign took centre stage at the spectacular Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London. The five diggers paraded down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace past members of the Royal Family and tens of thousands of cheering spectators who were lining the route. The team of operators driving the JCB machines spoke of their pride and emotion at being involved in the tribute to The Queen as they drove machines manufactured in The Queen’s jubilee years of 1977, 2002, 2012 and 2022 – and one made in her coronation year 1953. JCB…
JCB machines from the past and the present will be taking centre stage at a special pageant in London as the nation comes together to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next month. The company confirmed that it has signed an agreement to become a Platinum Jubilee Pageant Partner – and milestone machines spanning The Queen’s 70-year reign will be taking part in the spectacular event. The Pageant - to be held in London on Sunday June 5th - will be the culmination of celebrations to mark The Queen’s 70 years on the throne. It will involve more than…
JCB’s hydrogen engine has won one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in British automotive engineering honouring technical achievement. At a ceremony in London, JCB Chairman Lord Bamford was presented with the Royal Automobile Club’s Dewar Trophy for the company’s development of a hydrogen fuel motor. It is the third time that JCB’s innovations have been honoured with the Dewar Trophy. John Wood MBE, Chairman of the Dewar Technical Committee commented, “JCB has been a pioneer in terms of powertrain development since it started building its own engines in 2004. That ethos has continued with its latest hydrogen-fuelled engines,…
JCB is investing £100 million on a project to produce hydrogen engines for its range of plant machinery. A team of 100 engineers is already working on the development with the recruitment of up to 50 more engineers under way as JCB targets the end of 2022 for the first machines to be available for sale to customers. JCB’s hydrogen technology is on show in the Green Zone at COP26 in Glasgow Hydrogen Prototype Backhoe Loader The wraps have already come off a prototype hydrogen powered JCB backhoe loader and a second JCB machine - a Loadall telescopic handler -…
Case backhoe loaders are highly popular worldwide - their lay joint claim to inventing the category in 1957 (alongside their greatest competitor in this market, JCB).
Already in 2005, Case had made more than half a million backhoe loaders.
Models from 2012 met the Tier 4 emission standards and the range extended in 2016 to include “In-Line cylinders” backhoe and “Straight-Loader arm” options.
The latest model - the SV Series is Stage V compliant and also introduced a brand new, wider cab with new interiors and console designs. All three models in the SV range use the same...
It is hard - even for the likes of Caterpillar - to get a foothold in the UK backhoe loader market when it is dominated by JCB.
Despite this, there are usually some listings for Caterpillar backhoe loaders for sale here at PlantPages. The machines themselves are assembled right here in Leicestershire and exported all over the world.
You can tell a CAT backhoe from the model numbers easily enough. They all start with a '4' as in 400 series.
Prior to the removal of the 'generation' letters from the end of the model numbers, the last were the 'F' series. This means that there will...
JCB are the world's largest manufacturer of backhoe loaders - many are made in the UK, but the company also has a huge backhoe loader factory in India.
Inventors of the backhoe loader in the 1950's, JCB have remained the number one choice for site operators in the UK even though they have started to call them 'Excavator Loaders'.
The popular 3CX backhoe has been in production for more than 40 years and is still going strong today. Read more about the history and current model lineup below.
