Ford Industrial Tractor Usefulness

So a little background, my great grandpa was a Ford tractor dealer and had a massive collection of tractors, cars and junk. When my great grandma passed away I. The early 2000s most of it was sold. Family bought back select items.

The first picture of the ford industrial was not bought by family but stayed local. Thats me in the picture some 25 years ago with my mom, grandma and great grandma. I found the tractor in college and asked about buying it. The person who inherited it from the purchaser wanted quite a bit of money for a non-running tractor with missing sheet metal. I believe it was a 1841, I passed on it.

Fast forward, I found one with the same body work on auction in a TLB configuration, advertised as an industrial 4000. I already have a modern loader tractor. My question is are these things useful as backhoes or useful as farm tractors with the loader and backhoe removed?

Yes and no. Nostalgia is difficult to value because it interferes with usefulness and value at the same time. If the nostalgia drives the decision and there is no real need as a working loader/backhoe, then it might be a poor choice of investment. It would be marginally used, or just not used. If there is a need for that sized implement using tractor, and you are inclined to remove and sell the attachments, install a 3pt hitch and (if it has one) use the PTO. then it would be OK for a little utility.
Personally I would only own it if I could actually find weekly use for it that made sense. Jim

Frankly it would be foolish to try and remove the loader and backhoe to turn it into a farm tractor. The loader and backhoe do not easily install on another tractor besides the one it came off of, so they're worth less than scrap value. Sure they would go on another identical tractor, but all the identical tractors already have backhoes and loaders on them. Demand for those parts is all but nonexistent.

Backhoes are extremely handy to have around. Way better than a shovel and wheelbarrow. Dig holes, dig trenches, dig ditches, dig out stumps, dig out big rocks. It can be used as a crane to lift heavy objects, to push things around.

I have a 3500 industrial Ford with loader and backhoe. I dont use it more than 3-4 times a year, but when I need it, it is sure handy to have. If you think you would have use for a backhoe, I dont think you will regret buying it. If buying for any other use or purpose, I dont think youll be happy with it.

My JD 401B is an industrial model I use it for mowing. There may not be much difference from a farm tractor. One thing is the front axle may be stronger, and the color. Pacific Ocean in the background. Stan

They are heavier than the standard tractor they are based on, but without an attendant increase in horsepower. That extremely heavy cast iron grille and radiator surround makes any coolant system work a chore with the need of a chain fall or a strong helper.

If the tractor you are looking at has the earlier cable steering system- RUN!

Note the Ford Industrials originally configured as TLB may not have a three point hitch and/or PTO. That's probably a 723 backhoe which might be loose and leaky after 60 years. They have a mounting system which makes taking the backhoe off fairly easy. On the plus side they are a great-looking tractor if restored.

Removing the hoe and installing PTO or 3 point is not cost effective.
You can buy the comparable 801 for less money.

They are heavy so using in a soft area is questionable.
The hydraulics are also slow by modern standards.

Dragging the hoe around if you only have a use for the loader is a pain.
But if you have a use for the hoe it is better than a shovel.

Then again if it is an early model with cable steering a shovel might be a better choice.

Well, I can't speak to the steering that others have mentioned, or the specifics of this model at all really. However, if the hoe is viable, and your projects are within the capabilities, it might be worthwhile. MIGHT... My folks bought a MF202 TLB back in the 70's. It was pretty used up then, but you could still get parts etc. That machine has done an unbelievable amount of work. It's done multiple septic system installs, underground oil tanks, foundation, and footers, drainage ditches, you name it. It was used perhaps once a year for decades, and apart from blowing a hose now and again, the hoe was fine.
Fast forward to today. The hoe hasn't been used since 2012. It had been a few years since using it before that. I found the rotator on the hoe was in just about complete bypass. The curl cylinder is also in bypass. I could get the curl fixed, but the rotator parts are NLA.
If I could get that rotator fixed, it would be worthwhile to do so. Yes, the hoe really would need all the other cylinders rebuilt, but that's not a horrible project. It would need hoses, which is expensive, but what isn't. I don't need a hoe often, and I do have a very small one besides the 202, but there are still projects that need a full size machine. If I could get the parts, I'd do it. The reality is, I can't get them, so it sits, disconnected in the woodline. The hoe will never get fixed, or used again. Unfortunately, I can't get my uncle to agree to get rid of it (he owns half). The tractor, and loader run fine. It's nowhere near as nice as the JD300 loader, so it generally sits as well. I run it a couple times a year, so it gets run, but it isn't really needed unless the JD goes down...

So... IF you have the occasional need for a hoe, AND you can actually service everything involved, then it might be worthwhile.
On the other hand, if you just want a hobby to pour your money in to, why not... Some people have boats or cars for that sort of thing...