BX1850+BX24, does this make sense or am I an idiot?

[KeithInSpace]

I don't think anyone can have an opinion in your overall logic...it is yours to have. I have to admit that if I had my druthers, I wouldn't spend the 20 minutes swapping my machine from "earth mover" to "grass cutter" and back, depending on which way the wind is blowing that week. Bear in mind that 10 of those 20 minutes is spent wrestling with the bagger. Without the bagger, I'd be down to 10 minutes...1 for the FEL, 5 for the BH, and 4 for the deck.

Of course, I don't have enough money for the luxury of having any choice in the matter.

One fault I find in your chain of logic is not getting a BX2350 so you could use your existing 60" deck...instead you paid for an 1850 and a smaller deck. Can't imagine there was more than a few hundred dollars price difference there.

In the end, having two of the same machine makes no sense to me. It would be much easier if your other tractor was at least a B, which fits a different bill. Makes sense if you were looking at a GR anyway, I guess, but in the end that is a BUNCH of money, no matter which direction you go. If I already owned a B21, B26 or something similar, I'd have a perfect justification to also own a BX. But that isn't the case here.

I guess you and Mr. Brown are in that unique class of individual's whose wives allow them to do what they want. My wife would have a FIT if I wanted to spend $8,000 for the convenience of not having to swap implements. Being able to swap implements IS THE CORE CONVENIENCE of this class of tractor.

Mr. Tom H's comments speak to the fact that most of the universe, that is 99.98% of the people out there, would not find much wisdom in having multiples of the same machine to save a few minutes doing the very thing the machine was engineered for in the first place...changing implements.

 

[ChuckinNH]

It seems we are having great fun bashing the OP's decision when he asked us for opinions prior to buying. Many who are making noise about this also own other lawn/garden tractors that they still find uses for, or perhaps just are too fond of waxing to sell? It is the OP's money, after all, and he is enjoying the use of his tractors which is the purpose of this forum to support. As far as the terrible advice he is giving new comers, who cares if someone wants a fleet of small tractors....... They aren't Corvettes after all, and it's not like he asked his wife for one of those.

 

[frank_miller]

I guess you and Mr. Brown are in that unique class of individual's whose wives allow them to do what they want.

I think L Brown is also full of you know what too...

 

[unit40]

Owning more than one piece of equipment is multiple of everything concerning maintenence. Many machines must be serviced annually regardless of the amount of hours they have been run. That means more waste oils, fluids and filters.

 

[KeithInSpace]

It seems we are having great fun bashing the OP's decision when he asked us for opinions prior to buying. Many who are making noise about this also own other lawn/garden tractors that they still find uses for, or perhaps just are too fond of waxing to sell? It is the OP's money, after all, and he is enjoying the use of his tractors which is the purpose of this forum to support. As far as the terrible advice he is giving new comers, who cares if someone wants a fleet of small tractors....... They aren't Corvettes after all, and it's not like he asked his wife for one of those.

Concur with all points. I apologize for questioning someone's desire to do such things. The fact that there are two folks that think this is all a great idea proves wrong my theory that 99.98% of the people out there find no wisdom in this entire principal.

Upon further reflection and recalculation, I've concluded that the ratio is actually 99.95%.

I really am pleased for Mr. Montelatici. Really. He has what everyone wants and could never in their lives justify.

 

[ChuckinNH]

It would not be my personal choice to own two BX tractors, but I was just urging folks to lighten up a bit on someone who made a different choice.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Concur.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

It can become a slippery slope once you start thinking about things like this. Sometimes it would of been a little more cost effective to have a second BX and taking off the roll bar then having the G2160-60. But getting the second BX with it being a 1830 or 1500 would have involved having the smaller deck. The G2160 and the BX2230 share the same deck and for me worked well because I only have to stock one set of parts for blades, belts, spindles and wheels. Also the G2160 is like a sports car with the electric power steering where the BX2230 with bagger is more like a Mack truck. They complement each other well and that is what you want, just like not everybody has suitable terrain for a Zero Turn. Also have some operators in the family that wanted something simple to use and a BX can be confusing with all the levers where on the G2160 you have hydro, brakes, lift, and pto. So what does good for your situation is not the best for something unless your are sitting in his seat and looking at what he has to do the rest is just guessing.

David Kb7uns

 

[KeithInSpace]

I understand EXACTLY what you're saying, Mr. David Kb7uns. I mowed my grass last night (with my BX2230, 60" deck and bagger) and realized a few critical points:

Point #1: I started removing my BH/FEL at 6:45 and was ready to mow at 7:10, even with my misplacing the linch pins for my bagger. Looked for 8 minutes, then my wife saved me by noticing them under the Dora the Explorer tricycle. Being able to make the complete swap in under 20 minutes is AMAZING to me.

Point #2: Even though I broke TWO bagger shear pins (don't ask me...) during my mow, I still knocked down 2/3 acre of heavy grass before 8:00...45 minutes. This included three trips to the compost pile, the afore mentined shear pin repairs, and driving around all manner of obstacles...trees and such. Again, that is an AMAZING amount of productivity in a short amount of time.

Point #3: For the first time since I've owned the machine, I felt like I was mowing my lawn WITH A TRACTOR. Of course the machine is amazingly nimble FOR A TRACTOR, but when you're ducking in and out of HVAC units, gas meters, stairs, trees, well heads, and all the other obstacles a normal yard presents, it feels HUGE comparied to a "lawn mower".

Point #3 is important to Mr. David's thoughts and it is why I'm writing this response. The BX can mow lawns VERY well, but if you want a LAWN MOWER, a BX tractor is NOT the best machine for the job. I will never get rid of it because it is so versatile and does everything else I need to get done around the homestead, but I totally agree (now) that a LAWN MOWER has a place in the garage, even if someone owns a BX.

However, in the same breath I'll say that my BX does a wonderful job of MOWING MY LAWN. I don't think I'll ever consider getting another machine to augment it. Just too many engines to maintain.

 

[LBrown59]

What I don't understand is why so many seem to feel it's all right to own 2 tractors say a BX and a JD x700 but there is something wrong with the reasoning of anyone owning or wanting 2 BXs?
Why is it had I spent $15000 on a JDx700 to go with my BX 23 It would have been deemed a sound decision but my choosing a BX1500 is looked upon as a bad idea.
Where is it written that it's ok to have 2 or more tractors as long as none of them are alike?

== L B ==

It would not be my personal choice to own two BX tractors, but I was just urging folks to lighten up a bit on someone who made a different choice.