ZM388 / ZM388H Backhoe Loaders
Front bucket loads the truck, rear arm digs the trench — one driver does both · 7.8 t & 10 t loader-plus-backhoe machines
A backhoe loader earns its keep by replacing two machines: a 1.0 m³ loader bucket up front, a 0.3 m³ digging bucket on the rear arm, one seat in between. We build two frames in Jining. The ZM388 weighs 7,760 kg and digs to 4,085 mm — a compact backhoe that still loads trucks at 2,760 mm. The ZM388H steps up to 10,050 kg, a 1.2 m³ front bucket and 86 kN of traction for harder ground. Both photographed here in our yard, in yellow, white and black builds. Spec figures below come straight off the factory parameter sheet.
Models & technical data
| Specification | ZM388 | ZM388H |
|---|---|---|
| Operating weight | 7,760 kg | 10,050 kg |
| Overall size (L×W×H) | 6,050×2,465×3,752 mm | 6,450×2,530×3,120 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,280 mm | 2,335 mm |
| Wheel tread | 1,785 mm | 2,050 mm |
| Ground clearance | 300 mm | 450 mm |
| Loader bucket capacity | 1.0 m³ | 1.2 m³ |
| Loader breakout force | 47 kN | 47 kN |
| Loader lift capacity | 2,500 kg | 2,500 kg |
| Loader dump height | 2,760 mm | 3,050 mm |
| Loader dump reach | 900 mm | 870 mm |
| Loader digging depth | 52 mm | 52 mm |
| Backhoe bucket capacity | 0.3 m³ | 0.3 m³ |
| Backhoe bucket digging force | 50 kN | 50 kN |
| Backhoe swing arc | 180° | 180° |
| Backhoe loading height | 3,795 mm | 4,050 mm |
| Backhoe max digging depth | 4,085 mm | 3,820 mm |
| Max traction force | 60 kN | 86 kN |
| Engine | Yuchai 4-cyl turbo diesel, 76 kW | Yuchai YC4A turbo diesel, 83 kW |
Figures below are read off the factory parameter table photographed with these machines. The engine shown is the representative configuration; the exact make and rating, plus drivetrain and tire options, are confirmed per order on the datasheet sent with your quote.
Watch it work
Key features
- 1.0 m³ (ZM388) or 1.2 m³ (ZM388H) front bucket with 47 kN breakout force
- Rear 0.3 m³ bucket digs to 4,085 mm on the ZM388, with 50 kN of bucket force
- 180° rear arm swing — trench along a wall without repositioning the machine
- 2,500 kg loader lift; dump height 2,760 mm (ZM388) / 3,050 mm (ZM388H)
- Max traction 60 kN on the ZM388, 86 kN on the heavier ZM388H
- 450 mm ground clearance on the ZM388H for rutted and unpaved sites
- Loader-end backhoe loader attachments include 6-in-1 bucket, forks, grapple, snow blade and sweeper
Where it works
One seat, two working ends
The arithmetic is simple. A wheel loader that only loads sits idle while the trench is dug; a digging machine sits idle while the truck is loaded. A backhoe loader does both from one seat — shovel the spoil heap with the 1.0 m³ front bucket, spin the seat around, open the trench with the rear arm. On a small crew that is one machine, one operator and one shipment instead of two.
The rear arm swings through a 180° arc, so the machine can park parallel to a wall or fence line and still place the bucket where the trench needs to go. With 50 kN of bucket digging force and 4,085 mm of reach below grade on the ZM388, it handles water lines, footings and septic work — the everyday depth range most utility drawings actually call for.
ZM388 or ZM388H — pick by ground, not by habit
The ZM388 is the lighter frame: 7,760 kg, a 1.0 m³ front bucket and 60 kN of traction. It digs deeper than its big brother — 4,085 mm against 3,820 mm — because the heavier machine trades some arm reach for lift height. For trenching-led work on firm ground, the ZM388 is usually the right call.
The ZM388H answers a different question: what happens when the site is soft, rutted or just plain rough. At 10,050 kg with 86 kN of traction and 450 mm of ground clearance — 150 mm more than the standard frame — it keeps moving where a lighter machine starts scraping its belly. Its 1.2 m³ bucket and 3,050 mm dump height also load high-sided trucks more comfortably.
Breakout force, loader lift and the rear bucket are identical on both: 47 kN, 2,500 kg and 0.3 m³. You are not paying for a stronger loader when you choose the H — you are paying for footing, clearance and dump height. Tell us what your site looks like in the wet season and we will tell you which frame we would put on it.
Where this machine sits between mini backhoe and big iron
A mini backhoe is usually picked for tight residential lots; a 9-to-11-ton name-brand machine is picked for highway jobs. The ZM388 sits deliberately between the two — full-size dig depth and a genuine truck-loading front end, in a package and at a price closer to the compact backhoe class.
One distinction worth a sentence: a tractor loader backhoe is a farm tractor with a loader and digging kit bolted on, fine for chores but limited by the tractor chassis underneath. The ZM388 is purpose-built around its two working ends — the frame, axles and hydraulics were designed for digging and loading first, not adapted to it afterward.
Attachments, colors and how the deal works
The loader end accepts a 6-in-1 bucket, pallet forks, log fork, grapple, mixing bucket, snow blade, sweeper and soft clamp. The rear arm takes a quick hitch, breaker hammer, auger, ripper, thumb bucket and digging buckets in several widths. A backhoe machine that drills post holes on Monday and clears snow in January spreads its cost across the whole year.
Machines photographed on this page left our yard in standard yellow, white-and-red and all-black builds — none of them renders. Paint and decals follow your order at no drama: dealers get their house color, rental fleets get a livery that matches the rest of the line, and the photos we send before shipment show your machine, not a stock image.
If you have been comparing every backhoe loader for sale across the usual platforms, the honest summary is: we are the factory, new machines only, and the quote is itemized — base machine, attachments, freight to your port — within 24 hours. No mystery line items, and the parameter sheet for your exact build ships with the machine.
The Models Buyers Compare Us Against
A tractor loader backhoe that starts life as a farm tractor with the loader and arm bolted on is a different machine from what we build: the tractor chassis sets its limits, where the ZM388's frame, axles and hydraulics are engineered from the ground up around both working ends. On the smaller end of the market, a compact backhoe usually means something under about 8 tonnes, sized for tight residential lots rather than a full working day of truck loading; the ZM388 sits a step above that class while staying closer to its price than to the 9–11 t flagship machines.
Most buyers have already looked at specific brands before they reach us. The John Deere 310 and 410 series, the Case 580, the Cat 416 and 420, and the Ford 555 are the machines we get compared against most often — the long-running benchmarks for the mid-size backhoe class. We are not a re-badged version of any of them; the ZM388 is our own engineering, quoted direct without a dealer margin. Send us a spec sheet from any of those models and we will line the numbers up side by side.
Buying Direct: Pricing and Configuration
Most buyers researching this machine want the same thing: a straightforward factory number, not an auction gamble or a private listing with unknown hours. We quote itemised — machine, attachments, freight to your port — within 24 hours, so you can compare our number against equipment-trader listings and used-auction prices line by line rather than guessing at a bundled figure. Buyers who have been priced out of new machines by dealer markups are often surprised how close the factory-direct number lands to what they were about to pay for tired used iron.
Both frames ship 4-wheel-drive as standard, not an option — the soft ground, gravel yards and rutted sites a backhoe loader typically works make anything less impractical. They are wheeled, self-propelled machines, not a 3-point hitch or PTO attachment for a utility tractor and not a towable trailer unit; if that is what you are shopping for, tell us and we will point you to the right category rather than sell you the wrong machine. A tracked or crawler build can be discussed to order for very soft or steep ground — contact us with the site conditions.
Applications and use cases across industries
Construction work covers the obvious: foundation digging, footing excavation, trench work for water and sewer, backfilling and grading. A jobsite typically runs the ZM388 through a full working day split between loading trucks with the front bucket and opening trenches with the rear arm — exactly what it is designed to do continuously. Road repair and utility replacement are the bread-and-butter cycles on municipal contracts.
Farm and rural use comes up constantly: landowners need to dig a pond, install a drain tile, bury a water line or clean a ditch — jobs too big for a garden tractor and too small to justify renting a full-size excavator. The ZM388 handles all of that work in a frame that still fits through a 3-metre gate.
Rental and equipment dealer uses follow logically. A rental fleet machine needs to be durable, simple to service and able to take abuse from operators of varying skill. Attachments — compaction wheel, jackhammer, wood splitter, snow plow and a range of rear buckets — extend the machine into a wider billing calendar. A machine on hire 200 days a year breaking concrete one month and clearing snow the next earns back its capital cost faster than one spec'd for a single application. The ZM388 rear arm also accepts a thumb bucket, auger, ripper and breaker, so rental yards can upsell attachments alongside the base machine hire.
Electric backhoe: what exists and what is coming
Buyers asking about an electric backhoe are mostly asking one of two questions: does an electric version of this machine exist for low-emission zones, and is it available from the factory? The honest answer is that battery-electric full-size backhoe loaders are still early-commercial products — the Cat 420 XE and a small number of equivalent machines are in field trials, but the supply chain and price point are not where the diesel mainstream is. Interest also comes from buyers in urban areas where diesel bans or noise curfews make low-emission machinery a procurement requirement, not a preference.
Our current ZM388 and ZM388H are diesel machines. If you are specifying for a low-emission zone or an indoor project where exhaust is not acceptable, tell us the site constraints in your enquiry — the machine configuration, including drivetrain options, is a discussion we have at quoting stage. The electric backhoe segment is moving fast and what is available on lead time changes quarter to quarter; the 24-hour quote process is the fastest way to get a current answer on what is shippable for your timeline.
Related Buying Guides
Choosing a Backhoe Loader: Compact, Small, TLB and What to Look For
A practical guide to choosing a backhoe loader — from the best compact tractor loader backhoe to the best small backhoe, TLB pricing, breaker and bucket attachments, sized by dig depth, loader capacity and transport.
Read more →
Mini Excavator vs Backhoe Loader: Which One Should You Buy?
Mini excavator vs backhoe loader — and where a skid steer fits — comes down to dig depth, mobility and whether you need to load. Here's a clear comparison to pick the best mini excavator or the best small backhoe for your work.
Read more →Common questions
How much does a backhoe loader cost from your factory?
It depends on the frame and the build. The ZM388 costs less than the 10 t ZM388H; attachments, cab trim and paint move the number from there. We quote an itemized backhoe loader price — machine, options, freight to your port — within 24 hours, so you can compare line by line instead of guessing at a bundled figure.
Is the ZM388 a mini backhoe or a full-size machine?
Neither, strictly. At 7,760 kg it is heavier than the mini backhoe class but lighter and cheaper than 9–11 t flagship machines. You get full-size numbers where they matter — 4,085 mm dig depth, 1.0 m³ front bucket — in a compact backhoe footprint of 6,050 mm length. Whether you search for it as a digger loader or a small backhoe loader for sale, the machine you get is the same compact-class frame. For most utility and small-works contractors, that middle slot is the practical buy.
What is the difference between this and a tractor loader backhoe?
A tractor loader backhoe starts life as a farm tractor and gains a loader and digging arm as add-ons, so the chassis sets the limits. The ZM388 is built the other way around: frame, axles and hydraulics engineered specifically for loading and digging. The result is 47 kN of loader breakout and 50 kN of bucket digging force that a converted tractor rarely matches.
Do you have new backhoe loaders for sale, or used machines?
New only, built to order in Jining, Shandong. Every backhoe machine is assembled, function-tested and photographed before it ships, and the factory parameter sheet travels with it. If you have been browsing used listings to save money, ask us for the new-machine quote first — without dealer margin in between, the gap is smaller than most buyers expect.
How deep can this backhoe loader dig, and can it work beside a wall?
The ZM388 digs to 4,085 mm below grade; the ZM388H reaches 3,820 mm. The rear arm swings through 180°, so the machine can sit parallel to a wall, fence or roadway and still drop the bucket on the trench line. Loading height at the rear is 3,795 mm and 4,050 mm respectively — enough to discharge spoil straight into a standard dump truck.
Which engine is fitted, and can I choose the configuration?
Engine make and rating are confirmed on the order sheet rather than printed here — supply arrangements vary by destination market, and we would rather send you the current datasheet than publish a spec that changes. Tires, cab equipment, attachments and paint are all selected at order time, and the quote lists each choice separately.
Is this a 4WD backhoe or 2WD?
Both the ZM388 and ZM388H are four-wheel-drive machines as standard. We do not offer a 2WD frame because the working conditions a backhoe loader typically faces — soft ground, gravel yards, rutted sites — make 4WD the only practical choice.
Can I get a 3-point hitch backhoe or PTO backhoe attachment instead of a full machine?
We do not make a 3-point linkage backhoe attachment or PTO-driven backhoe for tractor mounting. What we build is a self-propelled backhoe loader — the ZM388 family — which includes its own engine, axles and hydraulics. If you need a 3pt backhoe for sale to bolt onto an existing tractor, that is a different product category and a different manufacturer. If you are open to a purpose-built machine, the ZM388 generally outperforms a tractor-mount setup in both cycle speed and dig force.
How does the ZM388 compare to a JD 310, Case 580 or Cat 416?
Those are the benchmark machines — the JD 310 series (310d through 310sl), Case 580 series and Cat 416 series represent 30-plus years of the most common mid-size backhoe specs. The ZM388 aligns in the same weight and dig-depth class (7.5–8 t, 4 m dig depth) but ships factory-direct without dealer margin. We are not a re-badged version of any of those machines; the ZM388 is our own engineering. If you send us a spec sheet from any of those models, we will line the numbers up directly.
What about sub-compact tractor backhoe attachments — Kioti, Mahindra, TYM, LS?
Kioti KB2485, Mahindra 65B, TYM BT400, LS LB1104 and similar sub-compact tractor loader backhoe packages are a specific class: sub-25-hp machines with a small front loader and a light rear digging arm, designed to work around a garden or small rural property. They are lighter, cheaper and less capable than the ZM388. If your scope is utility-scale trenching, pipe work or regular truck loading, the ZM388 is the right step up. If the scope is genuinely small (post holes, landscaping, farm chores on a compact tractor), the sub-compact class may be appropriate and we would say so plainly.
Can I get a tracked or crawler version of the backhoe loader?
The ZM388 and ZM388H are wheeled machines. Buyers who need rubber or steel track drive for maximum traction on very soft or steep ground should say so up front. We can discuss tracked variants to order — contact us with your site conditions and we will advise on what is buildable on your timeline. A tracked machine gives more flotation but cannot travel on sealed roads without a low-loader, which is a logistics cost the wheeled ZM388 avoids.
What backhoe attachments are available — thumb, breaker, auger, compaction wheel?
The rear arm accepts a hydraulic thumb bucket for handling irregular material, a hydraulic breaker for concrete and rock, an auger for post holes and pile work, a ripper for breaking hardpan, and digging buckets in several widths from trench-narrow to clean-up wide. A compaction wheel, backhoe jackhammer, snow blade and wood splitter attachment are also available on the loader end. Attachment availability and pricing are itemised in the quote; tell us the jobs you need to do and we will list the relevant options.
Is there an electric backhoe option?
The ZM388 and ZM388H are diesel-powered. An electric backhoe loader option is not in our standard production line at this time. If emission zone rules or indoor use make diesel impractical, raise that in your enquiry and we will tell you what drivetrain options exist on the build timeline you need.
Can I buy a towable or portable backhoe from you?
No. A towable backhoe for sale — the trailer-mounted 9 hp style you can tow with a pickup — is a different category entirely. The ZM388 is a self-propelled 7.8-tonne machine; it moves under its own power on four wheels. If you need a lightweight portable backhoe for occasional digging on a property without buying a full machine, the towable class (Jansen, DR Power, Dig-It type) is the right search. If you need a machine that can dig utility trenches, load trucks and move around a construction site, the ZM388 is the right answer.
How does buying from you compare to equipment trader listings or auction platforms?
Equipment-trader listings and auction platforms cover a mix of used machines, dealer stock and the occasional private sale — condition, hours and provenance vary widely. We sell new machines only, built to order, with a factory parameter sheet and pre-shipment photo set for every unit. The price is itemised — machine, attachments, freight to your port. No bidding, no unknown hours, no dealer markup between the factory and your yard. Request the quote and compare the number directly against what you are seeing on the platforms.
Request pricing for the ZM388 / ZM388H Backhoe Loaders
Send your target model, quantity and destination port. Our export team replies within one business day with a quote, lead time and shipping details.
- Phone / WhatsApp: +86 182 5478 8200
- Email: [email protected]
- Jining, Shandong, China