Buying Advice bx or b series and what horsepower

[jdonovan]

Where does the BX get that extra stated weight?.

Subframe for backhoe

 

[bp fick]

Subframe for backhoe

So the BX25's weight is skewed a bit by having the subframe included. Not a biggy, but something.

In full dress, it would really interesting to know what the weight differential is between a BX25 and B2920, both with FEL and BH/with mounting frames in place. Again, not including the additional weight a B2920 can add via larger tires to ballast.

I am not sure that data can be accurately extrapolated from the charts at K.com

Not sure it makes or breaks the point of conversation with the OP in any case, but interesting nonetheless. Thanks guys.

 

[TripleR]

I think we all are saying the same thing... if the OP is really running out of capacity on a BX25 he may not be fully pleased with the increase in capability that moving to the B provides.

If you compare the BX to the 30's in the B series there is more capacity to gain, but the 30's are VERY large vs the BX and if the #1 task for the OP is grass mowing, then I'd feel right there the 2630/3030 are a bad choice as a lawn mower.

If the 2630/3030 is off the table then you look at the BX25 vs 2930 there is much less difference between them.

Excellent points and they are the ones which persuaded me to go from a BX to another BX even though I really wanted a B and tried for months to convince myself to get one. I love the B Series, especially the Bxx30, but wanted a B2920 at that time.

Going to a bigger if even slightly bigger B meant I would have to go back to a trimming mower as there were places I simply could not go with a Bxx20 and surely even more with a Bxx30.

BPFick has written some really good stuff on the BX v B and his reasons for changing. After using a BX for almost 8 years, the only really good reason I can find to go to a Bxx20 Series, for me at least is ground clearance. Now some may have bought the wrong tractor in the BX in the first place and I can see that, but if it works well for you, it is really hard to justify a change for so small of a difference.

I have owned compromise tractors on occasions and used them for years, but finally gave up and bought what I really needed.

Of course I am only speaking of my personal experience.

 

[bp fick]

Agreed.

One of the things that really hangs up so many guys is the "One Tractor For Everything". Man, I just believe that is really, really hard to pull off, without special circumstances.

One of the biggest flies in the ointment is the lawn mowing part of it. This complicates things. A BX is already a rather large lawn mower. Notice I say "lawn", suggesting some tight areas, better and prettier grasses, flower beds, gates, trees, etc.

Since the word "lawn" doesn't appear in our vocabulary up here, it was not in the equation with our BX1860 and nor with our B2320 purchases. We only have yards.

The OP would likely benefit from increased ground clearance of a B, any B on his rougher piece of property, but he would lose some of the compact, lawn mowing agility on his more pristine piece of property. The merely incremental increase in performance on the other fronts makes this a tuff call. Thus, his consideration of whether or not to move up to a Bxx20, Bxx30, or an L series is very, very difficult, in my view. jdonovan has rightly pointed this out.

As both JT and I have stated. Things aren't static. Situations change and sometimes, a tractor change is called for. Things changed for me and for JohnThomas. (although no one changes more than JT).
TripleR has multiple machines, with more job specific assignments.

I wish Taos all the best in his contemplations.

 

[jdonovan]

One of the things that really hangs up so many guys is the "One Tractor For Everything". Man, I just believe that is really, really hard to pull off, without special circumstances.

Or you have a problem set that neatly fits in one tractors sweet spot.

One of the biggest flies in the ointment is the lawn mowing part of it. This complicates things. A BX is already a rather large lawn mower. Notice I say "lawn", suggesting some tight areas, better and prettier grasses, flower beds, gates, trees, etc.

And what I never understand is the $2000-$4000 for a Mid-mount mower will buy a REALLY nice ride-on lawn mower. However, everyone seems so resistant to putting one of 'em in the garage.

Its almost like once you've become a 'tractor' person that doing any yard job must be done with a 2000lb diesel machine.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

And what I never understand is the $2000-$4000 for a Mid-mount mower will buy a REALLY nice ride-on lawn mower. However, everyone seems so resistant to putting one of 'em in the garage.

Its almost like once you've become a 'tractor' person that doing any yard job must be done with a 2000lb diesel machine.

That's right. Right on Brother. Amen and Amen. I agree.:thumbsup:
Seriously I would never consider buying a $2000 disposable gas thirty some inch wide cut mower to maintain and for 2 to 3 acres of less than perfect YARD up a steep hill that requires 4wd. Never would. Wouldn't last two years and would never do the job and would be extremely dangerous and would take 3 to 4 times as long if it could do the job which it can't. Now if I had a flat 100'x150' LAWN, I might would. But I don't so diesel 4wd 60" to 72" deck for me. Got to. Have to. No other way.
See how easy it is to fall into the thinking that others have the same need/yard/field/hill/flatland/creek bottom/swamp/cliff side/rolling/treed/desert/pine treed/hardwood trees as yourself and gets one confused.
Also there is the guy that loves to mow (not me) who loves spending hours riding his LAWMOWER around his 1/2 acre LAWN and a 19" or 22" cut is great. Some people love servicing their LAWN mower, not me. I do my tractors when the manual says do them. I sharpen my blades when they start beating the grass and weeds to pieces instead of cutting them. One machine would be great but for me it takes two or three or actually four and well actually five, I have a Cub Cadet self propelled 19" cut gas mower that I use two or three times a year for close trimming in some angled areas that my F front 6ft deck won't reach.

 

[Tom_H]

First I like to thank you all for your replies.the #1 thing I will be doing is cutting grass, #2 clearing snow , laneway aprox 160 feet by 12 feet (paved ),+ cleaning some area near wood pile and near house, aprox 20 feet x 60 feet #3 maintain flower beds(3 main flower beds aprox 30feet x12 feet,also would like to put in irragation system,on aprox 1 acre, using subsoiler (modified ), tree maintenance,remouval and planting ,pick up leaves i have aprox 40 evergreens and 12 deciduous trees, I also own 5 acres with mature trees and rocky soil aprox 6 " of topsoil in some areas and some rocks on the surface ,I have never used the bx 25 there due to low ground clearance and this lot is aprox 30 miles away (I do have the factory fan shield ) , i would like to now and then go there and maintain road aprox 600 feet long and 12 feet wide (gravel). also i will be using the tractor for hauling wood aprox 6 fireplace cords a year, I would like to own just one tractor I feel a L series will be too much tractor for my main needs (cutting grass) and also whats the main differences between 20 series and 30 series

I love my BX, but that being said, I think you need a bigger tractor than a BX for these tasks. I think it would help us if you could give more information about your grass cutting. Are you just going to be cutting open yard with no obstacles? Are you going to have to go between trees and planters, back up into tight corners of flower beds, up and down swales? Do you have flat ground with soil clay and no drainage that is prone to waterlogging? If so, a heavy tractor would have problems. Do you have gently sloped sandy loam that drains easily? If so, the weight will not be nearly as much of an issue.

Like you, I prefer to have one tractor. I like having as few internal combustion engines to maintain as possible, however I have found it necessary to have a wheeled string trimmer as well as a shoulder supported one. For hedge and edge trimmers, we went electric. Anyway, if you have lots of crannies and corners, would you consider a B tractor for 99% of the work and a little ZTR, front mower, compact finish mower, etc. for the detail work, or are you absolutely set on one single machine? The answer to these questions would really help us in giving opinions, pros/cons of different machines for differing tasks/conditions.

 

[dodge man]

I own about 3 acres and use my BX for mowing first of all, and second, snow removal, and 3rd hauling fire wood. I also do some dirtwork and such, but more in the past than in the present. The BX sounds perfect except for the second piece of property you own. It sounds like you need a midsize B to me. When you price one out it won't be that bad until you add a backhoe.

Other people have said buy a second machine for lawn mowing. I bought cheaper lawn mowers for my yard, which is a little rough and has some hills. One of them was a $3000-$4000 riding mower. Like someone else said, they just don't seem to hold up well unless you have a fairly smooth flat yard.
I'd stick with the BX or get a midsize B with a MMM.