Tractor weight

[AHNC]

My first post. This place is just a tremendous resource and thank you all for that. While I have worked around a great deal of heavy equipment I have almost no operating experience. Hence my handle, AHNC, which essentially is "all hat no cattle". I wouldn't want to mislead anyone. I will say that a pick, shovel & wheelbarrow pose no mysteries to me, but at this point I can take no pleasure from doing the work. Life is a humbling experience.

I have a small place, about 1.5 ac. There is a bit of slope on one end that will be mowed. I'll be doing some building and about a half acre of gardening but mostly the tractor will be mowing and material handling. Although I do have to get control of a blackberry patch (tasty in the dish but viscious in the field), and it has been made perfectly clear to me that I'm not going to do it the easy way. I understand the "power to the ground" on tractor weight but at what point does the tractor get into tearing up the landscape, assuming reasonably dry ground and turfs or T4's

With such a small place I don't need a lot of tractor, but I also don't want to miss on the low end. The Kubota BX2360/2660, Kioti CK20S HST and Mahindra 2215 are the current targets. There is a great deal of weight difference. Without the FEL the weights respectively are 1322/1389, 2138. 1819. That is quite a spread for similar HP. The Kubota's seem very good. Everything on the Kioti's "falls to hand" easily, which did not seem to be the case with the Mahindra. Top contenders are the 2660 and CK20 but a 50% weight difference makes me ask, is the weight a distinct advantage or disadvantage?

 

[LD1]

Weight makes a big difference when doing ground engaging work, Like loader work, box-blading, etc.

You have to decide what the primary use is going to be. If you want a to do a lot of dirt work and very little mowing, heavy is good.

If you want to do a lot of mowing and only occasional dirt work, light is good.

But even at 2000lbs, I don't see it being much of an issue with the lawn, as long as you dont try to mow right after you got 1" of rain.

The BX kubotas aren't a very good comparison with the ck20 either. The ck20 has way more lift capacity on both ends.
A more fair comparison from kubota would be the following
B3200
B2620/2920
B2630/3030

They are still a little lighter, I think they are all around 1800lbs, the the loader and 3PH specs compair well with the ck25, so you may want to take a look at these models.

Unless you want primarially a mowing machine, then the HP to weight ratio of the BX has it hands down.

 

[Lunk]

What LD1 said...

Although at the end I think he meant that the Kioti was a good choice, "unless you want primarily a mowing machine...", not the BX, since I'd think the BX would excel at alot of mowing...

Lunk

 

[dodge man]

I bought a BX2350 a year ago, which is last years model of the 2360. I am a land surveyor and have done alot of construction staking, so I have been around heavy equipment alot also, but have never operated anything. Its a little tricky and slow at first, but you will catch on quickly. Its one of those things, I don't think you ever stop learning.

In my opinion, for your use, lighter is better, and the BX is a great choice. John Deere, Cub Cadet, Bobcat, New Holland etc all make a tractor that is about the same as a BX. If you want other choices, look at them. As already mentioned, you are not comparing exactly the same size tractor.

I maintain 3-4 acres and at times have wished I had a B instead of a BX, but in the end, I think I made the correct choice. The B sized tractor is one step larger than a BX. I put about 175 hours on my tractor in one year. I thought about 80% of my use would be mowing, but that is not the case. About half of my use has been end loader use. That wheel barrow and shovel won't get much use any more. Take look at the Kubota forum, and I posted some pictures of a stump I dug out this weekend. Here is a link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/146413-digging-out-stump-pictures.html They are amazing little machines. Don't be afraid of used either, you can save money, although I bought new.

Good luck on your QUEST.

 

[LBrown59]

I bought a BX2350 a year ago, which is last years model of the 2360. I am a land surveyor and have done alot of construction staking, so I have been around heavy equipment alot also, but have never operated anything. Its a little tricky and slow at first, but you will catch on quickly. Its one of those things, I don't think you ever stop learning.

In my opinion, for your use, lighter is better, and the BX is a great choice. John Deere, Cub Cadet, Bobcat, New Holland etc all make a tractor that is about the same as a BX. If you want other choices, look at them. As already mentioned, you are not comparing exactly the same size tractor.

I maintain 3-4 acres and at times have wished I had a B instead of a BX, but in the end, I think I made the correct choice. The B sized tractor is one step larger than a BX. I put about 175 hours on my tractor in one year. I thought about 80% of my use would be mowing, but that is not the case. About half of my use has been end loader use. That wheel barrow and shovel won't get much use any more. Take look at the Kubota forum, and I posted some pictures of a stump I dug out this weekend. Here is a link http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/146413-digging-out-stump-pictures.html They are amazing little machines. Don't be afraid of used either, you can save money, although I bought new.

Good luck on your QUEST.

I've never figured out why every body insist on comparing Sub compacts in an apples to oranges situation.

 

[LD1]

What LD1 said...

Although at the end I think he meant that the Kioti was a good choice, "unless you want primarily a mowing machine...", not the BX, since I'd think the BX would excel at alot of mowing...

Lunk

Thats is exactally what I ment.

The BX is a mower with a loader on it.

The kioti and the B series I mentioned are tractors with mowers on them.

If that makes any sense

 

[LBrown59]

Weight makes a big difference when doing ground engaging work, Like loader work, box-blading, etc.

You have to decide what the primary use is going to be. If you want a to do a lot of dirt work and very little mowing, heavy is good.

If you want to do a lot of mowing and only occasional dirt work, light is good.

But even at 2000lbs, I don't see it being much of an issue with the lawn, as long as you dont try to mow right after you got 1" of rain.

The BX kubotas aren't a very good comparison with the ck20 either. The ck20 has way more lift capacity on both ends.
A more fair comparison from kubota would be the following
B3200
B2620/2920
B2630/3030

.

I don't know what makes folks compare BXs with other tractors that are out of their league.
Guess they just don't know any better.

 

[LD1]

That's where a good dealer would come into play.

If he were to go to a kubota dealer looking at the BX's and mentiones that he is comparing to a ck20, the dealer SHOULD point him toward the B's and explain why.

It's easy to sit here and tell someone how to spend their money, and I am sure price is an important factor, but leaving that aside and ust comparing specs of the tractors mentioned:

If you mainly want a mower, with occational use to replace a wheelbarrow for mulch and gravel(no digging) then get the BX due to high HP and low weight.

If you want to save as much $$ as possible and are primarily focused on dirt work and digging, go with the CK20.

If you want to spend a little more for the kubota name(we all know there more $$, but they earned it, as I dont want to get into and orange war right now) The B-series have about the same loader and 3PH capicities as the CK, but weigh in at about 500lbs lighter, if both loader work and mowing are equally important.

 

[Lunk]

I don't know what makes folks compare BXs with other tractors that are out of their league.
Guess they just don't know any better.

Based upon capacities / capabilities, which tractor's out of which league???

I don't think that insulting the OP on his first post ever is very constructive...We all know how proud you are of your flock of Kubotas - They are great machines no doubt.

I think that sometimes it starts with someone walking into the dealer seeking info on a tractor that will do the "job" for him/her. The dealer then provides said info, and the customer compares specs / quotes from the different dealers, for equipment chosen based upon the dealer's interpretation, of what it's going to take to do the job.

Depending upon the dealer, you can be comparing tractors across a 10-20 hp range, and a couple different chassis/size classes... as well as an income tax bracket or two

 

[art]

I don't know what makes folks compare BXs with other tractors that are out of their league.
Guess they just don't know any better.

Who doesn't consider a Kubota to be an over achiever! That is who I'd worry about! You can only fall and hurt your head so many times before your beyond repair!

 

[LBrown59]

*That's where a good dealer would come into play.

If he were to go to a kubota dealer looking at the BX's and mentiones that he is comparing to a ck20, the dealer SHOULD point him toward the B's and explain why.

*The dealer don't come into play in most such cases because the shopper never mentions it to him.

 

[AHNC]

The two Kubota dealers with whom I've spoken about their line, both the BX and the B, were both helpful in delineating each models capabilities, and I worked them. I'd prefer a B but decided to set a budget number and try to stick to it, at least initially. That put me into the BX class. The BX while smaller and definitely lighter is 26 hp and puts down about 19 to the pto. From the numbers, that seems like a capable piece of equipment. The B is preferrable, absolutely. It also ran $2,300-$2,500 more and about $700 more per implement locally.

The Kioti with loader comes within a couple hundred of the 2660 and I've not shopped it that much. That puts it into consideration from a budget perspective and with it's ground clearance, pump capacities and the fact that I was comfortable on it, I like that machine.

Other considerations, given my lack of experience, are proximity to the dealers and parts availability. That goes to the Kubota locally. The one Kubota dealer had the good sense to kinda lead me thru the service bays and the parts dept to get back to the showroom. I'm a peddler so I like to watch how people work and he was excellent in manner, substance and style. He knew his line.

So, in pouring over the specs, the weight differences led me to ask the question to see if it would lead into good constructive information. Thank you all for your help.

Brownie, with over 12,000 posts I could only assume that you know it all and have seen it all. As a result I studied your comments thoroughly looking for that kernel of tractor wisdom I am seeking, because I know it is there. I'll keep looking

 

[alchemysa]

Brownie, with over 12,000 posts I could only assume that you know it all and have seen it all. As a result I studied your comments thoroughly looking for that kernel of tractor wisdom I am seeking, because I know it is there. I'll keep looking

I don't think 'Brownie' has ever posted a negative comment about the BX series. Make what you will of that.

I suggest you look at this recent thread in the Kubota section. Weight (traction) is a very important issue. You can't understand it just by looking at specs. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/146235-bx25-questions.html

 

[LBrown59]

I bought a BX2350 a year ago, which is last years model of the 2360. so I have been around heavy equipment alot also, but have never operated anything. In my opinion, for your use, lighter is better, and the BX is a great choice. John Deere, Cub Cadet, Bobcat, New Holland etc all make a tractor that is about the same as a BX. If you want other choices, look at them.
1*As already mentioned, you are not comparing exactly the same size tractor.

I maintain 3-4 acres and at times have wished I had a B instead of a BX, but in the end, I think I made the correct choice. The B sized tractor is this weekend. Here is a link They are amazing little machines.
2*Don't be afraid of used either, you can save money, although I bought new.

1*Don't compare apples to oranges .
2* I bought a new and a used BX1500 back in Oct of 2007.
Both very nice tractors .

 

[LBrown59]

Based upon capacities / capabilities, which tractor's out of which league???

Based on type/class a Sub compact and a compact are always out of each others class.

The BX is the only Sub compact in the listed tractors.

 

[Lunk]

Based on type/class a Sub compact and a compact are always out of each others class.

The BX is the only Sub compact in the listed tractors.

You are correct, but the way you stated it, it appeared that the other tractors were not in the same league as your beloved Kubotas.

I've got nothing against Kubota's - They are a great machine. I also think the OP was looking at units within a specific price range, which in this case put the BX in with some larger company. But I wouldn't insult him/her over it. If you're going to post a reponse to a question, try to help answer the question.

Only 12,400 more (or so) posts, and I'll have caught up to you...

I'm done here...

Lunk

 

[foggy1111]

Hmmmm....seems this has evolved into a favorite model topic. Back on topic...the OP asked if weight made a big difference.

have a light tractor and all I can say is that I look for ways to add more weight for any loader or ground engaging work. I have added fluid to the tires and always carry a rear implement and leave my loader attached and have added cast weights to help in this area.....as traction is always the shortcoming of a CUT or a SCUT for this type of work. However, I do not have a mowing requirement for my currrent tractor.

I also think that using some common sense and R4 or Turf tires will limit damage during mowing. Myself....I'd opt for the heavier models and R4's and limit my mowing to dry weather.

 

[rexcramer]

The BX is a mower with a loader on it.

The kioti and the B series I mentioned are tractors with mowers on them.

If that makes any sense

This comment was bugging me for a few hours today, as I was using my "lawnmower" to till up 1/2 acre for a foodplot, then I used the loader to move a bunch of blackdirt I am going to plant grass on. After that I pulled a disk over the dirt, and then a drag to flatten it out. Finally my "lawnmower" backbladed my stonecrete drive and got the trash cans with the loader to end the day.

The BX is a tractor all the way, never dismiss the little guy. Compared to my 580, your "tractor" is basically a lawnmower as well when you get down to it.

 

[LD1]

I'm actually suprised it took that long to get a response from a bx owner about my comment.

It wasn't meant to offend anyone, and obviously you can do a lot more than mow with it, but when you look at the specs of the machine, you can tell it was designed primarily for mowing. (Light weight, High HP, Low loader capacity and Low 3ph Specs)

When you compare HP to HP, the BX series are usually about 1/2 the weight of other tractors with the same HP, and can only lift about 1/2 as much on either end.

Tractors that are much heavier, better hydraulics, higher lift capacities, are imo, a better example of a "tractor".

Like I said, I don't mean to offend anyone, but it is clear when you look at the specs of the BX line and compare to any other tractor in that HP range, that the BX's are about the bottom of the list for loader strength, 3PH, and weight. This tells me that kubota designed it to be one helluva mower, an not so much of a digging/dirtwork machine.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Tractors that are much heavier, better hydraulics, higher lift capacities, are imo, a better example of a "tractor".
<snip>

A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction

IMHO to many people define tractor in their own frame of reference. It's an engine, usually on wheels.

The BX series seems ideal for the OP.