BX2200 Loader/4X4 question

[gsxr1100]

Hi guys: Here is a question for all you owners. I was looking at a new BX2200 with mower and loader. Is the loader anygood for doing home projects (ie. snow removal, digging a little, lifting rocks, mulch etc). Also is the 4X4 worth the extra money or not! By this am I better off staying with a 2 wheel drive JD 455 or going to a 4X4? Again, this is for a home and not a farm. Yard is about 1 acre and the drive way is about 100 ft long. Just need some input for this matter

Thanks
Mike
Like I told my last ex-wife, I only drive as fast as I can see...and besides, It's all in the reflexes
-Jack Burton, Big Trouble in Little China

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>BX2200 with mower and loader. Is the loader anygood for doing home projects (ie. snow removal, digging a little, lifting rocks, mulch etc</font color=blue>

Absolutely. You just have to take smaller bites with a small tractor and loader, but for about 400# at a time, sure beats shovels and wheel barrows.

<font color=blue>Also is the 4X4 worth the extra money or not! By this am I better off staying with a 2 wheel drive JD 455 or going to a 4X4?</font color=blue>

If all you're going to do is mow, and you have flat terrain, 2WD is OK, but there's just no comparison. The 4WD will keep going when the 2WD is sitting there spinning its wheels. And the 4WD is much, much better if you have a front end loader.

Bird

 

[MReeter]

Yes,yes and yes.We've had a compact tractor with a loader around since 1994.I can not immagine how I could ever get along without one (loader).I highly recommend the BX,it will work circles around any 2-wheel drive unit out there.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Make sure you do an archive search under BX2200 to see what's been posted the last year.

So far problems have been limited to items the factory knows about, and won't apply to a newer unit. The older ones are being updated under warranty.

As for comments you'll find them positive among those that want a small tractor.

There is a tremendous difference in 4WD, in a pickup, or backhoe. A typical pickup truck or big Case 580 backhoe can become helpless on wet grass. (no exaggeration)

I have a couple of bigger tractors and really figured that the BX was going to be somewhat useless tractor-wise. The wife wanted to be able to clean up the messes I make with my toys that I never have time to dress up, and I wanted to let her move her beauty bark without the shovel and wheelbarrow routine. Also wanted to be able to maybe mow some areas my JD GT was incapable of.

Salesmen of course were positive but we've all heard that before right? Regardless of what they told me I just wouldn't believe it.

A few days after I had it home I was shocked to find that for it's size it is a tremendously willing worker. I'm not a "stuck-with-that-brand" type of guy I have a new JD garden tractor (my "real" lawn mower), a Ford NH tractor I bought new in 1983, still impressed with it!, and the two Kubota's. I would recommend this to friends without a moments hesitation. This blows the JD455 out of the water if you want to do ANY dirt work, even light landscaping. It has a REAL frame under it and is not a cheap light version of something bigger, it is just scaled down.

I'm sure JD and NH have designs similar to this in the works. It is similar in design to what the Japanese market at least used to have in Kubotas, tiny true 4WD tractors.

I was in the EXACT same spot you were a year ago, looking at a JD, the one I wanted was about the 455 size, then fortunately the BX had just come out and my dealer mentioned it to me when I was getting ready to buy the L35, I bought it AS a lawnmower only, but with loader and rake etc. I soon was unwilling to take the loader and mower off and on even though they come off quick. It was just too useful as a tiny REAL TRACTOR! I went and bought a smaller JD garden tractor for just the lawn!

It depends on your uses, but from what you have said you will be pleased.

Any specific questions you need answers to, there's a bunch of fellas here that have the answers, this board sure has enlightened me on a few things!

And feel free to email me with any questions or more of my 2 cent opinions!

del

oldcarparts@mygarage.com

 

[TresCrows]

This question is similar to ones asked by others, and I am new to this forum, but at the risk of repeating myself you will find the BX actually is a for real tractor, though small and the JD455 is a big lawn mower that looks like a tractor. Again, my neighbor has a 455 and it is much smaller and lighter duty unit than the BX. He likes it and I do to, it is a nice, quality machine--for mowing! You will find the BX with 60 inch deck, FEL and boxblade a willing worker. It can do most things larger tractors do, just of course more slowly, cept for mowing--it does that better (my opinion). They say your tractor cannot be too big and I notice there are guys on this forum mowing 3/4 acres with an L series Kubota--if tractors are a hobby and they enjoy owning such machines then great but it is probably overkill unless they use them for other unidentified jobs ( I would like to have one secretly too--talk about way kewl). On the other hand, if you do various yard jobs and maintenance and dirt projects about your place the BX will be a great investment. I like mine and I especially like the way when I "snick" it into 4WD it hunkers down and muscles into an old pile of mostly hard clay I keep in reserve for hole filling and tears out a nice chunk without much fuss at all. I have the bar tires, they do surprisingly well on lawns with reduced pressure but for a small yard maybe the turfs would be better if you are really persnickity about appearance. The BX is a small diesel tractor, the 455 is a lawnmower. Like all Kubotas the BX can be worked hard, I am not so sure about the 455. JR

 

[Russ]

I looked at the jd455 last year before I bought my BX2200. The BX looked better all around to me. I didn't like the strange goal post looking frame they used to attach the FEL to the 455 and prices of the 2 machines were pretty close. The Loader on the BX2200 is very useful. Its rated I think at 460 LBS of lifting capability. I know it will lift with ease as much dirt, sand, snow that you can get into the bucket. When diging into a load of top soil the 4 wheel drive will let you dig into the pile much deeper than when you are in 2 wheel dirve. I would not want to do without 4 wheel drive for FEL work. Even just for mowing or bladeing the driveway the 4 wheel drive great if you get into a wet area or need more traction going thru a ditch. I am on 2 acres and am always finding soemthing else to use the BX and espeically the FEL for.

Russ

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have the BX2200, with the 60" mower deck and the FEL. There is no comparison to the JD 445. The added features of three pt. hitch, 4WD, and the ability to have the quick detach loader make this an easy call.

 

[rag]

This is my first response to a forum question so here goes. I owned a JD 445 with front bucket, snow blower, front blade and mower deck. The tractor is a nice machine for cutting grass and super at removing snow with the blower. However when it comes to using the bucket, it has its limitations. When the BX series was introduced, I checked it out and decided I had to have one. Sold the JD and couldn't believe the difference between the JD and BX2200. The bucket can lift much more weight without having additional weights on the back (except for antifreeze in the rear tires) and the four wheel drive really digs in. I have moved rocks that I could not even budge with the JD. Moving snow with a five foot blade on the front is pretty easy with the 4x4 but run out of room to put it. Might invest in the snow blower for next winter. So far I am very happy with the performance of the BX2200. Nice machine!!!

 

[WillingtonPizza]

There is no comparision between a small 2 wheel drive tractor and a small 4 wheel drive tractor, period. I know I am repeating myself but I know if you would be happy with a bx2200 you would be happier with a power trac pt422. The mower hooks upto the same arms the loader hooks upto so it is in front of you and changing from the loader to the mower only takes 1 to 2 minutes. You can also get a 6 way hydralic snow plow for it at a more than reasonable price ($450). And the loader can is listed at 800 lbs but I would gues it was a great deal more, I have a pt425. Wonderful machine that anybody could work on. 22hp,4 wheel drive, hyrostatic, mower, bucket and hydralic angle snow plow $8750.00
I would love to respond to any questions about these machines, you can email me or post them.

ps. this site is a great source of information and you will never be steered wrong but you will have so many options you may be confused, take your time!

 

[gsxr1100]

I wanted to go buy my neighbors Ford 1220 with all the lovely play items (almost to good of a deal to pass up), but I had to see (sit and use it) what the BX2200 was all about. The thing is not too big and yes the 4X4 works really well. Is it better than my old JD455 yes a little, but the 455 would also get the work done just not as fast. In my application the 2WD or 4X4 would both work just fine. I received some emails from dealers giving me prices on the BX2200 with mower and loader. They all were pretty much the same (+/- $150) except for one dealer. This dealer is way lower than all the other. Now I do not know what to do. By the way what is with the freaken foot pedal on the BX2200? I am 6’ 2” tall and it is very hard to get use to it. I also think the BX2200 is a great tractor but I look like a money f**ken a football. I look way to big on it. My wife said that phrase and just laughed!
Now I have no tractor and I have to make a choice. Man, life is hard sometimes /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif


Thanks
Mike
Like I told my last ex-wife, I only drive as fast as I can see...and besides, It's all in the reflexes
-Jack Burton, Big Trouble in Little China