Buying Advice Four acres which tractor is best

Jcox2007 · Mar 18, 2012

I am about to purchase four relatively flat grassy acres. May need to do some grading in the future. I think the bx models are too small. What model do you think I should go with.

Mike476 · Mar 18, 2012

I have a four acre lot that I bought wooded, cleared more than half of it to build our house. Did all the felling / skidding of trees with my old 135 but when it came time for stump removal / root raking and grading, I paid a contractor who did it all in two days. What I was left with were a few burn piles and a few piles of nice soil that I later used myself for landscaping the property.

Unless by grading you mean level some new dirt in a few hollows on your property, tractors aren't the right choice for grading existing landscapes, if it's any real significant work best to hire that out and think about what you'll need a tractor for once that is finished.

Good luck in your search.

wcampbell47 · Mar 18, 2012

Jcox2007 said:
I am about to purchase four relatively flat grassy acres. May need to do some grading in the future. I think the bx models are too small. What model do you think I should go with.

Look at a B3200 with a mid mount mower. Could mow all 4 acres in about 2 hours. Lots of power to pull a box blade or my favorite a land plane. I reshaped the slope leading down to a water course with a B7510 with FEL and tiller. I don't see why you couldn't landscape with the 3200.

JOHNTHOMAS · Mar 18, 2012

Jcox2007 said:
I am about to purchase four relatively flat grassy acres. May need to do some grading in the future. I think the bx models are too small. What model do you think I should go with.

The BX will do the job. The biggest difference between the BX and B is ground clearance. Actually there isn't that much difference in price between the similiar HP models. They will both mow in about the same time with the same size deck.
I have around 5 acres of hillside, gullied and some flat and some trees. I've owned several BXs from the BX2200, BX1500, BX2350, BX2660 and now a BX25. Also owned a B7800, B3200 and now own a B2320 but I now use a Kubota F2680 and F3080 for all of my mowing. Did own a L3240 but it was to big for my hillside.
For just mowing the F models are the best mower made but that is about all they do.
Grading can mean alot of different things. Slight trimming of a drive or filling a small gully with dirt drug from a high spot or moving 500/2000 yards of dirt. If it's major moving then I agree that other equipment can do in 20 minutes what will take days for a tractor to do. I've done alot of work over the past 9 years to my property but I've also hired out some jobs that were to time consuming and dangerous on my steeper hills. Consider hiring the grading done and go for the best mower if the grading is a one time job.
If you think you'll continue needing tractor "work" done over the years then get the "combo" mower tractor.

TripleR · Mar 18, 2012

Pretty much in agreement with Mike and John, nothing to add, either a BX or B will do it.

We have an M8540 with 10' drag scraper and have paid for dirt work.

Jcox2007 · Mar 18, 2012

Thanks guys. My wife says the bx model isnt a real tractor but a wanna be tractor. I thought the bx2660 would be fine with a belly mower. The only grading would be drive way and some minor landscaping plots.

TripleR · Mar 18, 2012

Jcox2007 said:
Thanks guys. My wife says the bx model isnt a real tractor but a wanna be tractor. I thought the bx2660 would be fine with a belly mower. The only grading would be drive way and some minor landscaping plots.

Well my wife loves "her" BX2660 with 60 MMM, FEL. When she retired I "had to" buy another tractor.:laughing:

During the summer, if it gets hectic, my wife will run our L5030 HSTC with 6' cutter and trim while I run our M8540HDC with 10' cutter. The rest of the time she is on the BX, we consider them all tractors. Of course when I pull up nect to our renters' 8000 Series JD, they all seem to be wannabe tractors.:laughing:

Bluegill2 · Mar 18, 2012

The B & BX are fine tractors. When my cheap *** riding mower dies, I'll be getting a small Kubota for the yard mowing. :thumbsup:

Jeff F. · Mar 18, 2012

I have a BX2660 and it works for me. I use it year round. In summer I use the 60 inch mmm and bush hog. In fall, I hall firewood and level trails with my box blade. In winter, I plow/blow snow. I have 57 acres with about 5 of it as a yard. It is unbelievable what this tractor can do. I do have or access to other equipment as well, but this is my most used piece of equipment. This tractor cannot be compared to any gas engine riding mower you have ever owned. Good luck with your research.

Jcox2007 · Mar 18, 2012

Yea the house come with a ariens 54 in riding mower. But I heard that its not the best mower in the world. And when I told my boys that we were getting some land the first thing they asked was if we were getting a tractor like papas (my dads). He has two tractors. He has a 2wd kubota don't know the model number tho. Just don't think I need it too big but want to do everything I need. Snow removal driveway. Couple trees will be taken down.