Review: 60480 Backhoe Loader
Posted by CapnRex101,
Backhoe loaders are necessary for all kinds of construction projects, although these vehicles hardly ever appear in LEGO City and whenever they have been produced before, they usually lack detail, re-using parts developed for other construction vehicles.
60480 Backhoe Loader does exactly the opposite, as realistic tyres and new bucket elements have been produced for the backhoe. As a result, the model looks extremely authentic, as we have come to expect from LEGO City Construction vehicles since 2024.
Summary
60480 Backhoe Loader, 301 pieces.
£24.99 / $29.99 / €29.99 | 8.3p, 10.0c, 10.0c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
It has taken many years, but we finally have a worthy minifigure-scale backhoe!
- Very realistic design
- Impressive functions
- Several useful new elements
- Elephant logo uses a sticker
Minifigures
Two construction workers are included, dressed in the usual reddish orange uniforms that were released in 2024 and appear in lots of recent City Construction sets. The printed legs and silver high visibility strips look superb, with red hard hats. However, it would have been nice to see the dual-moulded female hat and hair element featuring a new hair colour.
It is a shame there is no printed blueprint tile provided, since they are available in several other Construction sets. The minifigures are equipped with a shovel and a pickaxe though, as well as the more substantial accessories pictured below.
The Completed Model
There are several items included for the backhoe loader to excavate or move around, with 1x2 masonry bricks and three new boulders. These are quite similar to the 4x4 boulders developed for Rock Raiders in 1999, but I am pleased to see a smaller example and the top half is actually more versatile than its larger counterpart, able to fit on a studded surface.
Moreover, you can open each rock and hide something small inside. One contains a trans-red gem, in this case. A printed work sign is included too, found in a few of the recent Construction sets, but welcome nonetheless.
The portable toilet seems familiar too, as an almost identical facility appeared in 60409 Mobile Construction Crane in 2024. The only distinction visible from the front is that the hook from the prior model has been replaced with a 2x2 jumper plate, whereas the stickered sign on the door and the teal stripe remain unchanged.
However, the interior is totally different. The toilet is much simpler on this occasion and there is no toilet paper, which is an alarming turn of events! I assume the minifigure responsible for this also added the alien graffiti inside, inspired by characters from Alien Conquest, also referenced in 60421 Robot World.
The reason for the simpler toilet becomes apparent from the back, making room for two clips to attach the tools. This is a neat feature, but I am not entirely sure why a portable toilet was really necessary here. The toilet in 60409 Mobile Construction Crane was required for play, as an item for the crane to lift, but this one feels superfluous to me.
As we have come to expect from modern City Construction vehicles, the backhoe loader looks very realistic. Some people have criticised the four identical wheels and backhoes with smaller front wheels are perhaps more common, though there are also plenty with wheels of equal size and I think this design looks superb, particularly given its authentic proportions.
I also like the size of the vehicle, compared with others in this series, while the flame yellowish orange and black colour scheme matches the past models too. It feels like the entire collection was planned out before the first set was even released, hence the fun variety of equipment and their shared features.
Two new bucket elements have been developed for this set, featuring the same texture inside and Technic connection points on top. I am a little surprised this one for the loader bucket was considered necessary, but it looks great, featuring much more detail than its precursor. The red Technic axle is a bit conspicuous, but it does not really bother me on a toy.
The lack of rams and cylinders supporting the bucket arms is fine for the same reason. I would certainly expect to see them on a Technic backhoe, but the lift arms alone will comfortably hold the bucket in any position here, even with a fairly substantial load, so I think functional cylinders would be a needless complication.
Stickers have been rare in recent City Construction sets, so requiring a sticker for the elephant logo on the bonnet is disappointing. I like the rounded bodywork though, with an opening hatch to reveal a battery underneath. LEGO City is clearly ahead of the real world here, where electric backhoe loaders are scarce.
We have no shortage of LEGO tyres for off-road vehicles, but these narrow tyres are new and unlike any I have encountered before. They fit on an existing wheel hub piece and ought to be useful for other sets in the future. The steps between the wheels look splendid too, though you cannot pose a minifigure climbing them and there are no doors to the cab.
The whole windscreen and roof assembly is easily removable, revealing basic controls and a single seat inside. Some type of rotating seat for the operator to face in either direction would have been great, though simply posing the minifigure facing forward or back works as well, as pictured below.
Functional outriggers are included, attached to click hinges and lining up with the height of the wheels when deployed. For complete realism, these could raise the rear wheels off the ground and the bucket could do the same for the front wheels, but I am satisfied with this design for the stabilisers and the printed hazard stripes are a nice touch.
The backhoe assembly is impressively detailed for its size, including rams and a few elements for mechanical texture, so the Technic beams are reasonably well hidden. The arm is mounted on a ball joint, which provides an excellent range of motion in all directions, although I do worry about it becoming looser over time.
Narrow backhoe buckets have appeared in occasional Technic sets over the last two decades, but they have not been available on minifigure-scale vehicles since the 1990s. This element is therefore long overdue and very welcome. The rams work brilliantly and provide a nice level of friction for articulation, so you can pose the backhoe arm however you wish.
Overall
I have been hoping to see a new backhoe loader since this series of construction vehicles was launched in 2024 and 60480 Backhoe Loader does not disappoint! The new bucket pieces and tyres elevate this model above any of its minifigure-scale predecessors and all the functions are executed well, while the vehicle looks marvellous too.
It is a shame that the elephant logo uses a sticker, when these logos have usually been printed on past sets. Otherwise, I think the price of £24.99, $29.99 or €29.99 is fair, so I would consider this an essential set for any LEGO City, especially given how rare backhoe loaders have been in the theme to date.
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41 comments on this article
The current construction theme continues to be impressive and well designed. Scale from vehicle to vehicle is relatively consistent and the detailing has been great and, as noted, this backhoe is no different. And the lack of TP in the john...maybe this is a porta-bidet?
Stop stuffing Porta-Potties in construction sets! Be creative, how about a tool cart, drill, work bench. LEGO's fascination with toilets everywhere astounds me. Who would be playing "and now it's time to use the toilet" with their sets? is potty humor really a thing with kids?
Beautiful vehicle though! Love the new rocks!
Battery powered seems like a strange shift, it's not like Lithium is saving the world but i guess "Optics"
City construction continuing to cook!
I love the new rocks and the rest of the set is pretty cool, although wearing hi vis underneath overalls seems to defeat the point a bit.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
" is potty humor really a thing with kids?"
Absolutely.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
"Stop stuffing Porta-Potties in construction sets! "
For real. The inclusion of that and the stickered logo is just a kick. Even a little build like cones and a safety fence would be better and more usable. And this elephant logo is so good, I can't imagine they wouldn't find a use for another printed part with it in the future.
Edit: I take back my comment about the bathroom. There isn't currently one available in the elephant brand, and it is a staple on job sites. So this seems like a fine place to add one. The stickered logo is still a problem though.
I love it! but mostly because it's a construction vehicle AND it looks really similar to the amazing 60498 Tractor
Considering the size and variety of specialty parts, $.010/piece is a good price point. This is what Lego does well...simple, playable & fun!
I've been irrationally enthralled with backhoe loaders for the better part of half a century now, so I'm deeply biased and have always hoped LEGO would one day do a proper minifig-scaled one that's durable and both plays & looks like the real thing. They've tried, but never quite hit the mark until now. This is fantastic. I really appreciate the new buckets, wheels, and rocks, and I fully support the inclusion of a whole 1 (!) more portable toilet in a jobsite set, this time one with a historically reasonable price. Anyone who says LEGO "only" makes high-priced dust collectors for rich adults and has forgotten how to make toys just isn't looking at all.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
"Stop stuffing Porta-Potties in construction sets!"
Lighten up, Francis.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
"Who would be playing "and now it's time to use the toilet" with their sets? is potty humor really a thing with kids?"
You don't get around a lot of kids do you?
I too, very much enjoy these cheap hoes.
@Crux said:
"I too, very much enjoy these cheap hoes."
Only from the back though?
Working in construction, I wonder when we’ll get a paver….
Dying for another Technic backhoe loader - last one was in 2011!
I love this set. The construction city line has been excellent.
It's a shame that LEGO decided to switch to the milky type of plastic for the transparent pieces. The photos in this review illustrate very well how they totally ruin the look of this otherwise awesome set.
And the worst part is that you can't be sure what you get when buying transparent pieces on Bricklink now, because the sellers usually don't specify whether it's the old material which is truly transparent or the new milky kind of stuff.
Imagine how wondrous it would be if the City construction vehicles of recent years were also released as Technic models in a cohesive series with uniform liveries etc.
Given the recent years' Technic sets that will probably remain just a pipe dream, but it would have been great!
@Zackula said:
"I love the new rocks and the rest of the set is pretty cool, although wearing hi vis underneath overalls seems to defeat the point a bit.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
" is potty humor really a thing with kids?"
Absolutely."
Absolutely absolutely!
It also is a thing with many adults, just like hoe humor, apparently!
Cons:
- no toilet paper. Day on the jobsite ruined.
@Zackula said:
"I love the new rocks and the rest of the set is pretty cool, although wearing hi vis underneath overalls seems to defeat the point a bit.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
" is potty humor really a thing with kids?"
Absolutely."
With 61-year-olds, too.
your mom's a backhoe
....loader.
"Diamonds, rubies, gold and more, hidden in a 6594604..."
After reading the comments I now kind of want to see a comparison/retrospective article on the various portaloos that have popped up in City sets XD
@Brickalili said:
"After reading the comments I now kind of want to see a comparison/retrospective article on the various portaloos that have popped up in City sets XD"
Second that!
I mean... what a silly idea. Grow up, you! *wink* *wink*
Serious question... is anyone else head-cannoning the "elephant logo" to "Mammoth Ind."? It just feels like a proper name for the construction equipment.
Secondary question... what would the name be for the bull farm equipment brand be?...
I got Margaret Calvert’s new book recently so seeing a Legoified version of her roadworks sign is very pleasant. Highly approve.
It seems the Elephant company is the new construction agency in town.
I love this new rock piece SO MUCH
Love it! And must buy it. Reminds me of my childhood set 6662!
I have been waiting for this kind of realistically looking backhoe since 60181 Forrest Tractor that I bought, and I was thinking of making a backhoe out of it, but I sold it and been waiting for Lego to make one. The wait was worth it.
One thing that I do not like is that almost all construction male workers are bald! TLG make more of those dual-molded helmets with hair for males!
@Lordmoral said:
"It seems the Elephant company is the new construction agency in town."
The continuity of the elephant logo is what kind of got me hooked into buying all the construction vehicles in the series so far. Is the company named in any advertising or other media?
Great job on these construction toys, Lego, now use the same love for Technic!
@Sutures said:
"Serious question... is anyone else head-cannoning the "elephant logo" to "Mammoth Ind."? It just feels like a proper name for the construction equipment."
It is a Dutch heavy crane and transport company:
https://benelux.mammoet.com/
@Brickalili said:
"After reading the comments I now kind of want to see a comparison/retrospective article on the various portaloos that have popped up in City sets XD"
Well, the tag exists:
https://brickset.com/sets/tag-Portable-Toilet
However, I'm not sure if every set that has one is indeed tagged!
Thank you for the review.
I know a 5-year-old boy who is going to love this set.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
"Stop stuffing Porta-Potties in construction sets! Be creative, how about a tool cart, drill, work bench. LEGO's fascination with toilets everywhere astounds me. Who would be playing "and now it's time to use the toilet" with their sets? is potty humor really a thing with kids?"
Is it really a surprise to you that children LOVE potty humor? Any lego designer could tell you stories about how insanely popular it is any time they do it. Its a timeless and universal thing, making it a natural fit for a toy with a global distribution.
@Denmark_Dragon said:
"Stop stuffing Porta-Potties in construction sets! Be creative, how about a tool cart, drill, work bench. LEGO's fascination with toilets everywhere astounds me. Who would be playing "and now it's time to use the toilet" with their sets? is potty humor really a thing with kids?"
H...have you met a kid?
@B_Space_Man said:
"Cons:
- no toilet paper. Day on the jobsite ruined. "
I misread jobsite as jobs*ite. :)
As in “on the job s*ite” - the best kind, getting paid to poo…
Another surprisingly great set from the series, and another that reminds me of Police Academy.
Also, It needs the monster from Rock Riders.
It's a great set!! I will buy one of them at least to complete my Construction MOC...and thinking about a second one if discounted!!
To sum up, a great set that becomes a must-have for a civil engineer as me!!
Great work!
@gunther_schnitzel said:
" @B_Space_Man said:
"Cons:
- no toilet paper. Day on the jobsite ruined. "
I misread jobsite as jobs*ite. :)
As in “on the job s*ite” - the best kind, getting paid to poo…"
Boss makes a dollar, PPP's a dime,
A really nice set. I bought it before release and got it at day one.
For a good few years I've been disappointed because of lack of a nice backhoe set and of proper digger bucket in City. Come on, Duplo had such a part! I bought 60385 and modified it by attaching a small wide bucket 50335 to a rear arm but that wasn't exactly what I could see on construction sites.
Looking at pictures I couldn't realise if that was the bucket from earlier excavator 60420 or something smaller. Not that I looked especially carefully, knowing that it would be mine asap.
There was also a question: could that backhoe be used to load a dump truck from 60467 ? I've tested that. The answer: yes, absolutely. With a front bucket with ease, with a rear one a bit of care is needed to not drop a small boulder too early, but these machines definitely do work together. And that's fantastic, I love when different sets are compatible, especially ones from the same line.
I think the model could be better with mounts for that shovel and pickaxe, but to be honest I don't know if real backhoes have places for storing such hand tools. On the other hand I'm quite sure no real toilet has dedicated mount for a pickaxe!