Buying Advice B3030 vs BX25 real life comparison

[CWB]

After a couple of years of freeloading on the great advice provided by members of this site, I thought I'd try to repay these contributions with a modest submission of my own. In particular I have noted many queries about the relative merits of the BX tractors vs the B series. I now have one of both (the BX25 being a recent acquisition) and have a few observations.

The B3030 has much more in the way of power and overall capabilities, in practice far more than the difference in stated horsepower and lifting etc capabilities would suggest. As a simple example, the BX at idle doesn't generate enough hydraulic pressure to even lift its FEL, while the 3030 does so easily. Similarly, to get up a 2 inch step into our barn requires a reasonable use of the BX's throttle while once again the 3030 handles that at idle. The same relative power differential carries over to lifting (in my case large rocks and stumps).

However this is not to say that the BX is underpowered for most purposes; cranking up the throttle gives a lot of power, including plenty to run our Wallenstein BX42 chipper. The BX also has some advantages which are significant for my purposes. First, it is lower to the ground which makes it noticeably less tippy when navigating our hilly terrain. Second, in overall size it is distinctly more compact and maneuverable. At our house we have 4 mostly landscaped acres, and the 3030 felt large on that plot; the R4s also made a mess of the lawn. It fits much better on another property we have elsewhere. The BX, on the other hand, is less destructive to the lawn despite also having R4s.

The only (modest) disappointment that I have had with the BX is with respect to the backhoe. For certain applications (stump removal, for example) it suffers from a lack of power (or perhaps my expectations were unrealistic.) On stumps, the backhoe has a hard time with roots larger than 1 1/2 inches in diameter. For more normal digging, though, it is great and the smaller size makes it easy for a relative novice to control.

I also prefer the left hand brake pedal on the 3030 as it's less easy to get it confused with the power pedal.

Both machines are great, though, and I'd highly recommend either. As the saying goes, horses for courses!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

After a couple of years of freeloading on the great advice provided by members of this site, I thought I'd try to repay these contributions with a modest submission of my own. In particular I have noted many queries about the relative merits of the BX tractors vs the B series. I now have one of both (the BX25 being a recent acquisition) and have a few observations.

The B3030 has much more in the way of power and overall capabilities, in practice far more than the difference in stated horsepower and lifting etc capabilities would suggest. As a simple example, the BX at idle doesn't generate enough hydraulic pressure to even lift its FEL, while the 3030 does so easily. Similarly, to get up a 2 inch step into our barn requires a reasonable use of the BX's throttle while once again the 3030 handles that at idle. The same relative power differential carries over to lifting (in my case large rocks and stumps).

However this is not to say that the BX is underpowered for most purposes; cranking up the throttle gives a lot of power, including plenty to run our Wallenstein BX42 chipper. The BX also has some advantages which are significant for my purposes. First, it is lower to the ground which makes it noticeably less tippy when navigating our hilly terrain. Second, in overall size it is distinctly more compact and maneuverable. At our house we have 4 mostly landscaped acres, and the 3030 felt large on that plot; the R4s also made a mess of the lawn. It fits much better on another property we have elsewhere. The BX, on the other hand, is less destructive to the lawn despite also having R4s.

The only (modest) disappointment that I have had with the BX is with respect to the backhoe. For certain applications (stump removal, for example) it suffers from a lack of power (or perhaps my expectations were unrealistic.) On stumps, the backhoe has a hard time with roots larger than 1 1/2 inches in diameter. For more normal digging, though, it is great and the smaller size makes it easy for a relative novice to control.

I also prefer the left hand brake pedal on the 3030 as it's less easy to get it confused with the power pedal.

Both machines are great, though, and I'd highly recommend either. As the saying goes, horses for courses!

Had several B's and BX's. I agree with most of this except my BX25 will lift the FEL and the BH at idle.

 

[lawn_king]

Had several B's and BX's. I agree with most of this except my BX25 will lift the FEL and the BH at idle.

Sub compacts are great homeowner machines, they just have too many limitations for any commercial work.

 

[broncorm]

This spring I traded in my bx24 for a b3030. I liked the power and maneverablitly of the bx. It did not tear up the lawn, had turf tires, used it for mowing. BH hoe had good power for digging, most large rocks I would dig next to and push into the hole. I almost did not trade it in but after using the 3030 I could not go back. R4 tires are better I then expected, do very little damage to the lawn. BH has lot of power to dig out large stump, bigger the I can lift with the machine. The machine is still small enough to fit through the trails in the wood.

 

[James Loehr]

I have the BX2360 and a L3130 and of course there is a great big spread between these two. The grand L does the lifting and pulling that is beyond what the BX would do but for mowing and landscaping projects the BX is the most handy tool I own. Quality and the extras of the L3130 are what have most impressed me. The versatility and just plain handy to use is what I like about the BX. Used the BX to pull some fence posts out last week. Pulled them out very nice and gentle at 1450RPM with the loader. Boy before I had these nice tools I used to just struggle getting these out by hand.

 

[Straifer]

I have a BX24 and the only thing I have to compare it to is a spade. So you have to believe I love my BX. I have been extremely impressed with the power and versatility of this little beast. I have pulled about 14 stumps over the last two summers. Now I agree with statement that the BX has it's hoe full with big stumps but once you learn where you need to start and get a process going, it acutally goes pretty fast.

I use my BX for snow removal here in Maine and again I have been impressed. Only have turf tires which I think I am going to change as they struggle in muddy areas and sticky snow. Don't mow my lawn with it so don't really need them. Just ordered the rear skid plate from Bro-tek so as not to take out the cooling fan and filter underneath and then it will be time for some major brush and tree clearing.

Great post CWB....love reading everyone's thoughts on the different units.

 

[amigauser]

I have the BX2360 and a L3130 and of course there is a great big spread between these two. The grand L does the lifting and pulling that is beyond what the BX would do but for mowing and landscaping projects the BX is the most handy tool I own. Quality and the extras of the L3130 are what have most impressed me. The versatility and just plain handy to use is what I like about the BX. Used the BX to pull some fence posts out last week. Pulled them out very nice and gentle at 1450RPM with the loader. Boy before I had these nice tools I used to just struggle getting these out by hand.

I have a similar combo L3240 and BX1860. Like you said there are jobs that both are better at. For residential mowing and light landscaping (why I purchased my BX) it is going to be hard to beat a BX but for any heavy loader work or larger 3pt work the "B" or "L" is much more tractor. The BX seems like a toy when I jump on it after spending time on my L .

 

[radioman]

all good,valid points here guys. I also wanted to add that the tractor "should" be proportional to the size of lot with number of trees. a open flat 2 acre would demand a simple 4 digit BX. Going up to 5 acres with some trees would demand at least a B or better. A BX TLB would be suited on a 2 acre or more with some trees, ditches etc.

Now- before i get blasted saying a 100 acre land with half with trees a BX can't handle it and must get a L or something similar- I want to add that its all about knowing the limits and time of getting such size of a tractor.

good write up CWB ! :thumbsup:

 

[Tractor Factor]

Love this discussion. Thanks CWB and others. While I'm happy with my BX25, there have been a few times where I've been aware that a B series was more of what I needed...I'm very partial to that 3030! I had to have the backhoe, though, and I just couldn't justify the cost of a B series TLB. Yes, the BX BH is muscularly challenged but, hey, it's still a backhoe.

Also, good point about the stability and maneuverability...that's a very big consideration on my property.

 

[Volfandt]

Nice writeup CWB and altho I feel it's an apples to oranges comparison to compare the BX w/the largest premium B, you're correct in that many seem to make them.

An old rule of thumb I used back in the day is still applicable today.
1) If finish mowing is the primary task, go w/a BX.
The BX series is light, it's small wheels make it very manuverable, the hydrostatic P/S is effortless, it's fully suspended MMM gives a great cut and won't gouge the turf in sharp corners and it's implements (FEL, BH, limited CAT 1 3ph implements) will handle most home owner/estate type tasks admirably.

2) If ground engagement/material handling is the primary task, go w/a B.
The B series has more size & weight to support it's higher capacities. Their capacities are higher in every respect when compared to the BX series. They lift more at the FEL & 3PH and have higher ground clearance w/taller tires which is an advantage in every aspect except that it cuts down on the manuverability, when compared to a BX or other SCUT. The B series gives a very nice finish cut but just isn't as nimble as the BX.

I personally don't use estate size as the main factor in determining which tractor to purchase as it still basically depends upon the projected uses and the lay of the land itself.
Large open areas can accomodate large machines w/wide cuts whereas areas with many obstacles can't accomodate them.
I'm sure theres nice flat estates that'll allow a tractor to mow faster than 8 mph but from my own experiences, what doesn't beat you to death wil definiely prematurely wear out the equipment and my estate rarely allows me to run my BX23 at full speed mowing
A B3030 w/a 60" MMM will not cover more ground than my BX23 w/a 60" does ON MY ESTATE IMHO. Matter of fact, I felt that the ground contact MMM of the B3030 (and at the time B7510 & B7610) would require more time and maintenance due to the uneven terrain of MY estate. 5 mowing seaosn later this decision seems to have been correct when compared to my previous mowing machines.

I finish mow alittle over 2 acres weekly and 4 acres every two weeks during the mowing season and the BX23 handles it admirably.
I used to do the same task w/a dedicated 44" riding mower for the front 2 acres and a 3500lb TE20 Ferguson w/5' brush hog for the back 2 acres and the BX23 does it in much less time than the previous two machines did.
Both the finish mower and 5" brush hog required addtional matenance because both utilized ground contact wheels to set their depth and I tried to cover ground faster than I should have. The additional maintenance consisted of repairing/replacing broken/missing depth wheels, their axles, broken welds, bent mounts, lift eyes, check chains, brackets etc.
So far, on my suspended 60" MMM I'm still operating on all the OEM parts (except blades, in which I changed over to gators but they are still original).

Now, with all that said, yes, I would trade my BX23 for a B3030HSDC (but not a std B3030). I know I would have to go slower in many spots and my 856 Wheel Horse seat time would increase some for the close in trimming but I could handle that additonal time in air conditioned splender just fine

Theres so many variables that each case really needs to be determined individually as each tractor has it's own strengths/weaknesses.
JMHO
Dave