Complete newbie What Kubota for 3.1 acres

[Deano]

Another vote for the BX.
If you're up for the extra cost, I recommend getting the backhoe. It's unbelievably handy.

BX here...I have three acres and it is a perfect size. I broke down 3 large wood piles when they cleared my land. I debated a backhoe and bought the BX24. NEVER regret the backhoe!!! Unbelievable what you can do with it.

Deano

 

[Taiser]

I was in the same boat, was seriously looking at a bx, but wound up with a B...I had a thread going that turned HUGE, but has tons of good material in it...worth the read just to know what people have/use on their properties!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...0539-landscaping-tasks-looking-bx24-will.html

 

[savageactor7]

Well if you mean a B1750 I have one of them with a FEL and 3PH and have found it very useful over the years with our land clearing&drainage projects.

One caveat that my most excellent dealer passed on to me that I'll pass on to you. Backhoes are nice but for what they cost you're better off taking a bye on one and just paying a straight price for any of your backhoe work.

I had 4 or 5 major projects requiring a BH and in the off season I hire them for a good price and still haven't spent what a BH would have cost me.

Of coarse I realize your looking at a used model...I tell you that so you won't pass up a good deal while holding out for a BH. Probably a BX with FEL an 3PH would also work well too.

Since you intend to do land clearing I'd recommend that you avoid a MMM...since they're a pain to take off folks leave them on while working the field only to eventually dick them up anyway.

That advice is not intended to disparage owners of BH's and MMM's.

 

[Berniep]

I take care of about 30 acres. Mow about 3 with the zero turn and rotary cutter about 6 a couple of times a year with the BX23.
The rest is wooded and I have not had any problems tearing out fence rows and cleaning up fallen trees and dragging logs for firewood. Some of it is very rough and I haven't had ground clearance problems.

 

[BigD23]

Well if you mean a B1750 I have one of them with a FEL and 3PH and have found it very useful over the years with our land clearing&drainage projects.

One caveat that my most excellent dealer passed on to me that I'll pass on to you. Backhoes are nice but for what they cost you're better off taking a bye on one and just paying a straight price for any of your backhoe work.

I had 4 or 5 major projects requiring a BH and in the off season I hire them for a good price and still haven't spent what a BH would have cost me.

Of coarse I realize your looking at a used model...I tell you that so you won't pass up a good deal while holding out for a BH. Probably a BX with FEL an 3PH would also work well too.

Since you intend to do land clearing I'd recommend that you avoid a MMM...since they're a pain to take off folks leave them on while working the field only to eventually dick them up anyway.

That advice is not intended to disparage owners of BH's and MMM's.

For me, having my backhoe in my barn and ready to use has been a very good thing...I've used it on numerous occasions, not having to go rent one, hire someone else at more expense (and taking my fun away) or try to fit my time into going and getting one/taking it back...My .02 is if you can include a backhoe in the deal, do it.

Don

 

[harpoonalt]

My 2 cents. ZTR's are great mowers. Consider taking the money you'd spend on a brush cutter and putting it towards a BH. It's more work, but ultimately easier to turn hard to mow ground into stuff the ZTR can handle. I started with a brush hog for a meadow but just kept picking rocks and smoothing ground so I can mow with my BX MMM. It was a bit of work but the end result looks great now. If I already had a ZTR, I'd get a B for sure jusy for the ground clearance. Either way you go, B or Bx, you'll have a lot of fun. Wish I had more projects to do

 

[LBrown59]

BX here...I have three acres and it is a perfect size. I broke down 3 large wood piles when they cleared my land. I debated a backhoe and bought the BX24. NEVER regret the backhoe!!! Unbelievable what you can do with it.Deano

When I bought my BX there was just no debate between getting a BX23 and a BX 2230.
Glad I went BX23.
A BX2230 would have been a horrable mistake.

I may be biased but it sure sounds like you'd be better off with a bigger B.

I think ya may be.
Seems to me you bought the wrong tractor for the job so now want to blame the tractor when it was the buyers wrong tractor buying decision.

Either a B or BX will do what you need done.
1*If you need ground clearance a B will work better.
I did a LOT of research and when I went to the dealer I was going to buy a B2920. After checking them all out and some more research and additional trips to dealers, I decided the BX2660 was the right one. A different BX would have done the work, but the BX2660 was the most comfortable.
Good luck with your choice and don't get in a hurry to buy one.

1*But what people forget is higher GC equals higher center of gravity and that translates into tippier on hill sides .

Well if you mean a B1750 I have one of them with a FEL and 3PH and have found it very useful over the years with our land clearing&drainage projects.
1*One caveat that my most excellent dealer passed on to me that I'll pass on to you. Backhoes are nice but for what they cost you're better off taking a bye on one and just paying a straight price for any of your backhoe work.
2*I had 4 or 5 major projects requiring a BH and in the off season I hire them for a good price and still haven't spent what a BH would have cost me.
3*Since you intend to do land clearing I'd recommend that you avoid a MMM...since they're a pain to take off folks leave them on while working the field only to eventually dick them up anyway.
4*That advice is not intended to disparage owners of BH's and MMM'.

1*I could not disagree with this moore.
2* that's not the only consideration .
3*Dont agree with this either.
I've put 1200 hours on my BX23 in 5 years doing most any task inaginable.
Have never had the 60'' mmm off it and it's neve been a problem working the BX23 while it is on the tractor .

I take care of about 30 acres. Mow about 3 with the zero turn and rotary cutter about 6 a couple of times a year with the BX23.
The rest is wooded and I have not had any problems tearing out fence rows and cleaning up fallen trees and dragging logs for firewood.
1*Some of it is very rough and I haven't had ground clearance problems.

1*Ground clarence is something folks get carried away about.

For me,
1*having my backhoe in my barn and ready to use has been a very good thing...I've used it on numerous occasions, not having to go rent one, hire someone else at more expense (and taking my fun away) or try to fit my time into going and getting one/taking it back...
2*My .02 is if you can include a backhoe in the deal, do it.Don

1*Many people don't have a BH because they sell them short.
2*Couldn't agree with you more.

My 2 cents. ZTR's are great mowers. bit of work but the end result looks great now. If I already had a ZTR,
1* I'd get a B for sure jusy for the ground clearance. Either way you go, B or Bx, you'll have a lot of fun. Wish I had more projects to do

1*To go with a B I would have had to give up a BH.
To high a price for me to pay fo a B .

 

[TripleR]

LBrown,

1*But what people forget is higher GC equals higher center of gravity and that translates into tippier on hill sides .

He did not indicate his ground is hilly, so COG did not seem relevant. My land is so I went with one with lower COG. Also if you operate a machine properly, you can mitigate the affects and use one with a high COG as well as good ground clearance, I do it all the time with one of my other tractors.

 

[mswlogo]

I think ya may be.
Seems to me you bought the wrong tractor for the job so now want to blame the tractor when it was the buyers wrong tractor buying decision.

And Mr. Brown would never be biased.

As has been said many times and I agree. Either machine can do the job. But if your primary purpose is to mow lawns then get a BX. If your primary purpose is everything else I think you are better off with a B. The 3 Speed Transfer case alone is worth it.

 

[newbury]

<Lots of snips>
1. 3.1 heavily wooded acres with a small creek.
2. front acreage is full of many many trees and lots of brush around the creek.
3. I have a small well built bridge that handle my 600 lb. zero turn 52 inch lawnmower.
4. The Zero turn is getting beat up by the front acreage as it is more pasture than anything else. Bumpy and tough to cut.
5. I need a bush hog for cutting the tough stuff and brush, and an FEL to move dirt rocks etc. to help work on erosion around the creek.

I was thinking the BX1750/2350 size. What do y'all think?

1. Kind of a small piece, what's the split?
2. If you are set on mowing it get rid of the trees and smooth it out.
3. Any tractor will weigh more, if you add a decent BH a lot more.
4, Dig some of those trees out, spread the dirt around and level it out.
5. Again - another vote for a BH.

It really sounds like you need a small BX w/BH. This spring I passed on a few BX23's, 24's before I got my present ride. They were just way to small for me.
Check out Barlows - Used Kubota Tractors used.
Right now he's got 3 TLB's that fit your needs. He's well respected and shipping may not be that much.

Also - one of the advantages of a backhoe is the SHEAR FUN.
And make sure you get a thumb!

/edit - And looking at your locale hills are not a problem.