Best choice for 4x4 mower

[LBrown59]

1*I think you would be happier with the 748, .
2*If I were planning to choose between a 2305 and a 748 for your purposes I would go with the 2305 due to its stock integrated rollbar.
3*It is not quite as good a mowing machine as the 748 would be, but the difference is close and your situation calls for it over the 2305 in my opinion.
John M

1*But his wife wouldn't be.
2*The BX1500 has a ROPS.
3*Both the X748 and the 2305 is are 2 big for what he needs.
I wouldn't want anything bigger than a garden tractor on those slopes.
I would be very uncomfortable with my BX23 or a JD 2305 or x748 on those slopes.
I'd stick to something the size of a garden tractor for mowing them.
The BX1500 meets that criteria.

 

[LBrown59]

I have never heard of the Steiner or Ventrac until now. Thanks for the tip. However, it looks like the closest dealer is 500 miles. Seems like used equipment is non-existent anywhere near.

In picture 3, I can take my 2WD WheelHorse downhill. But, it often will loose traction and slide for a little way. Not far, but it tears up the grass. For a while, I kept chains on all year. That helped, but I'm tired of the chains. With 4WD, it should not slide.

Picture 1 is a little steeper and I am just beginning to clear the brush. I will only go down hill with the 2520. (I discovered it looses hydro when going up) Picture 2 shows perhaps the most extreme possibility of which I may never try, unless I can even out a flat area at the bottom. Right now, near the bottom, it flattens out some and then drops off like a cliff about 3-5 ft high to the driveway.

So, it sounds like the X748 would be more stable, but no ROPS. The specs show a significantly tighter turn radius than the 2305 which would be nice...

Is there anything like the Ventrac sold in Montana?

1*I may also just reconsider a RFM for the 2520. Would I be happier with the X748? It would be like a $10K difference...

1*For me both the x748 and the 2305 are 2 big for the slopes.The even larger 2520 is worse yet for the slopes.
Stick to a garden sized tractor for the slopes.

 

[skidoo]

I have not yet looked at the GR. But, I think the choices are narrowed down to RFM, or MMM for the 2520, or the GR or something else that would similar in price/performance of the GR. I like the lower CG and tighter turning radius of the GR and not having to swap out the FEL on the 2520. I also like the ground clearance of the 2520 without the MMM. I know the 2520 can use the mowers with the FEL on. But, for the slopes, it may be best to remove for the MMM.

 

[LBrown59]

I've got a 2305 and mow a ditch a little steeper than your 3rd picture of a ditch. Pic 2 I wouldn't try except up and down and its probably to steep for that. Pic 1 maybe.
When doing steep slopes I take my time and actually stop and try to rock and tip the tractor. If its stable I figure I can do it. Probably would help to put some ballast in the tires to keep the center of gravity lower. There is also a tilt meter they sell on here.
I have turf tires which are not too good for steep climbing.

Hire somebody with A boom mower then plant something on there that don't need mowed and trimmed.

 

[LBrown59]

That's steep!

My wife says to look into some Billy goats.

You might want to look at the powertrac for steep slopes. If you're comfort level is that good, you could try a 4WD rider.
* I always worry about oil scavenging in the bottom of an engine on steep stuff.

Engines with pressurized oiling systems should not be a problem.

 

[Shaman]

Well, I stopped by a dealer who had an X728 to look at. Looks nice...... He responds that it only takes a couple minutes to do the FEL.

Ask him to show you and time it.
SERIOUSLY. Make him put up....

 

[UpstateNYMarine]

Well, I stopped by a dealer who had an X728 to look at. Looks nice. But the wife says it looks too big for her ! I told the dealer I did not want to mess with swapping out a MMM and front loader on the 2520. He responds that it only takes a couple minutes to do the FEL. So, those who do this, how long does it really take you to install/take off the 62D MMM and take off/install the 200CX FEL? If it really isn't a lot of trouble, I may re-consider a MMM. I don't have the backhoe, and I'm not sure if I'll get one...

Well at first glance at this post I thought nah just get the MMM. But then I saw the pictures. For real just fence it off and get some goats like someone else said. Seriously though I have a 2320 and switching the MMM is a very simple and painless task. It only takes a minute and I do it once a week. I have even taught the wife to do it. But as for the FEL...leave on the FEL and just remove the bucket. I found it easier just to remove the bucket to get it out of the way and go on mowing. The wife finds it easy to remove the bucket but doesn't feel comfortable removing the whole FEL. But word of advice from personal experience on the MMM. Don't bother with the independant controls. I have the version that is controlled by the 3 pt hydro controls. My father-in-Law purchased the independant control that uses the joystick. Found out the mower creeps down as you mow. Besides having that little locking pin saves from hitting rocks. Hope this help brother. go with the MMM.

 

[jcmseven]

Lbrown,

I disagree with you that the 700 series is too large and the 2305 is as well. These machines are quite close in both size and manuverability to the BX 1500 and offer more horsepower. Also, I had a 595 (the equivalent of the current 748) and I had an FEL for it. It is easy to install the loader. It literally took me maybe five minutes, once I had the mid mower deck off. The only problem I had with it was that it was really weak . It did not lift quickly and had limited hydro flow, thus in my mind was a marginal performer. I do not know why JD does this, as these tractors are really stout and could do a lot more with the loader. If one is seriously thinking about a JD product and is looking to use/buy a FEL then go with the 2305. It has a 200cx loader available and has better hydraulic flow and a joystick operation for the FEL. It is a much better setup here, although I think the 748 is the better mowing tractor.

John M

 

[LBrown59]

Lbrown,
1*I disagree with you that the 700 series is too large and the 2305 is as well. 2*These machines are quite close in both size and maneuverability to the BX 1500 and offer more horsepower.
3 *Also, I had a 595 (the equivalent of the current 748) and I had an FEL for it. It is easy to install the loader.
4*The only problem I had with it was that it was really weak.
5*If one is seriously thinking about a JD product and is looking to use/buy a FEL then go with the 2305.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John M

~~
1*We are talking about 2 different classes of tractors here.
The 700 being a garden tractor and the 2305 being a s-cut.
I have slopes here that I will not take my bx23 on so I use my CC 2554 that I bought just for that purpose there.
It seems that the OPs slopes are as bad/probably worse than mine so there is no way you'd get me on them on anything bigger than a garden tractor.
I sure wouldn't want to take my bx23 on them, So yes the 2305 is to big for me on those slopes.
2*The BX1500 although it is a s-cut is closer in size to a kubota G 2160 and a CC gt2554 garden tractor than it is to a Jd2305 or a kubota bx2350 sub compact.
I have all the brochures on all of these tractors and have been comparing dimensions.
For the OPs situation I can see no advantage in selecting a 700 2305 3160 2230 or2350 over a bx1500.
3*
4*Not a problem with a BX1500 s-cut compared to the jd garden tractor.
5*Might be your cup of tea but I hain't takin nuthin like that on them kinda slopes.

 

[jcmseven]

LBrown,

It seems to me you may, in part, be answering your own question. The X748, for example, is only five inches longer, one inch wider and weighes about the same as the BX 1500. Couple the four wheel drive, which most standard garden tractors do not offer, and it would be a great mowing machine for even really steep hills. In my opinion it would be as stable as any standard mowing tractor out there, just not as stable as say a Steiner. I did not say that there was any advantage to selecting any of these JD machines to a BX 1500 as you have stated. I think the BX is a fine choice. The implication I have seen is that our OP indicated he was looking at JD products. I, in fact, recommended he look into Steiner as an alternative which logistically he could not do. In one of your earlier posts, you mentioned that JD was not always the best choice. I do agree with this statement, but I feel the general dimensions of either the 748 or 2305, appropriately ballasted would work as well as any combination available in any four wheel tractor standardly set up.

John M