Buy small now or wait for something bigger? (bx2670)

[tractorshopper]

Just back to my original comments. I've owned an L3800 and BX2370. It's true the BX is not as stout as the L. But the BX is quite a capable small machine that surpassed my expectations a lot. I mow my pastures and house with the belly mower and as JFoy pointed out, it's the best mower I've ever had. Far superior in every way to my old JD HST lawn tractor. Probably far superior than most Zero turns unless they have a diesel engine too. I haven't found it's limits at mowing yet and my "pasture" is really old reclaimed woods floor.

I've done many other things with my BX including rooting a lot of privet, moving lots of brush with the grapple, etc. It is not an L, but it is still a real tractor. Some of you would be surprised at what these machines can accomplish.

All that said, the reason I'd recommend going with the BX now and ANOTHER larger set up later is as others have pointed out, you may want certain set-ups for certain tasks and with the BX now, the OP can mow, snow throw, etc, at this time and buy another tractor later for the farming chores. I'm recommending 2 tractors. Many people with that much land own more than one machine.

I'd ask Triple R and others like him that have multiple machines what their thoughts are. I know personally, if I had 82 acres instead of 11, I'd still keep my BX and buy a larger tractor. My neighbor has a Kubota from early 1970's about the same size as my BX and that thing is still going strong. I expect my BX to be that one time investment that lasts my lifetime as well. That's really why I sold the L3800 and bought the more versatile BX for now. In the future, I plan on buying more land and another larger tractor while keeping the BX.

 

[tractorshopper]

I should add that I maintain our neighborhood's 1/3 mile gravel road and my driveway with my box blade on the BX. I used to maintain it with the L3800. The L3800 was faster and easier, but the BX does a fine job as well with a 5' BB. I just redid our road last weekend again and all my neighbors thanked me as usual.

It tills really well also with the LP RT1250 tiller. Don't get the 0550 tiller which is quite inferior (my brother got that with his BX25D and it is a real disappointment).

 

[Baby Grand]

I'd recommend a long term plan to have at least 2 tractors - 1 bigger & 1 smaller.
We have 4 tractors on 11 acres. How did this happen? I'm still scratching my head.
I would be hard pressed to let go of any one of the herd, now, as each can do some things of great value to me.

My opiniom - get the smaller tractor first, as others have wisely suggested, and for the many good reasons given.
There is a learning curve with these machines and if you haven't "grown up" using tractors, then
heed the advice of Mae West: 'Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly."
This works on many levels.

First - safety.
There are a bunch of ways that you can maim or kill yourself with limited skills and a tractor.
The possibilities expand as you move up in tractor size, weight and power.
As you gain experience with the BX, you will start to find its limitations and learn how to get maximum use from it.
You'll also quickly learn what doesn't work and what really doesn't work.
These lessons will make using a larger machine safer & more productive.

Second - ease of use.
No sense shelling out the cash for an expensive item if you are a novice in its use.
As you gain experience, with the BX, you will come to appreciate how well a small tractor can dispatch
the many small jobs that task a property owner, and the amount of time & pain it can save.
Maneuvering around gardens, trees, fences and walls is much easier with a smaller tractor.
When you do get the larger tractor, you will be stunned at how quickly it can make a complete hash
of a job that would have taken very little time with the smaller one. Don't ask how I know this.

Third - Use the appropriate tool for the job.
As you gain experience, you will appreciate the division of labor between the bigger and smaller members of the team.
You wouldn't use a sledge for a tack hammer job; or a tack hammer for a job best served by a sledge.
The BX type of tractor is, in many ways, the Swiss Army knife of our world, so it's a great choice for a first tractor.

Fourth - As has already been stated, these things hold their value, well, if well maintained and there is a particularly high demand
for the BX size class, so don't fear losing much of your investment should you feel the need to sell it.

I could go on and on, as The Plant Manager is happy to remind me.
Welcome to TBN and the Kubota forums and let us know how you decide.
-Jim

 

[radioman]

The bx will do all you want, but my only concern is you have over 80 acres. just traveling those 80 in the bx will take awhile - esp in the woods. you might be better off with the B series since it has larger tires and higher ground clearance and 3 speed hst.
But then - if you do mowing and snow blowing the bx will do it just fine with 2 acres area, even with 5 acres. in this case the smaller size is so much easier to drive and handle for those tasks, the FEL is going to be a great use on the BX with small scale farming. The problem is the hay. are you using the hay for your animals? what size of bales? you need to be able to move them and not all farmers have the smaller/older equipment to able with. What if you got the BX new for the diesel and reliability and later get a used 3 times bigger tractor for your farming and 80 acres use? having that much land it just makes sense to have more then one tractor. this way - if 3 years from now you decide against sheep - you wont need to bale the hay - but you can cut it with BX with bush hog to keep it maintained.

 

[iostreamer]

Yeah my current plan is definitely to get a newer SCUT type tractor planning for the future to get a much older used 60+hp when I eventually take on working the field myself. We are planning chicken and hogs (very small scale) to begin with and may eventually move on to sheep or cattle, though at that point of course having better access to my own hay will be more important.

I like the comments about learning on a smaller machine and I think that's a good point. I am concerned about safety both for myself and whoever else will operate it so starting small in this sense seems like the right move.

Again appreciate all the comments. To be honest I posted this in the Kubota forum because I was initially leaning towards the 2670 but TYM and LS are also on the table simply due to the largest dealer network in the province carrying those brands (as well as price considerations). Not really a big fan of green tractors and the other brands aren't very well represented in my area (Kioti being the next closest but still pretty far away)

 

[Lilguy]

My first KUBOTA was a new 85 L2250 /FEL/MMM combo. After one summer all the gear shifting moved me to get a B8200hst/MMM. Used the heck out of both of them and just sold the 2250 after 31 year of HD service.
Will replace with a B2650 combo as soon as possible. Different tasks for different machines.
You can never have too much tractor but will regret to the end of your days to little a rig.

 

[iostreamer]

I know this is a really old thread but I wanted to give an update. For the past two years we've grown our small farm. We've been running about 10 pigs in the summer and are pasturing 4 calves in addition to our two horses. I've been working together with local farmers driving various tractors from the 60s to the 90s (Masseys and Fiats mostly). Helping out with the hay and borrowing for my own use.

All this to say after some crazy snow up here this year and being tired of spending hours driving a few miles down the road and back to borrow tractors my wife and I have finally decided to pick up a "new to us" 2014 L4060HSTC with only about 150 hours on it.

After working the past couple summers I've realized that there is really no point in trying to setup myself for haying my own fields due to the relationship I have with another local farmer and working the hay fields with his equipment so the 40HP range is perfect for me. The main uses I have now with the horses and cows is feeding some 4x5 round bales every 3 days or so (they are not very dense so not super heavy) as well as clearing the snow in the driveway and yard. Of course I'm sure I'll take any opportunity to get as much seat time as I can on this beauty. The cab is sure nice!!

Delivery set for Wednesday, will post pics

 

[tractorshopper]

Congrats!

 

[TripleR]

Congratulations on your new acquisition, it should serve you well. We have several tractors and I didn't think we needed anothr, but bought a used L5030HSTC as a retirement gift to myself and man I realized how bad I needed it.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Congratulations on your new acquisition, it should serve you well. We have several tractors and I didn't think we needed anothr, but bought a used L5030HSTC as a retirement gift to myself and man I realized how bad I needed it.

RETIRED!!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::laughing::laughing::laughing: You mean gave up one of your jobs that had a regular schedule and guaranteed paycheck of a certain amount, don't you? :cool2::cool2::drink::drink: I also "Retired" from Ky State Gvmnt 17 years ago.