Am I crazy??

[sw18x]

Or just in love with Kubotas?

I'm a first time home owner, we just bought the house a month ago. We have about 3/4 of an acre to mow, including a few small rolling hills, and a 75 foot two car wide stone driveway. We also have an outdoor woodburner,which throws another card in the mix. I've hooked up with a local tree surgeon and they drop off loads occasionally, including some pretty big chunks that there's no way I can lift onto a log splitter alone. In fact, some chunks even a couple guys couldn't handle. However, they can dump right near the stove and the woodpile, so there's not too much hauling to do, except when the pile gets real big (it is) and then there's logs I'll have to carry 50 feet or so.

Does all this justify a BX1860? I crunched some numbers, and here's what I came up with: I've already ruled out a JD x series because for an x320 with a blower, I'm already approaching 6k for basically a lawn mower and a snow blower. If I'm going to spend that much, I want more capabilities, specifically a FEL to help lift wood. I've already done enough research to know the x300 tranny is a question mark, and for that kind of money, I can only justify it if it's a tractor for the life of the house. I'm not so sure the JD x series or the Kubota T series fits that bill, from what I've read on these forums. So scenario #1, I just go out and get a Sears or Husquavarna 48" or 54" cut for $1700 - 2200, and plan on replacing it at least once over the course of the 15 - 20 years we'll be in this house. Also, budget in $300 a year or so to pay somebody to plow the driveway, that works out to $4500 for snow removal (I realize there's another option - a walk behind snow blower for 1K or so, but call me lazy I'm ruling that out for now). So, 2 tractors and snow removal over the course of 15 years and we're up to around $8500. Scenario #2, a local dealer has a BX1860 with MMM and FEL for 13K/60 months 0%, with a used rear mount blower for $800. $13,800 - $8500 = $5300. So...when I sell the house and downsize 15 or 20 years from now, as long as I can sell the BX1860 for $5K or so, it's the same as buying 2 throw away mowers and paying someone else to remove snow, right? Except, in scenario #2 I don't have to wait for the plow guy to show up, and I leave a few extra disks in my back intact because I have a piece of equipment I can use to lift those chunks of wood onto a splitter for me. I'll be putting low hours on the BX and taking great care of it (we have a 4 car garage for storage so she'd always be inside), and so based on what I'm seeing late model Kubota diesels like the 1550 selling for, I'm confident the tractor will hold good value. Even if I only got $3500 or $4K back in the end on resale, the lost dollars in my mind are more than made up for by the conveniences of the tractor.

But you tell me, because I'd sure like to hear some opinions on this. My wife is far from convinced, and to be honest I'm not sure I'm seeing things straight because you can bet I'd love that nice orange toy to play with, even if the sandbox is on the small side. We don't have a lot of money to throw away, but our budget should be able to absorb the 235/month payment. Am I out to lunch or could this really be the way to go? Thanks for your input.

 

[sw18x]

By the way...our house was parceled out from a farm, so we're surrounded by a small working farm (goats, beefers, hay, etc.) and great neighbors...so of course there might be other opportunities to play with the BX and have some fun. Not to mention the neighbor has a nice Steiner I'd like to compete with. Didn't want anyone to think I'm considering buying this thing for a housing track!

Thanks again.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

You came to the wrong place to be talked out of buying a Kubota tractor. Your on the Kubota Buying forum where Kubota buyers hang out.
I don't have a single doubt that you should buy the Kubota BX. Your logic is very on the mark in my opinion.
I bought my first Kubota 7 or 8 years ago a BX2200 FEL MMM and I'll have to say it is one of the best and most used purchases of my life. I to bought it to be my lifetime mower with an expensive wheelbarrow on the front. It was so much more that it started a buying spree for me.
Since you can afford the monthly payment I actually think you'd be stupid not to buy it.
For your wife: The BX is a labor saving, back saving working machine that can get sooooo much work done in such a short period of time thus leaving more time to help with the house work!!!!!!!! It is also world renowned to inspire men to be better Lovers.:laughing:

 

[Grandad4]

You're probably about right that the BX will be similar in cost to buying and replacing cheaper mowers over a number of years. One factor you maybe didn't consider was that the diesel BX will use less fuel/hour than a gas mower. But numbers don't really tell the story.

The most important factor is you and your physical well-being. What are the odds of getting a hernia or ruptured disc from manhandling those logs for the next x years? And, what about shovelling snow? What do you figure the medical bills, lost wages, etc., would amount to if you got messed up (scientific medical term ) doing chores like that? Unless your wife considers you the hired help, those are some things to think about.

Doing stuff like that the hard way is neither manly nor frugal; it's asking for trouble. I can't tell you how many guys I've known over the years that did everything on the cheap (often that's all they could afford) and had the debilitating injuries to show for it.

If you are going to do serious work, get a serious tool.

 

[Carl Bert]

By the way...our house was parceled out from a farm, so we're surrounded by a small working farm (goats, beefers, hay, etc.) and great neighbors...so of course there might be other opportunities to play with the BX and have some fun. Not to mention the neighbor has a nice Steiner I'd like to compete with. Didn't want anyone to think I'm considering buying this thing for a housing track!

Thanks again.

If you are looking for someone here to talk you out of it, your fishing up the wrong stream. My personal opinion would be to go for it, but not the BX1860. If I were you, I would go for the BX25 with the loader and backhoe. This is a great all around tractor for a homeowner. I realize its more money, but if your like me and you don't get it, you will always be wishing you had. Or even worse, you will wind up trading up for one. The best seat time you will ever have is on the backhoe. Yes, when you break the news to the wife, you will have to get creative when thinking up projects to justify the extra cost. One of mine was, a back staircase to the basement, she really liked that. And you can throw in flower gardens, they always help. Remember, you are actually going to have to do at least one of the promised projects, so make sure there isn't too much physical labor involved.

Seriously though, the BX is a beautiful machine, and like you said, it will still have good resale value when and if you decide to sell the house. Take a look at bxpanded.com, they have a long list of accessories for the BX. Whatever you decide, do yourself a favor and stay away from the low end BB store crap. Your other option is to look at used. I saw some great deals for near new BX's on ebay. Ok good luck, and remember to post some pics

 

[texasjohn]

The point about a tractor assisting in your health program is extremely valid....takes the extremely heavy stuff and makes it possible, hopefully keeping you out of the hospital, and keeping the back in better shape. further, since you get stuff done easier, you are encouraged to go out and do more...reasonably light work, but more time working = more total exercise...and all without the expense of a gym membership.

So, you see, the purchase actually saves you money:thumbsup:

I'm not kidding.

 

[TripleR]

Like others, I think your assessment of your needs and conclusion are dead on. I went through several riding mowers before deciding to go with a BX and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I am on my second and my wife loves "her" BX2660.

One of the really great things is that if you are gone or injured, the BX will allow your wife to maintain the property on her own. I rarely even get on our BX anymore and can concentrate on work needing a much larger tractor.

Any of the BX models will fit your needs quite well and only you can decide the right one. Good luck.

 

[k0ua]

Spot on Bro.. I did all that thinking and calculating, and bought an L3400HST!:laughing: Several people have told me I dont need a tractor.. what do they know, I have done a ton of work around here with the tractor, fortunately my wife likes it too!

James K0UA

 

[radioman]

all the guys replys are spot on. It really doesnt matter if you downsize or not, the BX still fits the bill on a smaller lot . You won't have to deal with steel cheap axles or badly made parts that costs arm and leg to replace on throwaways tractors. the BX parts and tractor as whole just lasts and lasts. you can upgrade and downgrade implements as you see fit.

There is no better feeling then getting things done yourself in a more timely matter. The only concern I have is the lifting of the huge pieces of wood with BX FEL. I am confident you can lift large pieces and its designed to lift things, but you may run into a few pieces you can't lift so dragging/rolling them may be your last retort. The B series can lift bit more. Using a boom pole with logging tongs can lift more weight on BX safer then FEL. You won't know until you have tractor in your hands and try. I am only going by most of my experience. It seems like the landscapers cut down humongous trees that is dangerous for someone and usually its too big for anything unless you have ways to reduce them to handling size in a larger outdoor stoves like yours.

 

[architect]

any BX or B would be good, they are with FEL an expensive wheelbarrow, but every time I grab the wheelbarrow the tire is flat, now that I am nearing 60 those rocks and wood are getting too heavy.
Gravel drives and blowers don't mix well, rocks are picked up and thrown and or jamb the auger, at least my gravely blower did, front bucket works well if you have a place to push it, front blade is better, but always get the FEL.
I have a pile of mulch and topsoil that I got last year at this time, only half the mulch has been moved and none of the topsoil, when my Kubota B2920 arrives it will be moved in 15 minutes.
0% for 60 months helps, I will only mow 1/2 acre, but have 450 feet of concrete driveway (used to be gravel when I had the gravely blower, which was sold to get a B1750). Had a L3010 which was too big, now back to B2920, also it turns out my wife just said that I will be mowing my mother-in-laws yard, 3 acres and we are looking at a 4 acre investment property, all which could be handled by any BX or B.