BX2230 or BX23

rvtech · Sep 29, 2005

Hello, Looking at either a new BX23 or BX2230. My local dealer is giving me a better price on a BX2230. I can get a loader, 60" belly mower and a woods backhoe for $16200. He wants $17500 for a bx23 with a 60" mower. He says there is very little difference. Both prices are after rebate.
Question is: is the BX23 worth more? What about resale value between the 2?

gsxr1100 · Sep 29, 2005

welcome to TBN.

Get the BX23. The OEM backhoe is better then woods; plus the frame is stronger on the BX23. Or wait till the new BX comes out. Nah, get the 23!

rvtech · Sep 29, 2005

They told me the frame is exactly the same. The Woods website indicates that their backhoe is better than Kubotas. I think they are motivated to sell the 2230 because they have several of them left. It's a little confusing to me.
I thought the rebate and o% financing incentives would be extended, but several posts I read seem to indicate they may not. If that's true I"m down to 1 day to decide.

gsxr1100 · Sep 29, 2005

From what I know (not much). The BX2230 was not made for a backhoe while the BX23 is. I was told them frame is thicker on the BX23/Bx22 versions.

I would not buy a BX with a woods BH. I would rather spend the money and get the BX23 with it originally designed equipment. Also how is woods better then the Kubota version?

gsxr1100 · Sep 29, 2005

oh, where are you located?

jpr62902 · Sep 29, 2005

You might want to try PM'ing Scrounger, since he's got the Woods setup on his BX. I think the Woods outspecs the Kub BH but the problem with the Woods BH on the 2230 is the ROPS. The 23's rollbar is much taller and designed for BH use, while the 2230's ROPS is too short to protect taller folks during BH use (I've also heard of people konking their noggins on it since it's so low).

LBrown59 · Sep 29, 2005

( Hello, Looking at either a new BX23 or BX2230. My local dealer is giving me a better price on a BX2230. I can get a loader, 60" belly mower and a woods backhoe for $16200. He wants $17500 for a bx23 with a 60" mower. He says there is very little difference. Both prices are after rebate.
Question is: is the BX23 worth more? What about resale value between the 2 )

 What about the bx2230 having the wrong ROPS for a back hoe? 
Also some are reporting problems using the 3 poit hitch with the woods set up.
I certainly don't call this better than the Kubota BH!
The BX23 should cost less than the Bx2230-Is your dealer taking you for a ride?

Here's the price comparrison when I bought my tractor.

8100 BX2230
2300 FEL
1300 60'' MMM
5000 Woods BH
Total 16700

8100 BX23
2300 FEL
1300 60"MMM
3800 OEM Kubota BH
Total 15500

My cost for the BX23 was 1200 less than the BX2230 and I have the correct ROPS and no problems with the 3 point hitch.

jim_wilson · Sep 29, 2005

I have a BX23 and can tell you that the bigger ROPS that Kubota puts on the BX23 counts for a lot. It is sized nicely so that when you are working on the backhoe you can move around without konking your noggin on the ROPS at any point. It also gives you a handy place to mount lights for night work if you are so inclined. Comparing backhoe to backhoe I personally think the Woods and Kubota hoes are pretty even although if you look at both of them in person the Kubota hoe gives the impression of slightly higher quality - in my opinion.

I have never taken a micrometer to the frames on a BX2230 and compared it to the BX23 but my bet is that the base frame on both is the same. The difference is that Kubota adds some more framework to the BX23 that ties the backhoe to the main frame and the FEL arms (uprights). Woods does pretty much the same thing with the kit for their hoe when you add it on to a BX2230. Again without putting both side by side I can't say for sure but I believe that both are pretty comparable.

All that being said your price on the BX23 seems a little high - I paid $16,500 last year up here in New England where the prices are already high and my price included loaded tires, a high amp alternator, a 50 hour service kit, and a toothbar for the FEL. A lot of other people have gotten the BX23 for lower than this but it varies from one region of the country to another. If you let people know what region you are in you might get some price comparison info.

vchandler · Sep 29, 2005

I have a BX2230 with the woods bh, the woods bh is a better bh than the Kubota bh, its a little stronger, has the curved boom, and the buckets are better. The frames for the bx2230 and the bx23 are identical except for the added subframe on the bx23 for the bh. I have compared the woods subframe with the bx23 subframe and I would have to say the woods subframe is beefier. The swivel seat addition that comes with the woods bh is much better than the bx23. The 3 point has no clearance issuess either. Now the rops is shorter on the bx2230, I am 5' 6" and I have never had a problem using the bh, and frankly the shorter rops has been very nice for not getting in the way of things, for me I prefer it over the tall one, but if you were over 6', you might have a problem, and I say might because when using the backhoe I noticed my head never really is directly below the top of the rops.

With all that said, should you get a bx2230 with a woods bh or a bx23. I did it because I decided later that I wanted a bh and that was my cheapest solution, do I regret it, absolutely no. Was it cheaper than just buying a bx23, no, it cost me an extra $700.00 when it was all said and done. If the BX23 is cheaper I say go with it, if the BX2230 w/bh is cheaper I say go with it. However I find it very hard to believe that the bx2230 w/bh is cheaper than a bx23. I would shop a little more if it was me.

escavader · Sep 29, 2005

The only thing i wanted to add to this was,i can take the hoe off the 23 in under 3 minutes,whigh is kinda neat.I wouldnt be to concerned withdigging force specs,both will lift the tractor off the ground any how.I was gonna go the 7610 and woods root,but i went with the 23 instead,most everyone with the 23 find the hoe bullet proof. either way you go you got the tractor coler right on.
ALAN