7500 or bx2200 w/FEL?

[Anonymous Poster]

I recently found this forum and it is awesome ! I have learned a lot from the other posts...and hopefully can benefit from your suggestions. I decided to go with a kubota (this will be my first tractor), but can't decide which one or the attachments we need. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I own a 5 acre lot in W. Florida - house is nearly complete. We will have about 3 acres of "easy" mowing - mostly finish work...or could use bush hog on 1-1/2 if we leave as pasture. All is pretty flat with no woods or stumps to deal with. We will go with a MMM, spreader, tiller, blade for driveway maintenence...but can't figure out if we would use a FEL...I don't think I'll be moving much dirt around once the house is complete...just planting trees and beds, mulching, light gardening and lots of mowing. I've looked at the 2200 and 7500...and like a lot of others can't decide.

Any help would be appreciated especially on the FEL

 

[Bird]

Welcome to the forum, and you might not need a FEL, but you'll certainly be the exception if you don't. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif With 5 acres, you're going to want to lift and move something occasionally and maybe you can do it by hand, with a wheelbarrow, shovel, etc., but sure is easier with a FEL. I think most of us at least started out thinking of a FEL as something to pick up dirt, sand, and gravel and move it, but they sure get used for a lot more than that. I used mine to carry tools, chain saw, chains, fuel cans, even garden tools, I've pulled fence posts, used it to push and pile brush, lift one end and move a couple of portable buildings, lift an engine into a Suburban, step up in it to prune trees, get up to the rain gutters to clean them out, and many, many other things.

I had an old rancher neighbor who had 3 tractors, 4 or 5 trailers, a hay spear for the 3 point hitch on a tractor, plows, brush hog, hay cutter, hay baler, and all kinds of equipment, but no FEL! I once asked him why he didn't have a FEL and he said it would be handy, but he'd never really needed one. Then about two and a half years ago, he bought a fourth tractor, an old International with a FEL. A couple of months later, he told he didn't know how he ever got along without one for so long. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I would go with the B7500 if I was you. I would also get the RFM instead of the MMM. Expecially for 3 acres of mowing. The FEL is a must. You will use it if you have it. I think you will be happy with whatever tractor you go with.

~Dave~

 

[frank_f15]

welcome to the forum! GET THE FEL amazing what u will find to do with it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

My wife and I find that we use the FEL for close to 80% of our seat time, from turning compost and moving multch (my wife's activities) and maintaining the driveway and other landscaping activities. I even use it to unload heavy items from my truck. A FEL will pay for itself for most folks, IMHO.

 

[sandyc]

Get the FEL.....I have worn the paint off mine in a couple of weeks....thought I didn't need one....I keep finding more to do-Make sure you get a chain hitch or two on the bucket.

 

[r0GuE]

Some will get a kick out of this... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif A few weeks ago, I thought I might downsize to a smaller tractor (read: lawnmower /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) since I thought my FEL work was pretty much done. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Last weekend, I used the FEL (I still haven't mowed yet) to move 1000 lbs of play sand to the sandbox. That was after I used the FEL to scoop out the old nasty moldy sand and transport it 1/8 mile to the favorite hill that I dump stuff over. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Sorry for the heavy use of head people...
In the 1.5 years I've owned the loader TODAY was the first time I took it off. Off was no problem and ON was just a little more difficult than off.
Get the loader... and I humble suggest the BX as well. GREAT for lawn mowing and darn good for everything else. The only reason I can see for getting a larger tractor is to get a beefier loader. I'm sure there are other reasons.
Anyway, enjoy and good luck!

BTW - When I was removing the old sand I had to use a shovel to push it in to the loader (tight spot under a wooden platform. Just moving the sand 1 foot was more work than I wanted to do. God made dinosaurs just so that my life could be more convenient for me today. I love diesel! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Rick Jay]

cal123

Get the loader.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( just planting trees and beds, mulching, light gardening and lots of mowing. )</font>

planting trees ...will you be moving them...or are they already where you want to plant them? If they are, then you wouldn't be planting them, would you? The loader will carry them for you.

and beds... probably be moving dirt, or peat or fertilizer...let the tractor do it for you.

mulching ...I doubt if they'll deliver the mulch where you want it. You're going to really be kicking yourself moving 100 wheel barrows of mulch while your tractor sits on the sidelines.

light gardening... yep...bringing out rakes, hoes, fertilizer, watering apparatus...all stuff the loader will carry without a complaint.

...and lots of mowing. O.K. you got me on that one....probably won't need the loader for that. But all the other stuff, the loader will make every job a bit easier.


There have been times on some projects I just use the loader to carry all my tools out to the work site while I'm working. At the end of the day, it brings 'em all back. Next day....ready to go again. Plus the tractor is there for "emotional support". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif And my property is only 2/3 acre. I don't have too far to walk, but making the trip 30 times to bring out new tools gets to be a pain real quick.

Do yourself a favor...whatever tractor you get....get the loader.

~Rick

 

[frank_f15]

WELL SAID ! NOTHING ELSE TO ADD

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks for the info - you've convinced me on the FEL. I've read most of the posts on bx22/2200/7500, and thought I was leaning towards 2200, MMM, but using a RFM may look at the 7500...I sure appreciate all your posts and any other suggestions you might have about must have attachments, and dealing with the dealers !