Buying Advice bx or b series and what horsepower

[bp fick]

jdonaovan, I pretty much share your assessment.

The OP is considering stepping up from a BX25. The B series represent a progressional step up, but if he REALLY needs/wants the capacities and capabilities of an L series, then I think the keeping/storing of two machines dilemma comes into play very quickly.

Stepping up from a BX to a B series for increased ground clearance is a no brainer. It is an incremental step up on 3 pt and FEL capacities. To obtain the even greater weight and power of the L series begins to complicate matters and all this needs to be thought through.

Personally, we should wait to hear from the OP again on some specifics needs and wants.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Older thread with side by side pics of B and BX and a lot of good input.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148830-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html

 

[mike69440]

Older thread with side by side pics of B and BX and a lot of good input.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148830-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html

Assuming a small tractor is the best choice, if you have a yard, then the BX will work fine. If you have a small field, then the B series is far better. The bigger the tire the better.

As far as acreage they can each handle about the same. 3 point hitch work, the B is better.

 

[taos]

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

 

[bp fick]

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

Good to here from you!! It's always helpful when the OP clarifies.

There is price difference in the 30 versus the 20 series. The 30 series seem physically bigger. Larger capacities and premium features like depth control on the 3 point.

I'd have to check, though, whether they have mid PTO. If an MMM is a must that will be needed.

 

[bp fick]

Yes, the 30 series does have mid PTO. The have the telescoping 3 pt lower arms and other really nice features. The weigh about 300 lbs more than a 20 series B.

Man, I'd go put my eyes on them and put my rear in the seats of these units. You'd get such a better feel for the differences. The 30s are stout.

 

[OrangeRidge]

.... 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

The World is full of Folk and their opinions ; here's mine .....

You mention an L , so we're not talkin' budget restriction on a B .
I'm sure that a Dealer will bring out a demo B26/3030 MMM for you
to see what a non-suspendeded deck's cut quality will be on your ground.
If it suits you , then get a B##30 , if it doesn't then a B2920
MMM should be enough for lawns.
As to whether a B##20 or B##30 will do the rest of your occasional
tasks , that's something for you to conclude ..........
I like the B##30 , but I haven't got enough land to tend ; too much
hillside , lakes and concrete paths to require such.

Is your grass reasonable quality , like mine ?

 

[jdonovan]

#1 thing I will be doing is cutting grass,
#2 clearing snow , laneway aprox 160 feet by 12 feet (paved ),+
#3 maintain flower beds(3 main flower beds aprox 30feet x12 feet
tree maintenance,remouval and planting ,
pick up leaves i have aprox 40 evergreens and 12 deciduous trees,

These are all tasks that seem well within the capabilities of the current BX25.

The only question is on the "tree maintenance,removal and planting". Assuming you're not talking about taking down 40" oak trees, the BX should be able to do the task as well. I've found my 22 will work reasonably well on stumps up to the 8-10" range. After that I just cut flush and rent a stump grinder once I've got 3-4 to remove. A bit of top soil and the stump is a distant memory.

I did at one point bring in a BIG backhoe and dug out 2-3 large stumps. But they were so large the hoe couldn't even pick them up. So I pushed them into a wood line, and left them for 5 years to rot. Then the BX could pull apart the stumps to the point that we could move the debris to the burn area and get rid of them. I _WILL NOT_ do that again. Now we grind in place. :thumbsup:

I also own 5 acres with mature trees and rocky soil ... i would like to now and then go there and maintain road aprox 600 feet long and 12 feet wide (gravel).

Maintain... as in regrade the gravel?

My current drive is about 500'x12' gravel and my BX22 does a lovely job maintaining that, combination of box blade and angle blade depending on what needs to be done. Hole filling, vs pulling gravel back onto the road and maintaining crown.

In the winter I plow that same drive. Virginia doesn't get huge snow generally speaking, but even in the 25" storm we had last year I did just fine.

Now I see your in Canada, but there is great variety of snow across the country, say Vancouver vs Ottawa. But blade vs blower is a different debate. Both the BX and the B would run an appropriately sized snow tool without problem. Here the B chassis has a bit of advantage as you can get quite a bit more horsepower and therefore run a wider blower.... but whats 4 passes down the drive vs 6-7 worth to you?

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

Both the B and BX are not going to pull a huge trailer of wood. you were planning to use the bucked for the wood hauling the difference in bucket size is not that great.


From what you are describing I can't see the B as a significant increase in your ability to do any of the tasks you are looking to accomplish. If you want a B then by all means get one, but I don't see the 'need'.

As far as the L goes... IMO WAY to big for your use/need.

 

[bp fick]

From some of the replies, one might get the impression that the differences in one of the B series would be so slight as to make a step up somewhat of a frivolous decision. Some have compared the capability differences as virtually inconsequential, or at least could leave that impression. Hmmmm.

-The B3030 or the B3300 would represent a rather hefty increase of 30% in horsepower.
-Their ability to lift at the 3 pt can be as much as double that of the BX.
-They have twice the ground clearance.
-The Front End Loader, both by volume and by weight can virtually double the BX depending on B model.
-The available back hoe would dig more and deeper, reach farther, have more power, and cycle more quickly.
-They can operate rear mowers, post hole diggers, blades and tillers that far exceed those suited for a BX.

The BX25 and the B2920 weigh the exact same. (1542 vs 1554).. Ok its like 12 lbs different... but close enough.

But this fails to account for the BX25's stated weight includes the Back Hoe, while the B2920's weight is a bare tractor.

All I'm saying is that there is sometimes an underlying current that any step up from a BX should almost dismiss the B series on its way to the L series. I would urge the OP to take his time. Given that his BX25 is less than 2 years old, there is a lot of money riding on his decision to trade or no trade.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I would urge the OP to take his time. Given that his BX25 is less than 2 years old, there is a lot of money riding on his decision to trade or no trade.

OK, where were you several years ago to give me this good advise? It might have saved me from trading and saved me this money your talking about. Nah, it probably wouldn't have made a difference for me but it is good advise in all seriousness.:thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

After a bit more pondering I will admit that if I didn't have hillside property between the BX, B and L (with my 5+ acres residential home site) I'd have a B FEL/BH and an F for mowing. For me that's the perfect combination of size and power and utilization for flatland or slightly rolling (Residential) land. I like my BX's and the L but I liked the B's the best.

 

[bp fick]

JT, too funny. Way too funny.

Everyone has their own comfort level. JohnThomas has a philosophy that says to him, life is short. He doesn't gamble, drink or run around spending money on other things. So, for him, he enjoys what he does. Trade.

Each of us has our own way of "ciphering". Here is mine, FWIW, which isn't a whole lot.

I don't make the new purchase until I have un-done the previous purchase. This slows me down. If I want a new fishing boat, I first sell the old one. If I want to buy another house, I first sell the old one. If I want a new tractor, which I did, I first sold my old one.

This tests my commitment to the decision and many ways. It also produces the least "loss" on the exchange.

Oh, and did I mention this slows me down?

 

[jdonovan]

But this fails to account for the BX25's stated weight includes the Back Hoe, while the B2920's weight is a bare tractor.

So from kubota's spec sheet the weights are:

BX25 1542
BX2660 1389

You say the 25 is with loader and backhoe, but the other tractors are weighed with out implements.

The 2660 and 25 are the same base frame

So you're telling me that the hoe and loader and associated brackets combined weigh a total of 153 lbs?

Here are the real weights:
LA240 Loader Weight: 375 lbs.
Loader Bucket Weight: 132 lbs.
BT601 Backhoe Weight: 578 lbs.
Backhoe Bucket Weight: 40 lbs. ( will change slightly depending on bucket size)
Total Weight: 2667 lbs.

All I'm saying is that there is sometimes an underlying current that any step up from a BX should almost dismiss the B series on its way to the L series. I would urge the OP to take his time. Given that his BX25 is less than 2 years old, there is a lot of money riding on his decision to trade or no trade.

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.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

JT, too funny. Way too funny.

Everyone has their own comfort level. JohnThomas has a philosophy that says to him, life is short. He doesn't gamble, drink or run around spending money on other things. So, for him, he enjoys what he does. Trade.

Each of us has our own way of "ciphering". Here is mine, FWIW, which isn't a whole lot.

I don't make the new purchase until I have un-done the previous purchase. This slows me down. If I want a new fishing boat, I first sell the old one. If I want to buy another house, I first sell the old one. If I want a new tractor, which I did, I first sold my old one.

This tests my commitment to the decision and many ways. It also produces the least "loss" on the exchange.

Oh, and did I mention this slows me down?

I agree. Well said. But...............he's right, it slows him down. I'm to old to slow down. I don't have as many years ahead as I do behind. I have to hurry to get in as much as I can with the time I have left.
Once I've decided what I need and why I need it, I do slow down for sometimes a day or maybe even two while I do extensive research but when the research has been done to where I know the difference between a great, good, decent or high price (or think I do) then it's get the keys and wallet and get gone or buy it online.
If I can't find what I think is a great or good price then I stop and search for something else I need. Most people I buy from know they have one shot and it's while I'm sitting there to get the deal done. Rarely do I ever come back, rarely, but sometimes I find they offered the best deal and I will return.
I used to tell people to never buy another house while they still own one. I've done it once and it educated me for years then I built my own house while still owning the one I lived in. Another period of sweating. A house is more than 15 or 20 tractors or cars so I don't feel quite the same with a tractor but I don't trade/buy unless I can afford the payments while still having decent spending money left for travel and other hobbies. I only sold one Kubota myself and waited to sell it before buying another. The rest I received a new Kubota off the back of Barlows truck and they left with my old one on their truck so no double payments and no dealing with idiots or crooks at my home or business.

 

[michellekurt77]

We have a dry rocky 1-acre land. I need to know what make and horse power requirement for tractor to cultivate it.

 

[jdonovan]

We have a dry rocky 1-acre land. I need to know what make and horse power requirement for tractor to cultivate it.

start a new thread.... there is no need to mix your wants/needs in with this thread.

 

[bp fick]

So from kubota's spec sheet the weights are:

BX25 1542
BX2660 1389

You say the 25 is with loader and backhoe, but the other tractors are weighed with out implements.

The 2660 and 25 are the same base frame

So you're telling me that the hoe and loader and associated brackets combined weigh a total of 153 lbs?

Here are the real weights:
LA240 Loader Weight: 375 lbs.
Loader Bucket Weight: 132 lbs.
BT601 Backhoe Weight: 578 lbs.
Backhoe Bucket Weight: 40 lbs. ( will change slightly depending on bucket size)
Total Weight: 2667 lbs.

Man, I am not sure. I admit it. Not at all. The specs sheets just don't seem to tell the whole story. I think we need some better data here, and that is all I am saying. They need to be compared in full field dress, that's all.

What does a BX25, with FEL and BH weigh? What does a B2920 with FEL and Backhoe weigh? There has GOT to be more than 12lbs difference between the two.

Since the B2920 can hold an extra 200-300 lbs of liquid tire ballast more, we'll just leave that out of the equation, at the moment.

 

[jdonovan]

What does a BX25, with FEL and BH weigh?

What does a B2920 with FEL and Backhoe weigh?



Since the B2920 can hold an extra 200 lbs of liquid tire ballast more, we'll just leave that out of the equation, at the moment.

2920 1554
2920 346 FEL 495
2920 BH65 Backhoe 1400


similarly equipped -
2920 total weight - 3449
bx25 total weight - 2667

There has GOT to be more than 12lbs difference between the two.

There is once you start equipping them... But the base machines are really only a few lbs different.

Quite interesting.

Keep in mind the BX25 is a special variant of the BX series designed for backhoe use, and is 10-20% heavier than the other BX models.

 

[bp fick]

Quite interesting.

Keep in mind the BX25 is a special variant of the BX series designed for backhoe use, and is 10-20% heavier than the other BX models.

Where does the BX get that extra stated weight? I would be most curious to know. It does not have the heavier engine block of the BX2660. OK, the seat mechanism turns about, but still. Wheels/tires? No. Transmission? I don't think so. Is the frame heavier than it's BX2360 sister? Is there some iron, from a sub-frame that is included in the BX25 stated weight? I honestly do not know.

Quite interesting indeed.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Where does the BX get that extra stated weight? I would be most curious to know. It does not have the heavier engine block of the BX2660. OK, the seat mechanism turns about, but still. Wheels/tires? No. Transmission? I don't think so. Is the frame heavier than it's BX2360 sister? Is there some iron, from a sub-frame that is included in the BX25 stated weight? I honestly do not know.

Quite interesting indeed.

My understanding is a subframe for/because of the BH is built into the BX25 and the B's that come with BH. Used to read about adding BH's to some of the smaller tractors that just hooked to 3ph as a never do due to the stresses and contortions placed on the equipment. Recommended to always add the subframe or frame arms (or what ever it's called) for/with the BH.