Backhoe loader specifications fill a long sheet: weights, two buckets, two sets of digging forces, engine, gears, tyres and brakes. Only a handful decide whether a machine suits your work. This guide explains what each group of backhoe loader specifications means and how to read it, using the published figures of the four LICH backhoe loaders as worked examples. LICH also builds the road roller that compacts the trench backfill a backhoe leaves behind.
Backhoe loader specifications at a glance
| LC-B30 | LC-B388 | LC-B388T | LC-B388H | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 7,640 kg | 8,200 kg | 8,200 kg | On request |
| Rated power | 75 kW | 75 kW | 70 kW (95 hp) | 75 kW |
| Loader bucket | 1.2 m³ | 1.0 m³ | 1.0 m³ | 1.2 m³ |
| Loader lifting capacity | 2,500 kg | 2,500 kg | 2,500 kg | 2,500 kg |
| Loader breakout force | 38 kN | 47 kN | On request | 47 kN |
| Backhoe bucket | 0.3 m³ | 0.3 m³ | 0.3 m³ | 0.3 m³ |
| Maximum digging depth | 4,082 mm | 4,085 mm | 4,085 mm | 3,820 mm (standard arm) |
| Backhoe swing angle | 190° | 180° | On request | 180° |
| Gears (forward / reverse) | 2 / 2 | 2 / 2 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Maximum speed | 22 km/h | 24 km/h | 38 km/h | 36 km/h |
Figures from the LICH product catalogue, read on 22 October 2026. Each model page lists the full backhoe loader specifications.
Weight and power
Operating weight is the first line in most backhoe loader specifications. It sets the transport plan and the stability of the machine when the backhoe digs. The LICH range sits at 7.6–8.2 t, a common size for utility and municipal work. Rated power (70–75 kW here) mainly affects travel and loader speed; digging force comes from the hydraulics.
Loader side of the backhoe loader specifications
- Bucket capacity (1.0–1.2 m³): how much the front bucket carries per pass. A larger bucket suits loose soil, sand and gravel.
- Lifting capacity (2,500 kg): the load the loader arms can raise. It matters for pallets and pipe.
- Breakout force (38–47 kN): how hard the bucket can tear into a pile. Higher is better for compacted material.
- Dumping height: 2,742 mm on the LC-B30 and 3,050 mm on the LC-B388H. Check it against the side height of your trucks.
Backhoe side of the backhoe loader specifications
- Maximum digging depth (3,820–4,085 mm): the deepest trench in one setup. Add a margin for bedding and trench boxes.
- Digging forces: the LC-B388 lists 50 kN at the bucket and 31 kN at the arm; the LC-B30 lists 46.5 kN and 31 kN. Bucket force does most of the work in hard ground.
- Swing angle (180–190°): how far the backhoe swings to place spoil beside the trench.
- Backhoe dumping height: 3,795 mm on the LC-B388 and 4,050 mm on the LC-B388H, for loading trucks from the rear.
Drivetrain, tyres and brakes
This is where the four models differ most. The LC-B30 and LC-B388 use two forward gears and top out at 22–24 km/h, which suits one site. The LC-B388T has a Carraro four-wheel-drive powershift with four gears and 38 km/h, plus wet internal brakes; the LC-B388H has four gears, 36 km/h and 450 mm ground clearance on 16.9-28 tyres all round. If the machine drives between jobs on public roads, these backhoe loader specifications matter more than a few kN of digging force.
Which backhoe loader specifications matter for your job
- Utility trenching: digging depth, bucket force and swing angle.
- Loading trucks and moving material: loader bucket, breakout force and dumping height.
- Municipal and road work across several sites: maximum speed, gears and brakes.
- Rough or muddy sites: ground clearance, tyre size and four-wheel drive.
Questions buyers ask
What is the most important backhoe loader specification?
For most buyers it is maximum digging depth, because it decides which trenches the machine can dig in one setup. Then check loader bucket size and travel speed against your work.
How deep can a backhoe loader dig?
The LICH models reach 3,820–4,085 mm with the standard arm.
Backhoe loader or excavator?
A backhoe loader digs and loads and drives itself between sites; an excavator digs deeper and harder. See backhoe vs excavator and backhoe vs loader.
New to the machine? Read what is a backhoe loader. Send us your trench depth, truck height and travel distance, and we will match the backhoe loader specifications to a LICH model.