Kubota 2wd

[g42guy]

Does Kubota make a sub compact 2 wd tractor?

 

[Gomez]

I don't think so. Try looking at the Kubota website.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kubota.com/bx1800.cfm>http://www.kubota.com/bx1800.cfm</A>

 

[TresCrows]

No, there is a BX with 2WD offered in Europe (?) but in the N America only 4WD. You do realize that the BX shifts from 2WD to 4WD with a simple lever on the fender by the seat. It also has a differential lock. The 4WD is not used for mowing, at least I do not but it is of great help with everything else. The increase in traction and pulling power is increadible. Why would you want a BX without 4WD?
Also, as of now, the BX1800/2200 and BX22TLB are the only sub compacts in existence unless you count the Cub Cadet (model unknown) and maybe the TC18 and the JD 4010.
Good luck. J

 

[Kelvin]

g42guy,
I'm just mildly curious...

Why in the world would you want one?

The market is nearly nil for them. Accordingly, the resale value on existing 2wd compact tractors is really bad; you either need a heavy tractor or a 4wd tractor to do much beyond mowing on reasonably level ground. I would think that if mowing is all you do, then you don't need more than a residential or commercial mowing machine.

Just my 2-1/2 cents worth.
Kelvin

 

[frank_f15]

JUST TO RESTATE WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID if all u want to do is cut grass, u can get a mower less expensive that a bx, but if u have other uses for it, then u need 4wd in this size tractor.

 

[TresCrows]

The answer then is that Mowing is not all that most people do with their tractors, not going to argue the worth of the BX, since I got one and a 2410 I probably better than most have a decent yard stick for comparison, the BX is a good little tractor that is a heck of a mower too. J

 

[pennwalk]

Kubota used to make the 7100, 6100 and 5200. I think Kubota still makes the 7100. I have seen then at the local Kubota dealers lot and they are pretty small tractors. I have seen some of them in 2 WD. I am a big fan of 4WD in light weight tractors but the truth is that most of the time I operate in 2WD. My father-in-law used a 2WD IH cub low boy for years to mow the lawn, plow the snow and pull a cart. Hills, loose soil and mud are some of the reasons for 4WD.

Chris

 

[g42guy]

The thing non of you brought up is money! A 2wd tractor would cost less. And for my property a 2wd with chains is going to push as much snow as a 4wd. A 2wd with a chains & blower is the same as 4wd. A 2wd will mow a lawn as well. A 2wd with a bush hog will mow the pasture.
Now don't get me wrong, I know the 4wd will do MORE than a 2wd and it adds power because of the added traction. But to be reasonable you must look at need.
I'm know a little about marketing and the biggest plus for the 4wd is it has been marketed to make the average Joe believe he has to have 4wd to get any thing done.
Having said all that... I'm calling Carver's and my local dealer to see the cost of a BX. After all I'm just an average Joe!

 

[looch]

I agree that if your tasks are limited to what you mention, a 2WD will do you fine. I had one, and although there were times when snow blowing that I wished I had a 4WD, I managed to complete the job fairly easily. Now, having said that, I'm not sure about the price break. I sold my 20 year old B5100E (2WD, 11hp) for 3500$ to a dealer. I'm sure he flipped it for an extra thousand. I did some investigating before I sold it to get an idea of value, and there wasn't much difference between one like mine and the larger, 4WD B7100 of the same year. Any difference in price was largely based on condition of the machine.

 

[TresCrows]

Sorry, not to be argumnetative but not in your universe or anyone elses universe will a SMALL 2WD tractor pull or push as much as a SMALL 4WD tractor with or without chains. Further, 4WD is not a marketing ploy to trick people into spending more money. True enough it is not used often while mowing but every other task I use my tractors for benifits from 4WD. The BX simply will not pull the boxblade or push effectively into a dirt pile with the FEL much less dig in 2WD mode. I generally do pull my harrow in 2WD but if the ground is slightly damp--better results with the harrow---then even it needs 4WD and in this case 4WD results in LESS damage to the ground because there is no spinning. Nope, neither 4WD or power steering is a marketing trick. A 25 horsepower on a Sears lawnmower is a trick, 4WD is not. Small tractors, it is only reasonalbe to expect, would benifit the most. I also suspect, without solid proof however, that a small 2WD tractor with R1 tires would have less traction than a small 4WD with turf tires and of course chains can be used on either. The 4WD also increases stability when going up and down hills because it keeps the wheels from slipping and allows the transmission to do the braking and there have been several guys here including me who discovered that the hard way. Good luck, maybe you should look at a used JD455 or their new X series avaialble in either 2 or 4WD. J

 

[Jeff396]

Yeah, I just mowed the grass early today and it was a bit damp in the shade. I made a turn to go down our hill but forgot to put it in 4wd. Whew....what a ride! Those big rear tires sure don't do much when going down hill./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

 

[g42guy]

TresC.You bring up some good points. Most of which go without saying. Which is WHY I didn't say them in my post. As far as the things I was talking about you seem to have forgotten the statement of NEED.To each his own! I DID go talk to Kubota dealer today. Looked at the 1800 and loved it. Was quoated $9100 with a 54" mower. Seems to be a good price. I just may try an get it. But in MY situation given the choice between a BX 2 or 4WD, if I could sve some money I would go with 2wd.As far as the snow (push or pull) again you have to be realistic. I have lived in MN for twenty years and have had a long driveway for most of it. I have only had two snow storms that I could not clear my driveway. The biggest tractor I have had is a 14hp craftsman.But hey, it would be more fun on a BX in this universe or any other!

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"To each his own!"</font color=blue>


Well said Guy! Each person has to make their decision on what they want and expect. Sometimes it's hard for others to understand that a person may just flat prefer water to champagne. Nothing wrong with that at all. And you know what? The water drinker will be every bit as happy as the champagne drinker!

 

[TresCrows]

Well, I did read your post and I do understand about marketing and I certainly understand you may not need or want a Kubota or a whatever but in this universe, to my knowledge, there is no such thing as a 2WD BX. While you may wish for one because you don't want to participate in a marketing ploy I sit here wishing for a BX2450--neither of them exist and more likely there will be a BX2450 than a 2WD only BX or a gear drive BX but, hey, I could be wrong. I now undertand what you do not want--4WD--but what is it that you do want that is not already handled by the Craftsman mower you currently own which you said has done all you needed. I understand Sears has a new model called the DLT, maybe it would be of interest to you. J

 

[Andyfr]

TresCrows

I think from one of your earlier posts you suspected that the BX was available with 2WD in Europe. It is available here in the UK, I don't know about elsewhere. The spec is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kubota.co.uk/Tractors/products/productshome.htm> Kubota UK Products </A>. As for price I think it is around £1000 (US$1500) cheaper than the 4WD.

 

[TresCrows]

Yes, I saw a post about one on another web site. There was also some Kubota literature I got somewheres about here that shows a picture of one. There was also a story about a guy and his 2WD BX in some on line magazine about a year ago. Soooooo, let me say it different, I seriously doubt, but hey I could be wrong, that Kubota imports a 2WD BX to the States. Since I figure that the BX runs about 12,500 with 60 in MMM and FEL and I also figure as my best guess that the 4WD adds about 500 dollars to the cost of the unit if that much and that being such a small percentage of the total cost of the unit that anyone who needs to save 500 dollars or less is in over their heads already with the BX. Now that is just my opinion. Why Kubota desires to produce a BX sans front drive shaft and bevel gear axle for Europe only spec is a mystery to me but then I undertand that men wear thongs in France /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif and that is also a mystery I prefer to leave unsolved and uninvestigated by myself.
J

 

[looch]

If you go to an example of what I found that may fit your needs.

 

[g42guy]

TresC. Lets just agree to not being able to get our point across to each other clearly. When I read your last post it still seems to me you do not understand at all what I was trying to say. Email is funny that way sometimes. The writen word falls short of the spoken. I am not saying there is a 2wd BX available. Just that IF there where and IF I could save money in MY situation that's what I would do. I know I can get more done with a 4wd. But the things in which 4wd would really come in handy I don't require. I wish I did, and I am trying to figure out what else I will be able to use this little tank for. (maybe start my own landscaping biz on the side!) I really like the machine and I'm very serious about getting it. You obviously know more about them than me and if I get one I hope I can count on you for helpfull info. But you have to admit the BANTER is kind of fun!!! By the way is $9200 for the BX1800 w/54" deck a good price?

 

[RichZ]

Although, I'm quite sure 4wd is nice to have, you can do almost anything with a 2wd tractor if you're careful. I've been using my Ferguson for over a year now. I finish mow, brush hog, use a landscape rake and backblade and tow a manure spreader with it (as well as many other tasks), on over 50 very hilly acres. I only got stuck once, this winter in a snow drift (and got out in 10 minutes). I immediately went out and got chains and never got stuck again.

As I said, 4wd must be nice to have, but some of us (myself included) just can't afford a newer tractor that has it. My 25 hp Ferguson has served me well, and I just bought a 55 hp Oliver with a loader to use in applications where my Ferguson is too small. This tractor is also 2wd, and will handle whatever I throw at it.

No one should be afraid of an older tractor with 2wd, as long as they realize that they have to be careful to avoid a situation where they can get stuck. I pull a large filled manure spreader over hills with my little 2wd Ferguson, and have never had a problem.

 

[pennwalk]

<font color=blue>as long as they realize that they have to be careful to avoid a situation where they can get stuck</font color=blue>

That's it. I have a 2WD pick-up. It was maybe $5k less than a comparable 4WD. I didn't want to spend the extra money. If I tried to sell it today it would probable be slower to sell and I probably wouldn't get as much of my money back out of it. I have to keep it in mind that I have to be careful in limited traction situations. Yesterday I was bush hogging up the lower side of the field. I was sure glad for the 4WD. I'm not sure what I would have happened if I had not had it. We have had a lot of rain and it was wet. It was more like swimming than driving. The tractor was swaying back and forth but it never stopped and I was glad to get the weeds knocked back some. Everything is growing so fast. There seem to be plenty of nice little used 2WD Kubotas out there. Very economical and They will do a ton of work.

Chris