Tractor Sizing B2601 vs BX

[Michael Aos]

The biggest difference presented to me when I bought my BX2370 was that you can always add a backhoe later on the B01's, but you can't on the BX's. It was also mentioned that a B01 can dump over the side of a 40yd dumpster.

Those didn't matter to me.

Of course the first dumpster we rented was a 40yd. Not really that big a deal. Just opened the end and drove into it.

If they had talked about how the B01 can lift significantly more, and the position control on the 3pt hitch, I might have been more interested. The larger tires on the B01 can hold more liquid ballast as well.

I wound up doing "beet juice" in the rear tires, wheel weights, and hanging a GS1548 off a QH05 to get some weight in the rear.

 

[Michael Aos]

The #1 driver for my purchase of a subcompact tractor was the 3pt post-hole digger (PD10). The auger is spec'd at 30", but I seem to get more like 24" out of it.

Works OK for 7' steel posts or 8' 4x4's, but I was wishing for more when I planted some 10' 2 3/8" steel posts.

The B01 opens you up to the 48" post-hole digger (PD15 / PD25).
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[Michael Aos]

There weren't any small 3pt tillers for rent in my area. I wound up renting a 650lb Land Pride RTA2562.

It worked GREAT behind the BX2370. Very happy with the results.

The FEL on the BX2370 really struggled getting it off and back on the trailer. I suspect a B01 wouldn't have had any issues at all.
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[PaulL2]

Thanks, some great replies here.

If I had a 1/2 acre I'd go for a B2301, but I'd skip the mowing deck and instead find a dedicated push mower (maybe used).

I have a push mower, I've mowed the lawn by hand with it once. Nearly 2 hours....too much. I like mowing with the tractor - it's most of my tractor time. Which does lean a bit towards the BX.

The B is also taller, will it go into your garage or storage?

Building a new shed, both will fit because I'm building it big enough for both. Even if I don't make the decision now, I may make it later.

you can always add a backhoe later on the B01's, but you can't on the BX's

Yeah, I've pretty much decided I'll never have enough use for a backhoe, I can rent a baby excavator and do a better job for less money. Or as I'm about to do, rent a trencher for a day to put in a watering system - it'd be 2-3 days work with a backhoe and a bigger mess.

a B01 can dump over the side of a 40yd dumpster.

Not certain how big a 40yd is - but I've had a large one at home the last few days. The BX can just get the bucket over the edge, then crowd the bucket (lifting the wheels off the ground). It sort of dumps. But don't go too far, as the bucket slides right in and hooks up on the edge, then you have to get the hydraulic jack out to lift 2 inches to free it up again. Yeah, an 01 would have been nice that day.

There weren't any small 3pt tillers for rent in my area. I wound up renting a 650lb Land Pride RTA2562.

It worked GREAT behind the BX2370. Very happy with the results.

The FEL on the BX2370 really struggled getting it off and back on the trailer. I suspect a B01 wouldn't have had any issues at all.
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Been there as well in the last week - 235 pound tiller. BX didn't like lifting that off the truck much - it was at the upper limit of lift extension, and most of the lift capacity. But again, I managed to do it....and I'll probably never need a tiller again now the lawn is done.

Overall, lots of great advice, but probably the bottom line is that I have a BX sized property, so I'm either buying an 01 as a toy (not because I need one), or I'm just sticking with a BX and finding some other toy to spend my money on. My uses don't actually require an 01 - listening to what you guys are doing with one, it's mostly stuff I don't do anyway.

 

[bcp]

A bucket or two of dirt dumped where the front wheels stop will lift the bucket over the side of the dumpster.

Bruce

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

People trade in fully functional cars and trucks all the time. Then they have a newer one that does the same work as the old.

This plan works for tractors, too.



Bruce

Hey, I've heard about this!!!!:laughing::cool2:

A bucket or two of dirt dumped where the front wheels stop will lift the bucket over the side of the dumpster.

Bruce

Hadn't heard about this. Like it.

 

[robertm]

I've had three B's and two BX's. ALL THREE B's tore up the yard. If you have a lush and plush thick yard, you might get away with not cutting circles. The BX is undoubtedly a superior mower over the B... when properly adjusted and leveled. If the OP is getting a tractor to move a boat, look at the weight difference of the B versus the BX. It's NOT worth the difference. The longer wheelbase of the B may help, but the BX is not taxed by a 5,000# boat. I move that with my BX easily, and a boat has much less tongue weight than a utility trailer.
I have 1-3/4 acres, and I find the maneuverability of the BX is superior. The ONLY issue I despise is the single pump BX that has to be tached up to move the loader. The 3" in FEL lift means squat. The increased rear lift arm capacity and heavier FEL has not been a deal breaker for me, and I use forks loaded up to the max.
Personally, I'd consider the new BX for the QA loader first.

 

[PaulL2]

the BX is not taxed by a 5,000# boat. I move that with my BX easily, and a boat has much less tongue weight than a utility trailer.

I've never had a problem with the boat when I'm driving. But the weekend I was away my better half and the brother-in-law reckon it just sat on the ramp and wouldn't go. Sounds like it was in high ratio to me, but the brother in law is a spray contractor that drives tractors for a living.....he reckons he drove it and wouldn't go and I doubt he'd make that mistake (not that I'm suggesting my better half would....). That does suggest that I have a problem, but I didn't actually see it myself. Winter here now, so I'll see how it is in summer.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I've never had a problem with the boat when I'm driving. But the weekend I was away my better half and the brother-in-law reckon it just sat on the ramp and wouldn't go. Sounds like it was in high ratio to me, but the brother in law is a spray contractor that drives tractors for a living.....he reckons he drove it and wouldn't go and I doubt he'd make that mistake (not that I'm suggesting my better half would....). That does suggest that I have a problem, but I didn't actually see it myself. Winter here now, so I'll see how it is in summer.

I've done this before and am an experienced tractor driver. I rarely drive/drove BXs in rabbit or my F. Usually drive Bs and Ls in M. One time I couldn't make it up a hill that I'd done several times before. Thought my tractor HST was torn up and returned to house very disturbed. I finally looked down and saw I had accidently bumped the selector into the Rabbit or high slot. Dropped it back into turtle/low and never had another issue ever with pulling any hill, it would just spin the tires when it would lose traction. :2cents:

 

[Tractor Dell]

I've never had a problem with the boat when I'm driving. But the weekend I was away my better half and the brother-in-law reckon it just sat on the ramp and wouldn't go. Sounds like it was in high ratio to me, but the brother in law is a spray contractor that drives tractors for a living.....he reckons he drove it and wouldn't go and I doubt he'd make that mistake (not that I'm suggesting my better half would....). That does suggest that I have a problem, but I didn't actually see it myself. Winter here now, so I'll see how it is in summer.

I have a BX23S and at this point, I have never had an issue where the tractor would just sit there when trying to pull something. Even in low, 4WD and the differential lock engaged, it would always spin the tires. Trying to pull stumps or trees, I would always run out of traction before power. Just my observation.