Soon 2 buy first tractor; likely the BX1860 or BX2360

Mr. Ace · Sep 6, 2009

Will do harpoon. My primary purpose for wanting a tractor will be for snow removal for the private road/drive. We're a bit out in the wilderness. I have nearly 1/2 mile to clear, all of it well packed dirt/gravel, in good condition, a bit less than 2 cars wide, cut through the forest, with a few mild - moderate hills (no severe grades). We're in the lake effect snowbelt and average 20' of snow/year. B/C of the heavy snowfall, if you push snow with a blade, the banks get real high, real fast, and make blade clearing difficult/impractical.

I have been doing a combination of using a walk & push snowblower and contracting a snow service. The pros I hire use a blade early in the snow season then switch to tractor with a mounted snowblower. When I saw them using the tractor & blower I knew that was the cat's a** solution! I was considering maybe a 4wd ATV with a blower, but I believe a tractor & blower will be a superior solution, although more expensive. The Kubota 0% financing is a great incentive too, and I want to be able to eventually have a cab. Also, my thoughts are I could also pick up a couple of snow clearing jobs nearby, to help pay for this beast. That is where it would be handy to have a better travel speed, as I would only take a snow job within tractor driving distance (don't want to trailer).

Like you harpoon, I would also use it for some miscellanous jobs around the property, like hauling branches, firewood, road/drive grading. I'm sure I will want to add implements as I go along like a FEL, but that will likely have to wait for a year or two.

radioman · Sep 6, 2009

Mr ace- with 20' of snow, you will want a blower like you said, but with that much to clear without a cab, you are not gonna be happy. with that much wooded acres, having a tractor without a FEL doesnt make sense. I am telling you this now so you won't be kicking yourself later. Have you thought about getting a B with FEL and rear 3pt blower? A rear 3 pt blower is much cheaper then a front mounted. however, you need to consider the pain in the neck looking backwards and 20' of snow is just trouble for neck to happen. You might be surprised on how well the FEL works just for clearing snow for awhile in B sized.

harpoonalt · Sep 6, 2009

Much clearer now. For that much snow, a blower is your best bet. A "B" series tractor would be my choice with a blower. The tractor will last you a long time and long term, probably cost less than an ATV. I'd get the FEL with the tractor since it will cost you less and (trust us on this) be the best money you ever spent, especially with zero % financing. I agree on a cab being nice, but I would rather have a "B" with a FEL and add the cab later. Once you have the tractor, you'll wonder how you ever got along without one. The BX will do what you want but the higher speed and more ground clearance can't be added later. Please post pictures of the rig in action. With that much snow, they'll be impressive!

JOHNTHOMAS · Sep 6, 2009

harpoonalt said:
Much clearer now. For that much snow, a blower is your best bet. A "B" series tractor would be my choice with a blower. The tractor will last you a long time and long term, probably cost less than an ATV. I'd get the FEL with the tractor since it will cost you less and (trust us on this) be the best money you ever spent, especially with zero % financing. I agree on a cab being nice, but I would rather have a "B" with a FEL and add the cab later. Once you have the tractor, you'll wonder how you ever got along without one. The BX will do what you want but the higher speed and more ground clearance can't be added later. Please post pictures of the rig in action. With that much snow, they'll be impressive!

I don't do snow but harpoonalt has nailed it in my opinion. I thought I was wasting money when I bought a FEL on my first tractor but now I see the light. Seems the FEL could help moving snow but that's not from personal experience.

DGS · Sep 6, 2009

JOHNTHOMAS said:
I have a B3200 and a BX2660. BX guys don't want to hear it but there's more than paper specs between the B and BX. Try both and you'll see. It's not just "more power" because some BX's have more HP than some B's. I know LB, you wouldn't have a tractor if you had to have a B. Tell us again how you have 3 BX's and how they'll do any and every thing.

Hey John
LB's got his in a circus too
LOL
DGS

ChuckinNH · Sep 7, 2009

One poster made the comment that the higher B model might be less stable. I have found the opposite to be true. I had a BX, and now have a B2620, and have found the B to be much more stable in the woods, and on any rough ground. The extra clearance, and tougher underbody has been great too. You can use the same snowblower on the B that is specified for the BX if you want to save a bit of money, but I do think it is of lighter construction. Another option is adding the "drift knives" which actually extend the width of the blower by a couple of inches on each side, or so. Also, though not advertised, the loader quick attach setup from the B3200 fits, and works fine on the smaller B series.. B2x20's. That would allow you to add a larger bucket for snow use, or forks for use with brush, logs, rocks, and pallets, etc. I have that setup on mine, and have been pleasantly surprised how well they work for popping out, and transporting large rocks, and brush. For either, I would get loaded turf tires, and buy chains for your uses. Good luck with your choices, and tractor!

Crash101 · Sep 7, 2009

BX or B series, good question. If mowing, a BX makes great sense, but if mostly removing snow and later on using it for various dirt moving chores, the B series is much better. I fear if you buy a BX, you will one day soon wish to trade up for the B. Trades get expensive, especially with 0 percent interest for new (little demand for late model used machines at bank rate interest).
Items like a front end loader, rotary cutter/finish mower,tiller, post hole digger or any other working tool you will no doubt wish to own someday will certainly work much better behind a B series than a BX. If a couple thousand dollars is the difference it will be a very well spent couple thousand dollars. The difference down the road when you wish to trade the BX will be 2 or 3 times as much.

Mr. Ace · Sep 7, 2009

Great posts; I really appreciate everyone sharing their tractor wisdom. You can't get this stuff in a brochure.

Good to know Chuck that you are having good stability with your B-series relative to the BX. I would think that the longer wheel base in the B-series helps offset the higher GC; 6.4" longer WB according to specs.

I'm also curious about the loaded tires that Chuck and harpoon mentioned. I haven't given the tire choice much thought yet; more or less assuming that since I wouldn't be doing any mowing (no lawn to speak of) that agricultural R1 tires would be a good for snow work & misc. chores. With chains though, I would think that turf tires probably would work out better. I hope I can do without chains; will probably have to try it out first and see how it goes. Do Kubota dealers offer loading of tires? Do most users load the rears only, or all four?

JOHNTHOMAS · Sep 7, 2009

My dealer, Barlows loads my tires and I have rears only loaded. have a BX and a B. Had an L. The stability issue, to me, is on hill sides which I have. The L felt very unstable to me on my hill sides and I traded it back for another B. I mow with my BX and will drive side ways across hills with it and feel fairly secure. Have not and will not do the cross hills with B. Straight up and straight down they all feel stable. Driving through woods as long as your not driving across hills the B will be fine. Looks to me like you need a B for ground clearance and that's the "major" difference between B and BX. To me amount of acreage is not one of the factors between a B and a BX. Diesel engine with heavy duty frame will do it with either model, size of implements make the difference of time.

LBrown59 · Sep 7, 2009

Crash101 said:
BX or B series, good question. If mowing, a BX makes great sense, but if mostly removing snow and later on using it for various dirt moving chores, the B series is much better.
1*I fear if you buy a BX, you will one day soon wish to trade up for the B.
2*Trades get expensive, especially with 0 percent interest for new (little demand for late model used machines at bank rate interest).
3*Items like a front end loader, rotary cutter/finish mower,tiller, post hole digger or any other working tool you will no doubt wish to own someday will certainly work much better behind a B series than a BX.
4*If a couple thousand dollars is the difference it will be a very well spent couple thousand dollars.
5*The difference down the road when you wish to trade the BX will be 2 or 3 times as much.

1*I bought a BX23 5 years ago .Never traded for a B model But I did buy 2 more BXs a couple years ago and kept the BX23. The difference in cost was a great deal less than 3 B series would have been.
2*Same story with the B series also.
3*All these cost more for the B series so the total difference can be much more than just a couple of thousand bucks.
4* Count it all up it's likely way more than that .
5*I don't see how because as you said in # .This also carries over to every other tractor out there including the B series.
Other things to consider is
Bigger trailer and truck required to haul the larger B equals even more money for such items.