How to Draw Backhoes

The backhoe is a versatile machine -- it can dig and scoop with its buckets on the front and back. The large bucket on this construction vehicle is attached to the end of an arm. Some say the arm looks like a giant human arm.

When drawing a backhoe, examine the illustration of the backhoe before proceeding to the first step.
Learn how to draw this backhoe.
In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above backhoe. You can draw this construction vehicle freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

To draw a backhoe, begin by drawing the many circles that make up the wheels.
Step 1: Begin by drawing the wheels, which are made up of many circles.
When drawing backhoe tires, add tread to the tires by drawing a starburst shape around each of the outside circles.
Step 2: To add tread to the tires, draw a starburst shape around each of the outside circles. This is fun to do!
When drawing a backhoe, draw the shape that makes up the body of the backhoe.
Step 3: Draw the shape that makes up the body of the backhoe. Draw two rectangles inside the front of this shape. Be sure to round the one corner as shown.
To draw a backhoe, draw the cab including the roof and a boomerang shape.
Step 4: Draw the cab; notice how the top is narrower than the bottom. Draw the windows in the cab. Draw the roof. On the side, draw a boomerang shape from the back wheel to past the front wheel.

When drawing a backhoe, add the safety light, the muffler, and the front bucket.
Step 5: Draw the safety light on the cab roof, and draw the back of the headlight at the front of the hood. On the hood, draw the muffler, which is a rectangle with a pipe running through it.

For the front bucket, draw a half-circle, adding a point that juts out at the bottom. Outline the bucket to add depth. At the rear, draw a small bump behind the tire.

When drawing a backhoe, draw the other headlight and windows on the other side of the cab.
Step 6: Draw all the details on the far side of the backhoe that are visible from this side, including the other headlight, the windows on the other side of the cab, and the edge of the front tire on the far side.
When drawing a backhoe, add the arm for the backhoe scoop.
Step 7: Draw the arm for the backhoe scoop. It is made up of two curved rectangular shapes with rounded ends. Outline each rectangle for depth.

Draw the rounded triangular shape near the top of the lower arm.

To draw the interior of a backhoe, draw the steering wheel and driver's seat.
Step 8: Draw the steering wheel and driver's seat inside the cab. Add detail lines for depth.
When drawing a backhoe, draw the backhoe scoop.
Step 9: Draw the backhoe scoop. Look at the example to see how it attaches to the boom.
To finish the backhoe drawing, add circles for the pivot points and draw two hydraulic cylinders.
Step 10: Add circles for the pivot points that move the arms up and down. Outline the circles where indicated to add depth. To finish your backhoe, draw two hydraulic cylinders.
When finished drawing a backhoe, trace the permanent lines with a felt-tip pen, and erase pencil lines.
Step 11: Use a felt-tip pen to trace over the lines you want to keep, and erase the extra pencil lines.

Drawing the backhoe was great fun, huh? Even more fun is drawing every kid's favorite construction vehicle -- the popular dump truck. Continue to the next page to learn how to draw dump trucks.

Want to expand your artistic abilities? See: