Backhoes aren’t just for digging. They can be fitted with a variety of attachments that can allow you to do things like compact or break up soil, move snow, and break up ice. Attachments include tampers, augers, hammers, rippers, grapples, and thumbs — which work like a human thumb to grasp objects such as debris for removal and loading. Because backhoe attachments are removable, they can be used on other construction machines that take attachments, such as tractors and skid steers.