A backhoe, also known a rear actor or back actor, is a section of excavating equipment or digger consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm. They are typically mounted on the back of a tractor or front loader.
Backhoe in construction
backhoe body parts
The section of the arm nearby to the vehicle is known as the boom, and the section which carries the bucket is known as the dipper or dipper stick (the terms “boom” and “dipper” having been used previously on steam shovels). The boom is attached to the vehicle through a pivot known as the kingpost, which allows the arm to slew left and right, usually through a total of around 200 degrees. Modern backhoes are powered by hydraulics.
