Buy small now or wait for something bigger? (bx2670)

[iostreamer]

Hi guys,

Long time lurker first time poster. My partner and I recently purchased a nice homestead sitting on about 85 Acres (half field, half forest, maybe close to 2 Acres of grass around the house).

Currently we are both working but we hope to get into some light farming next spring (sheep , chicken, some gardening). In the short term I have arrangements with local farmer to hay my field so the field doesn't get out of control.

We currently do not own any equipment of note other than our two cars. Both recently out of school.

My short term needs are:
-lawn mowing (2 acres)
-snow blowing (driveway is about 100 feet)
-something to help me get firewood from my woodlot to the house

Rather than buy a garden tractor now for lawn mowing I figured it would make more sense to kill as many birds with one stone as possible which got me looking at the bx tractors. My current plan is looking at financing a new one in the spring with mower, blower and loader at minimum and continue to rely on local farmers to hay the field as I have no hope of affording the equipment required for that for at least probably another 5 years.

The other option I had toyed around with was just buying a smaller garden tractor now for lawn mowing and holding out a year or two for something bigger in the 40-60hp range.

Sorry for the long winded post but basically my question is, do you guys think that buying a bx for the amount of acreage that I have is a mistake? Should I wait until I can afford something bigger? Appreciate all the advice.

 

[tractorshopper]

My opinion only here, but with some immediate tasks identified like mowing, firewood help, and driveway maintenance, I'd go ahead and buy the BX now and keep your arrangements with local farmers until you can afford a larger tractor and hay equipment later (big expenses). You can be somewhat self-sufficient while learning about tractoring and property upkeep and have more time to figure out what your longer term larger purchase should be to fit your needs.

You may find that you have the BX paid off before you're ready for the bigger purchase and with already having capability to do certain chores, you may actually want to keep that tractor and purchase a larger one for the larger chores and not switch implements out so much by having 2 tractors in the future.

For the firewood work, you may want to consider some pallet forks or grapple for your loader to aid in transport from woodlot to house, or even some type of trailer depending on your situation.

 

[oldballs]

I'm with David above. The BX with attachments is a workhorse that will surprise you with its abilities. It will save your backs and speed up your initial projects. The trade in value is better than average if you decide on a bigger rig if you can afford/need one.

As to snow I might recommend a rear blade and a FEL for the job. But I don't know how much snow you are talking about. Those two attachments are good for other uses as opposed to snow only usage. Attachments are also expensive and are often specific for certain tractor models. Thus, if you moved up to a larger HP tractor, they probably would not fit or would be inadequate.

Good Luck up there in New Brunswick,
Mike

 

[jeff9366]

The BX tractors are excellent mowing machines and great tractors to learn on.

Starting with a BX, with a heavier, larger tractor in the future, more suitable for your 40 open acres and 45 wooded acres, is a good plan. BX implement weights are in proportion to BX tractor weight: light. You will be glad for your ability to move the light implements a bit manually when mounting implements on the Three Point Hitch.

There is no better first tractor add-on than a Ratchet Rake. You will use it in the woods, it will be excellent for grading your 100' driveway and it can open ground for a small garden. Ratchet Rakes are sold by the T-B-N store, button at the top of this page. Delivery by FedEx.

 

[iostreamer]

Thanks for the advice everyone sadly have to wait until at least spring before making a purchase so no pictures anytime soon but I'm trying to gather as much information as I can before we make an eventual purchase.

I know this has been asked a million times but in this specific case where I will be mostly operating on my grass but with the occasional trip to the woods (and of course some work in the snow) should I be looking at turf or industrial tires? Am I safe to mow the grass with industrial tires so long as the ground is mostly dry?

 

[jeff9366]

Am I safe to mow the grass with R4/industrial tires so long as the ground is mostly dry?

Anticipation is 50% of Satisfaction.

Yes.

I have R4/industial tires. I operate over dry Saint Augustine turf grass surrounding residences in my development, all with in-ground irrigation, regularly with my 5,400 pound tractor, in 2-WD, with no marking.

If traction in snow is a major concern, you will want high quality tires chains regardless of R1/R4 choice.

The primary reason for selecting R1/ag tires is the necessity to operate a tractor in mud. For most residential tractors owners there is no necessity to go out in the mud. Residential owners can wait a week for drier conditions.

R1/ag tires are almost always the choice for 60-hp to 90-hp 2-WD 'haying' tractors with liquid filled rear tires, ordered without 4-WD.

1,000,000 MORE TURF TIRES VS. INDUSTRIAL TIRES: Google

 

[noller9]

Yes.

I have R4/industial tires. I operate over dry Saint Augustine turf grass surrounding residences in my development, all with in-ground irrigation, regularly with my 5,400 pound tractor, in 2-WD, with no marking.

If traction in snow is a major concern, you will want high quality tires chains regardless of R1/R4 choice.

The primary reason for selecting R1/ag tires is the necessity to operate a tractor in mud. For most residential tractors owners there is no necessity to go out in the mud. Residential owners can wait a week for drier conditions.

R1/ag tires are almost always the choice for 50-hp to 80-hp 2-WD tractors with liquid filled rear tires, ordered without 4-WD.

1,000,000 MORE TURF TIRES VS. INDUSTRIAL TIRES: Google

I agree with Jeff. Every dry yard I have crossed with R4 tires has been no problem but just try to push a tree stump anywhere wet with Turf Tires and you would be done

 

[nikerret]

Waiting until spring might be a great time to get a BX. The 70-series will be on its way out to make way for the 80-series. You'll be able to see which series/price/features are the best, for you.

I went with R4's, on my BX2D-1. No regrets. I mow and run a small commercial operation moving rock and dirt over people's lawns. Damage is between none and minimal, usually none.

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what everyone else said, you won't regret the BX, will get a lot of work done as well as experience in tractor operation. I used a BX only on my primary property for many yers and it still gets a good tractor workout from time to time in spite of owning other, bigger machines. We have R1 on one and R4 on another as well as our JD1025R.

 

[2ndhalf]

My opinion only here, but with some immediate tasks identified like mowing, firewood help, and driveway maintenance, I'd go ahead and buy the BX now and keep your arrangements with local farmers until you can afford a larger tractor and hay equipment later (big expenses). You can be somewhat self-sufficient while learning about tractoring and property upkeep and have more time to figure out what your longer term larger purchase should be to fit your needs.

You may find that you have the BX paid off before you're ready for the bigger purchase and with already having capability to do certain chores, you may actually want to keep that tractor and purchase a larger one for the larger chores and not switch implements out so much by having 2 tractors in the future.

For the firewood work, you may want to consider some pallet forks or grapple for your loader to aid in transport from woodlot to house, or even some type of trailer depending on your situation.

With that much land I would agree with getting the BX rather than a mower to start. The thing I can tell you about land ownership is that you really don't feel like you can do much with it until you have at least some sort of tractor. Even a BX is better than not having any tractor. The BX will do a lot and you may not even outgrow it as soon as you think. If you get the lawn mower only, you will have 85 acres that you can do nothing at all with.