For my small 1/2 ac lot, I'm wondering if a BX1500 with a fel would give me enough capacity to bring back a few dozen yards of material like topsoil, 3/4" drain rock, etc... The lot is flag shaped and I'll be getting the material dumped by the road. I have a few hundred feet to take it where it needs to be. I know most of you use bigger rigs, but I just don't think I need it. Later, I can convert this to a mower and still have the FEL whenever needed. My local dealer has one in stock, as well as a bx1830 and bx1850. Thanks, G
BX1500, BX1830, BX1850 with FEL
- Thread starter TimOb
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Volfandt
Veteran Member
Theres quite a few BX1530 owners here and they all give good reports on their machines, perhaps a few will answer.
Any tractor with an FEL is a good machine no matter how big it is. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Next to the finish mower, the FEL is just as important and handy. Even if you have to make several trips, it'll still save your back /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and theres nothing wrong with seat time.
The BX15XX series has been discontinued this model year with the 1850 being the smallest BX offering now. It's not a reflection of the machines quality but a case of the numbers not adding up in units sold. All Kubota diesels are very good engines, be they two, three or four cylinders.
If the price is right the BX1530 would be an excellent machine for your stated uses but I'd look at the BX1850 is theres not much difference in price.
Test drive 'em all and go for the one that cranks your tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Good luck
Volfandt
Any tractor with an FEL is a good machine no matter how big it is. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Next to the finish mower, the FEL is just as important and handy. Even if you have to make several trips, it'll still save your back /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and theres nothing wrong with seat time.
The BX15XX series has been discontinued this model year with the 1850 being the smallest BX offering now. It's not a reflection of the machines quality but a case of the numbers not adding up in units sold. All Kubota diesels are very good engines, be they two, three or four cylinders.
If the price is right the BX1530 would be an excellent machine for your stated uses but I'd look at the BX1850 is theres not much difference in price.
Test drive 'em all and go for the one that cranks your tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Good luck
Volfandt
I don't have any experience with anything other than my BX24, but she'll pull up a FEL bucket full of red clay like it was nothing, it does feel like something without the weight of my BH on the back...but I'd imagine that you could use several things for counterweight.
This being my first tractor, I really didn't know what to expect out of something that is the perfect physical size for my needs, but I can't tell you how impressed I am with this workhorse!
This being my first tractor, I really didn't know what to expect out of something that is the perfect physical size for my needs, but I can't tell you how impressed I am with this workhorse!
GregOb,
I thought about a BX1500 for my 2.5 acres of lawn as they were just dirt "no pun intended" cheap. With 54" mower and loader they were around $9k. For a half acre, I think the 1500 will do more than you think. I actually think I would have been okay with it for the 2.5 acres, but wanted the dual cylinder loader on the B7510. 2230 only lifts around 60 pounds more than the 1500 so no big deal.
Wound up with a B7510 Turf Special with the suspended 60" deck and let me tell you it will mow circles around my old rear mount 60" finish deck setup. Really, no comparison. And I can mow in 5 minutes what my john deere ride em tractor takes 40 min...that much difference.
These little Kubota tractors may look like the ones at home depot at first blush, but they will really do some work.
Mow
I thought about a BX1500 for my 2.5 acres of lawn as they were just dirt "no pun intended" cheap. With 54" mower and loader they were around $9k. For a half acre, I think the 1500 will do more than you think. I actually think I would have been okay with it for the 2.5 acres, but wanted the dual cylinder loader on the B7510. 2230 only lifts around 60 pounds more than the 1500 so no big deal.
Wound up with a B7510 Turf Special with the suspended 60" deck and let me tell you it will mow circles around my old rear mount 60" finish deck setup. Really, no comparison. And I can mow in 5 minutes what my john deere ride em tractor takes 40 min...that much difference.
These little Kubota tractors may look like the ones at home depot at first blush, but they will really do some work.
Mow
Just to give you an idea, I spread 27 yards of topsoil (full tri-axle dump truck load) just a few months ago at my in-laws place in about 2 hours with my BX1500. Of course I wasn't carrying it as far as you. We were able to have the dirt dumped about 30 feet from where it was going. But, even if you have a couple hundred feet to go with it, I couldn't imagine it taking more than 5 or 6 hours to spread the same amount. The BX1500's bucket holds around 5 or 6 cubic feet of dirt. So, in about 5 trips back and forth you've carried a yard (27 cubic feet) of material.
The loaders on the BX's dig a lot better than you would think also. Especially if you get a toothbar to go along with it.
One thing I've found though is that with a full bucket of dirt you need some counterweight on the 3pt. My 4' box blade does the trick for me.
You'll love the mowing capability of any of the BX's. I cut my slightly less than 1/2 acre lot in about 45 minutes. Our lot has a few steep spots that I have to cut that are around 30 degrees slope and mine crawls all over our lot like a mountain goat.
The loaders on the BX's dig a lot better than you would think also. Especially if you get a toothbar to go along with it.
One thing I've found though is that with a full bucket of dirt you need some counterweight on the 3pt. My 4' box blade does the trick for me.
You'll love the mowing capability of any of the BX's. I cut my slightly less than 1/2 acre lot in about 45 minutes. Our lot has a few steep spots that I have to cut that are around 30 degrees slope and mine crawls all over our lot like a mountain goat.
toytractorz
New member
Hello,
I just picked up a BX1850 with a FEL, 54MMM, and ballast box. I'm using it for exactly the uses that you've specified and it works great. I'm going to post some pics once I clean it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif As other posters have said in the past, with turf tires you'll run out of traction before you run out of horsepower, so I would think that the 1500 would be fine if you're getting a good deal on it. I'm a new model freak for cars (first year TT, Odyssey, Passat) and have occassionly paid the price in taking them back for recalls, but I went with the 1850 as I liked some of the improvements that have been mentioned by other posters.
Z
I just picked up a BX1850 with a FEL, 54MMM, and ballast box. I'm using it for exactly the uses that you've specified and it works great. I'm going to post some pics once I clean it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif As other posters have said in the past, with turf tires you'll run out of traction before you run out of horsepower, so I would think that the 1500 would be fine if you're getting a good deal on it. I'm a new model freak for cars (first year TT, Odyssey, Passat) and have occassionly paid the price in taking them back for recalls, but I went with the 1850 as I liked some of the improvements that have been mentioned by other posters.
Z
Hey toytractorz!
I'm looking at the exact same rig: BX1850 with FEL and 54" mmm. I'm in Alberta Canada so the pricing is a bit different, but if you don't mind, what did it end up costing you? The dealer in Calgary quoted $15995 CAN. Seems like a good price. The dealer in High River, a small town closer to me than the Calgary dealer didn't even try to match or beat it, he said buy it in Calgary.
I'm looking at the exact same rig: BX1850 with FEL and 54" mmm. I'm in Alberta Canada so the pricing is a bit different, but if you don't mind, what did it end up costing you? The dealer in Calgary quoted $15995 CAN. Seems like a good price. The dealer in High River, a small town closer to me than the Calgary dealer didn't even try to match or beat it, he said buy it in Calgary.
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
I have 5 acres on a big hill and think my 2230 is the perfect size, so I am thinking for your property the 1500 should be plenty.
DaveInColorado
Silver Member
I can do anything at all with my BX1500 - on 1.7 acres plus take care of trails and such in the neighborhood and mow 7 acres at church once in a while. The only real thing I wish for sometimes is more curl power on the loader so I could break stumps loose easier but I understand the loader is only a little more powerful on the BX24xx. I moved 15 tons of 5-10" rock about 250 feet with it the other day, though it took me 6 hours or so. The problem was the BX1500 with a full load in the bucket is kind of dicey on slopes so I had to take my time with it. I dug a hole for a trampoline with the FEL over the winter! Anything bigger would not have fit down in the hole. Anything smaller wouldn't have had enough power. I never run out of engine power mowing or using the FEL. I can use a little more power only when pushing hard with the FEL in 4WD with the rear differential locked. I do not baby my BX! 390 hours so far. I towed my gelled fuel 8000lb diesel Excursion from the neighbor's house with it once in the middle of a very cold day. I pull out 1-2" volunteer Cottonwood saplings from around my pond all the time.
