BX2200 Vs B7500: The Age Old Question

dtmarion · Nov 5, 2001

I'm in the research phase of my first 'Real' tractor purchase. I've been reading many of the posts on TBN and they have been of great value. But I'd like to throw out a question to any and all who may have been or are currently in my shoes.

I have 2ac of mostly level lawn, two 110ft driveways at my home and 5ac of hills and woods at our vacation spot in Maine. I'm looking to mow, plow, move rocks plus what whatever else I can have fun doing with the tractor.

I've gotten the OK to purchase the BX from the wife but now that looking at the B7500 I really like what I see.

Options that I'm considering are FEL, 60"MMM for now.

BUT is it worth the extra $2050.00??? How strong is the BX???

Any input would be great! Thanks.

Jeff396 · Nov 5, 2001

I was inthe same exact position you are just a short month ago. I had looked extensively at the BX and at the last minute switched to the B7500HSD. I think picking between the two is simply a matter of preference as they (I think) can pretty much do the same thing but have a different feel about them. Here are the things I liked and disliked about the BX which also relate to the B7500.

BX likes
1. The Bx feels like a large garden tractor as opposed to a small Full size tractor. Not intimidating to my wife.
2. The BX has a lower center of gravity for use on inclines.
3. The BX has no clutch making operation easier
4. The BX pto operation makes more sense to operate as you can easily operate each one alone or simultaneously.
5. Cupholder/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
6. Price

BX dislikes:
1. I didn't like the seating position. I felt too high with the seat all the way back and felt like I was reaching down to the wheel. I tend to have back pain when not sitting up straight and thought this would be a problem.
2. I didn't like the reverse installation of the engine from a maintenance stand point. Since I didn't get one, I'm not sure if this was a real problem or not.
3. I didn't like the lack of a tachometer.
4. I didn't like the lower ground clearance.
5. R4 tires not available.
6. Didn't like the single cylinder bucket operation of the FEL bucket. Wanted a larger capacity also.
7. No back hoe available.
8. Lower lift possible on the 3 pt hitch.

In the end I think these are all just justifications to myself as to why I spent the $3k extra. What it really came down to was I just felt more comfortable with the B7500 and the price was the only real thing preventing me from choosing it (Wife). I know the BX2200 would have worked fine for probably all I will do but then again there was always that little feeling that it might not. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Jeff

2001 B7500HSD, LA302 fel, 60"mmm, grass catcher

GlueGuy · Nov 5, 2001

This one comes around about every 2 to 4 weeks.

The answer depends on your usage. If you are going to do more mowing than lifting, I'd lean toward the BX. If it's the other way around, I'd lean toward the B7500.

Another issue is the 3PH. Both at category 1, but the B7500 lifts at least 6" higher, and "some" implements need that lift. Cases in point are post hole digger and backhoe. I've read one post from a BXer that has a post hole digger, but he had to take a chunk out of the auger shaft in order to lift it off the ground without dragging it.

Both tractors are very capable. B7500 has a bit of a power advantage, but not a lot. B7500 also has a weight advantage that comes into play with the heavier jobs.

The GlueGuy

dsinger · Nov 5, 2001

I went thru the same question this past August. My initial impression was to purchase a BX2200. I decided in th end to go with the 7500 largely because of th eimproved grouond clearance. working in our woods in N. Michigan I am glad that I went with the 7500. With your planned use in Maine I am sure you will appreciate the extra clearance also. The extra capability of the FEL with the 7500 is an added benefit.

BILLMAN · Nov 5, 2001

I was also in the same situation and after many hours of reasearch on the board here and a short test drive. I decided to purchase the B7500. I just wasn't sure about the bx series. Not wanting to start a flame war it just didn't feel like a real tractor to me. I think you will find many people that disagree with me. But, thats just my opinion. One other interesting footnote. My dealer told me that he has never had anyone come in after a purchase and trade down to a BX. However,he has had 6 out of 48 BX buyers this year, come back and trade the 2 week old BX on a B7500. Once again, please understand both tractors are top notch. But for me it was the B7500.

woodstock · Nov 5, 2001

However,he has had 6 out of 48 BX buyers this year, come back and trade the 2 week old BX on a B7500.

Not to start a war here, but I doubt your dealers facts are accurate. Is it possible to challenge him on this matter.
I've used my neighbours B7500 and vise versa. We both agree they feel different and they both have their strong points.
But if anyone is disapoined with a BX220, IMHO they won't be $3,000 happier, just too embarrassed to admit they didn't get sufficient additional bang for the buck.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

2001 BX2200 (50 hrs)

TresCrows · Nov 6, 2001

Actually, I traded down to a BX from a 7500. I took a virtually new 7500 home for a try and decided I liked the BX better--still do. In fact, I think the 7500 was returned for a BX the first time thus my being allowed to take this newly "used" 7500 tractor home for a try. Speculation can get ya in alot of trouble /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif . I got my BX stuck in the mud of my dry pond and then got my little Toyota stuck trying to dislodge it and had to call in "Big Green"--no not a John Deere but my green Tundra. Fact is given my experinece with the higher center of gravity 7500 it would have been unable to get into my dry pond in the first place and dig out tons of dirt much less get the opportunity to get stuck in it /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif--no not the lagoon again--the pond this time . Actually, from what you describe I think you might be happier with a 7500. Good luck. J

TWINKLE_TOES · Nov 6, 2001

Trescrows,(Grand exalted ruler of BX Doom)

Woodstock beat you to the punch by over 5hours, I think he is after your throne???/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I would also keep my eye on RPM. They may be in cahoots/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
Al

Edited by twinkle_toes on 11/06/01 02:30 PM (server time).

huckflynn · Nov 6, 2001

7. No back hoe available.

Say goodbye to reason number 7.

jwstewar · Nov 6, 2001

I was/ am in the same situation you are in. I'm torn between the 2200 and the 7500. I think I've made my mind up (I'm probably not buying until spring - just doing my research currently to make sure I've made the right decision/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif). I'm probably going to go with the 7500. As I think Billman said, I just felt more comfortable on the 7500. The 2200 just didn't feel right to me. I think it is a great little tractor lots of features and power, but just didn't seem right for me. Also the higher ground clearance vs. higher center of gravity came into play for me. I have a ditch (actually now that the excavator has been here it is more like a stream water continuously - I'm sure he didn't do that it was just clogged before and didn't flow except into my yard /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif - no wonder I couldn't get my yard to dry last year so I could mow.) that I want to be able to work both mowing and landscaping. I'm still worried about the COG but I don't think the BX would be able to slosh through it with it lower clearance. Again I think the 7500 felt more tractory and the BX felt like my old Sears Garden Tractor - hopefully that can RIP soon. Before everyone jumps on me I now it isn't a GT, it just felt that way during my test drive.

Jim
7.68 acres flat land with a ditch that need TLC

Jeff396 · Nov 6, 2001

Okay, aparently I was misinformed about the back hoe unless this is a new item. By the way, it wasn't by the dealer and since this wasn't a mojor decision maker for me, I didn't verify it. Let me throw something else out there which also wasn't a major decision maker for me but kinda gave me pause. In the literature they made a big deal about the added hydro flow capacity in the B7500. Now, nothing I was going to get with the unit would be affected by this but it was another "future attachment" issue. I figured that some of the implements, especially those on which the hydro spun things and that required power...ie tiller, post hole digger....might make the work slower or more difficult. I think this ended up in my resale catagory like the back hoe and really were very low on my list.

Jeff

2001 B7500HSD, LA302 fel, 60"mmm, grass catcher

Charliebrn · Nov 6, 2001

The ditch in front of my home was the reason I went with the BX, actually. I tried a B7500 for a weekend, and when I went to try and mow the ditch, I started to lose it with the 7500. the BX handles it just fine, and I'm comfortable, no tippy feeling at all. The point is, you might want to try both on your property and decide. It might very well be that the BX is too small for you, but you have to weigh that against the inclines you want to handle. For me, if i ever need a backhoe, I'd prefer to rent an excavator and save the heavy wear and tear off my tractor anyway....

Just my humble opinion... They are both great machines designed for different uses...

GlueGuy · Nov 6, 2001

Re: BX22 Vs B7500: The New Question?

Reason 7 isn't going away. This photo is NOTa BX2200. It's the new BX22. The backhoe can not be retro-fitted to a BX2200.

The GlueGuy

RPM · Nov 6, 2001

I think the original question was twofold:

1. How strong is the BX?

There are some minor differences in capacity for the front-end-loader and lift rating for the 3 point hitch - but in general I would say that the BX and the 7500 are of comparable strength. Both are well designed, robust tractors. I certainly wouldn't make a decision based on comparing the 'strength' of the two.

Now if you were to compare the BX with, say, the B2910 then I'd know that what you probably needed was a tractor with more beef to it.

2. Is the B7500 worth the extra $2-3k?

Good question. The only way to look at this from a purely rational perspective is to do a cost-benefit comparison.

I looked at the major tasks I would be using my tractor for and came up with mowing (majority), plowing snow, post-hole digging (planned fencing projects), landscaping (levelling, moving some dirt around), pulling various 'stuff' around, preparing the garden for tilling and some minor trenching. I also considered the fact that I have a bank along one part of my property that has a high pucker factor.

I then figured out how much each of these projects would cost to 'hire-out' or hire equipment in to do it. Based on the rates in my area I easily justified the BX purchase to my battle-hardened CFO.

All of the above are easily doable with the BX. The B7500 offered me no advantage - in fact there was a slight disadvantage when I thought of mowing the bank. In fact, the only reason I would have considered the B7500 is if my property was heavily wooded (for the extra clearance). Even then I could easily argue that with a bit of pushing and shoving and a little chainsaw work I could save myself a couple thousand. Even when mud is an issue you could cart in some stone and deal with the problem for a lot less than 2-3 thousand.

If I needed more tractor to do heavier tasks I would have skipped the B7500 and gone straight up to a 2410.

I'm not anti-7500 -- I just think that the BX stomped on a lot of its reason for existence -- especially considering the latest posts regarding the backhoe that seems to be coming soon. I guess I'm not one that worries about whether I'm sitting a few inches higher off the ground or not - because of my size I make the B7500 and the BX2200 both look like garden tractors anyway.

By the way - I noticed that the old chestnut of the BX not working with a post hole digger came up again ... here's my rebuttal.

BX and Post Hole Digger

BX 2200 w/Post Hole Digger

Digging post holes with my BX2200

Hope you find this useful!

Patrick

huckflynn · Nov 6, 2001

Re: BX22 Vs B7500: The New Question?

I stand corrected. I've seen the BX abbreviated so much I thought it was.

RPM · Nov 6, 2001

Re: BX22 Vs B7500: The New Question?

GlueGuy,

How long do you think it will take before the after-market companies make a backhoe for the BX though? Let's face it - if the BX22 is a success (which I expect based on the success of Kubota's other mini-excavators) then the after market companies won't be able to resist. They'll also be able to see exactly what the additional engineering is that is required to beef up the back-end of the BX to handle the additional loads.

I'd be interested to see the sales figures - but am betting that the BX has already sold more units than many other small tractors for which backhoes have been developed ...

Patrick

Anonymous Poster · Nov 6, 2001

I've been lurking(and chuckling)! I just had to comment on this picture. The guy looks like an elephant trying to ride an ant!! I think he would be happier with ANYTHING bigger. Ground clearance would scare me also that hoe attach ain't far off the ground!

MikePA · Nov 6, 2001

What they didn't tell you is the guy is 6' 10" and weight 290 pounds. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Perhaps the guy should just plop a saddle on the hood, put reins on the FEL and stirrups on the deck and ride off into the sunset. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Just havin' a little fun you orange guys, don't get upset.

TresCrows · Nov 6, 2001

Re: BX22 Vs B7500: The New Question?

Some off us have no need for a backhoe even if we had a bigger tractor. That a loader/ backhoe version of the BX will be available is great news for those who need such a unit--I think the standard version will continue to be available (educated guess).
As to Reds comment. I suspect we have been infiltrated by yet another disgruntled JD dealer who sees even more sales flying out the window. The angle the picture was taken and the fact he has his foot up to release the brake are why he looks so big. The BX is quite comfortable for people of normal size (5-6 to 6-2) give or take. Like I said once in the past, some of you guys might need a diet /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif before you could be comfortable on anything short of a D12 dozer .
Nope, not giving up my position as high priest! No way. J

MikePA · Nov 6, 2001

Re: BX22 Vs B7500: The New Question?

Like I said once in the past, some of you guys might need a diet before you could be comfortable on anything short of a D12 dozer. 

Thanks for the laugh! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif