Should I buy a BX or a B?

[Haff]

I have never owned a tractor. I have rented a few times, so at least I have a few hours of seat time, though not enough to know what I'm talking about. I have about 3 acres total, about 1 is grass/landscaping, the rest is wooded. I have plans to refresh my landscaping as well as to peel out some of the trees and put in a garden. I also want to make some paths through the wooded parts for some small bike trails for me and the kids. I have some hills, so tippiness is something I have to keep in mind. I plan to fill the tires and add spacers with either rig.

I was thinking of getting a bx23s as I know I want a loader and hoe. But I keep wondering if I will miss the extra lifting capacity of the B series.

Eventually I will also get a snowblower an I'll build a ballast box and possibly other attachments, though none planned at the moment.

I'm already going to put out a lot of money that I have been saving a long time for, so the extra $5k (ish) for the B over the BX is hard to swallow. Will I be fine sticking with the BX?

 

[ovrszd]

Welcome to TBN.

I think you'll be fine with a BX. A B series on 3 acres might be a little overkill.

 

[RalphVa]

Welcome. If your 3 acres has any kind of brush or uneven ground, you may need the extra clearance of the B. Also, if you need to make sharp turns at the ends of garden rows, you'll need turning brakes like are on the B. Or, if you plan on having the touch R4 type industrial tires, turning brakes help a lot with them because they have little turning force friction because of the position of their bars. Turfs (or maybe R1s) will do better for turning but are not as tough for use of the FEL.

The BX has an underbelly cooling fan for the hydraulic system. It can get damaged by brush in uneven ground. You can put in some protector shields for these. The B's cooling fan is the engine cooling fan, with the cooling cells for the hydraulic system located in front (think this is the case; any B owners chime in; I've read the operator's manual for the Bs and not sure it shows this clearly).

Ralph

 

[oldballs]

I'm glad that Richard said "might", because I'm saying..maybe...get the "B".... On my three acres the "B" isn't overkill, although I started out with a BX. Part of my reasons for the "B" was ground clearance......which also is a factor when doing maintenance. My first tractor, the BX2660, was quite a powerful machine I must say.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[oldnslo]

Like OldBalls I had the BX and now has the Branson equivalent of a B series. BX did not have the weight and ground clearance for me to do the ground engaging garden work that I do. If you are going to use a garden tiller the BX would for you. I am old school and plow & disc my garden residue.

I have 2 1/2 acres of flat ground

 

[ovrszd]

I'm glad that Richard said "might", because I'm saying..maybe...get the "B".... On my three acres the "B" isn't overkill, although I started out with a BX. Part of my reasons for the "B" was ground clearance......which also is a factor when doing maintenance. My first tractor, the BX2660, was quite a powerful machine I must say.

Cheers,
Mike

Yeah but you use your tractor like a farm tractor Mike!!!

 

[oldballs]

Yeah but you use your tractor like a farm tractor Mike!!!

Just a Wanna Be....Shoulda Been.....farmer.

 

[Haff]

I do plan to spend a fair amount of time working the woods, so the ground clearance is a concern. And to make it worse I'm getting all caught up in the numbers, and I was comparing the 2601 to 2650, and the 2650 looks to be a lot stronger.

What about the backhoe integration. I understand the 23s is great, but I have seen some people complain about how the seat and mounts work for backhoes on the 2601 and 2650. Are these people just nitpicking, or is there a real concern there?

 

[dragoneggs]

Haff, I have a BX with about 400 hrs on it and love it. I live on 1.5acre steep hill property. Have done a fair amount of trail/road building, landscaping, trenching, etc. and love my BX. Ground clearance hasn't been much of an issue for me. I did hire and excavator to come in to do some major clearing and he piled the large mess of stumps, brush, and logs, which I did manage to completely dispose of whittling away at it over about 1 or so years of occasionally getting after it. Lots of small burn piles, and horsing around large stumps heavier than the lift capability using chains.

At the time, a B series would have been a little more productive but I now am very happy I have my BX. It can get into tight spaces around the house that a bigger tractor would not be able to and that has allowed me to do a lot of landscaping, planting, laying water and power lines, etc that would not have been done.

I did a few things to make it hill and forest ready. Added a rear mid skid plate to protect the HST fan. Added wheel spacers for better stability on the hills. Add a Piranha tooth bar to the FEL bucket for easy digging, LED lights for coming back when it gets dark or doing the odd chore at night. Lots of other mods too.

The BX backhoe some say is a luxury, I love mine and it is on about 50% or more of the time. Makes great ballast and is handy helping getting unstuck. I also have a box blade and a rear scaper blade. One thing I added that I should have immediately was a front QA (quick attach) and some adjustable forks. Now I don't hesitate moving/loading/unloading things on pallets or otherwise. A really nice addition.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[Haff]

One thing I added that I should have immediately was a front QA (quick attach) and some adjustable forks. Now I don't hesitate moving/loading/unloading things on pallets or otherwise. A really nice addition..

Do you mean the skid steer option for the FEL, or something else?

 

[dragoneggs]

Do you mean the skid steer option for the FEL, or something else?

I have the BX25D. The newer BX23S has a QA standard if I remember right. I'm not sure what you fork options are. I bought an after market QA and forks... not skid steer mount. My point was you will likely enjoy and use forks more than you realized you would. My back thanks me regularly.

 

[Diggin It]

I have never owned a tractor. I have rented a few times, ...

Don't be fussy about orange paint. Red and Blue do fine. Better, stronger machines for less money. Got my whole outfit for a bunch of bucks less that just the orange machine and FEL.

 

[dragoneggs]

Don't be fussy about orange paint. Red and Blue do fine. Better, stronger machines for less money. Got my whole outfit for a bunch of bucks less that just the orange machine and FEL.

No... do be fussy and get what you want. Hopefully you will have a long long time with no regrets. I'm not advocating for a particular color, I just am done settling for something other than I wanted when it comes to tools and other hopefully 'lifetime' purchases.

 

[SDT]

I have never owned a tractor. I have rented a few times, so at least I have a few hours of seat time, though not enough to know what I'm talking about. I have about 3 acres total, about 1 is grass/landscaping, the rest is wooded. I have plans to refresh my landscaping as well as to peel out some of the trees and put in a garden. I also want to make some paths through the wooded parts for some small bike trails for me and the kids. I have some hills, so tippiness is something I have to keep in mind. I plan to fill the tires and add spacers with either rig.

I was thinking of getting a bx23s as I know I want a loader and hoe. But I keep wondering if I will miss the extra lifting capacity of the B series.

Eventually I will also get a snowblower an I'll build a ballast box and possibly other attachments, though none planned at the moment.

I'm already going to put out a lot of money that I have been saving a long time for, so the extra $5k (ish) for the B over the BX is hard to swallow. Will I be fine sticking with the BX?

The BX has neither position control nor turning brakes.

Both are show stoppers for me.

SDT

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Another voice on now the BX23S. I have a BX 25. Like Dragoneggs (we live in the same aa and visit once in awhile) I love my BX. Everything you want to do I have done and probably more with my BX same stuff as Dragon. A tooth-bar on the FEL is a must. I could not justify the cost of a grapple so I have 4 clamp on forks for handling logs, sticks and brush. When I bought it I lived on 21 Ac of timberland. Some pretty good slopes to negotiate. I learned the techniques pretty fast. You must maintain situational awareness. No alcohol when working on slopes or uneven ground, cardinal rule. A B with a BH added will be several $K more. I could not see any value added and still feel that way. Guys like us are not doing this for production, more for enjoyment and self satisfaction. If you have the money and want to throw it be my guest, to each his own. To do over I would do the same. I have 1500 hrs on mine and have no out of pocket major repair, Like others said the HST cooling fan is a drawback. I have only replaced it twice even working in woods and brush. Crazy waht a $12 fan costs in the end with Dealer shop prices. I do all my own work even at 80+years. Any tractor will cost much for maintenance, minor repairs if you are not mechanically inclined. Shops up here are $150/hr plus transportation if you do not have a truck and trailer of your own. Don't bother with fluid in the tires, not enough weight added to bother. Think counterweight. I have suitcase weights I can add in 50# increments front or back, p,us like dragon I have the BH on a lot, over 50%. It is a movable ballast on slopes keeping the weight uphill. Let us know what your skills are and we can make more recommendations.

Ron

 

[Tompet]

As others said shop other colors too if you want, but once you are questioning the size choice in your mind you will be second guessing yourself with the BX. Also, once on your property the tractor will shrink to you sizewise. IMO, get the 2601 or 2650. I did the trade up dance mostly for larger BH and would not be without one but in the end go with size and brand you want. In any event, you will enjoy it!

 

[check 6]

I have had several BX tractors over the years and several “B” and I have settled on the “b”. My lot is an acre but I do some work on our subdivision common property. Why the “B”? Better ground clearance. Three speed transmission vs two in the BX. More lifting capability and a true tractor frame etc. the “B” comes in two sizes, the 2650 and the 2601. If you are considering the BX go with the “B” 2601 you will be happy

 

[chim]

Do lots of comparisons. Buy big enough the first time. Then it will take a little longer to realize that one really was't big enough

 

[RalphVa]

I have had several BX tractors over the years and several “B” and I have settled on the “b”. My lot is an acre but I do some work on our subdivision common property. Why the “B”? Better ground clearance. Three speed transmission vs two in the BX. More lifting capability and a true tractor frame etc. the “B” comes in two sizes, the 2650 and the 2601. If you are considering the BX go with the “B” 2601 you will be happy

No. The B also comes as B2301. It and the 2601 are covered by the same operators manual. Have turning brakes and position control on the 3 ph, both things are needed for my work.

Ralph

 

[dalola]

OP, confused yet?

Too many choices some times....

Unless you have something on your property that would restrict the size of the machine, get the biggest *reasonable* machine you can comfortably afford.

Also, make sure you sit on, & operate, your short list tractors. That can help influence the final decision.

I went through a similar process a couple years ago, and went with a BX, as I needed the compact size for tight quarter work. It's done everything I've asked of it so far, some jobs just taking a bit longer, than say, vs. a B tractor.

Good luck!