Bx24 or Equivalent: Strategy

[Hotwheels]

OK, if you and your gal are fine with spending more money, DEFINATELY get the bigger Kubota's (or whatever bigger machine). You started out sounding like I did when I got my BX23 ... "I need to do it all (need hoe) and am not interested in going higher in price than ~16K for the BX or equivelent". If you'[ve got the money, cool. I had the money but but spent what I would have spent on a bigger tractor on other stuff, ie, dump trailer, more attachments (new and used), used commercial (self contained) chipper.
Each day brings new criteria ... I've oftened thought of a larger tractor, but the more work I do, the more I think about another (old, used, cheap, not-an-everyday-driver) tractor. The BX is great for me but to have another one for those times you need 2 buckets or whatever ... that's where I'm leaning now.
Cheers!

I read a number of your posts about your buying and operating and you are definitely a role model for those of us shopping and on the fence. You decided about what should work and then it seems you have made it work without all the "should I do this or that" most of us go through. That is an admirable strategy.

I do have the money to spend if I need to buy a larger tractor, but I don't want to spend any more than I need to spend. The easy decision is to buy a B7610 with a backhoe. The more challenging issue is getting a BX24/GC2310 and making it work and not just buying the bigger one for insurance. If the BX24 is not enough tractor for my application, then it is another issue and I should get the larger one. I also like to two tractor strategy

Mhy Pics of the Rocky Ridgehomestead, random shots and an aerial view of about 2/3 of the property. http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

 

[IslandTractor]

Hotwheels,

Based on your further description of work you intend to do, I would also vote for the CUT rather than the SCUT. Again, it is not a power issue at all but rather tractor size/weight. The BX24 has more power than a 7510 or CK20 but both those tractors would be better for the "rough" work you are describing. My earlier thoughts were based on the misconception that you were "mowing" rather than bush hogging.

I too looked at the 7510 before buying the CK20 TLB. It was a tough choice. I got a particularly good deal on the CK20 which made up my mind. However, there are a few points in favor of the CK20 that I'll mention: 1) greater loader lift capacity, 2) position control rather than quarter inching valve, 3) cruise control (I might be mistaken but don't remember that on the 7510), 4) suspension seat, 5) heavier tractor. 6) four year warranty now. Not sure what the current price comparison is between those two. The other point, not exactly a critical one, is that the 7510 is getting pretty long in the tooth. Kubota must be getting ready to replace them with a new model which will drive down resale if that is a concern.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Hotwheels, I can't get to your pix. YOUR link takes me to MY pix. I think it's because you were logged into Yahoo and copied the url when you were at your photos. Then while I'm logged in, Yahoo thinks the link is to my pix. Your url contains "//" instead of your user name surrounded by the slashes. Hover your mouse over my link and look at the info at the bottom of the browser window. It will show how the link should read ... just insert your user name between the slashes. How much elevation change do you have?

 

[Hotwheels]

Sorry Honmebrew2 about the Yahoo link -- I changed it in my signature but the user name is placerville99 so if that does not work, I will try again. The elevation change is probably a couple of hundred feet, maybe more from top to bottom. The portion I can work has less change, maybe 75 feet or so. It is the rougness of the ground that is as much a concern as the elevation change.

My guess is that we have similar soil conditions, although I have a lot of serpentine type rock that comes through the hillside. So, that is the ground I will mow. Island Tractor is the lucky one with REAL grass to mow!

The Kioti I drove was a gear and not a HST model. I should go back and drive the HST model when they have another. I do like the BX24 size and it seems like I can make it work if the machine will pull the brush hog on the hills.

link should be: http://photos.yahoo.com//ph//placerville99/my_photos

 

[HomeBrew2]

WOW! Nice place!

You still have a few too many slashes in the links. Use http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/placerville99/my_photos

Good job on showing the roughness and slope you are dealing with. As you can probably tell from my photo with contour overlay, I have an exceptionally easy property to work ... you have a LOT more slope than I imagined. I do however have very steep slopes going down to my creek. The BX pulls the (running) hog fine on them, forward or reverse, but my longest pull may only be 50' so, I don't have any experience with long hard steep pulls. Do you think you'll be able to mow up-and-down the slopes or are you thinking you'll have to do some side-hilling?

 

[Volfandt]

Very nice place.
My 1st thought when looking at your pics is to go with a CUT with as much hp as I could afford.
Somethng like the B7610 or 7800 or even a B3030 and/or the CK25 or CK30.

That said, the BX24 will also work but I would think the ride would be more comfortable with the bigger tires of a CUT plus the additional ground clearance you'd get wouldn't hurt.
My BX23 handles my 4 acres with ease and would handle more if needed to but I have no where near the inclines or acreage you do.

I do recommend you test out a B7510/B7610 after you test out the CK20. You'll have more similar tractors to compare and you should be able to determine if the additional weight of the Kioti's are needed for your useage as well as to better determine the performance.

Clear as mud

Volfandt

 

[Hotwheels]

Thanks for the responses! It is a nice piece of property despite thr rocks and weeds. I realized the other day we have not improved it as much as we could because of just the time and effort to do some things I belive a tractor will make easier. I will try driving the 7610/Ck20-25 tractors again to see how that feels in comparison to the BX.

I plan to mow up and down and not across, although there is some area where I think it would not be too difficult. Until I get an understanding of the center of gravity issues with any of the tractors, I will stick to working the ground up and down. There are a few areas, especially the slope directly in front of our house we would like to terrace so that maintenance would be easier. But, that is probably a job for a bigger machine.

I am excited about the possibilities ... off to Wisconsin today to visit relatives and see if we can find a tractor dealer!

Thanks again

 

[LC Brewing]

I popped into the local dealer here to ask about rentals to help decide how different rigs will work on my land - and to help my CFO see how much work we really could get done with one of these in the garage (some day). They had a BX24 sitting right next to a B7510 in their yard - and the size of the two was nearly exactly the same. Kind of blew some of my perceptions regarding the SCUT versus the CUT.

I've also had a chance to look close at the CK20 and CK25 that a local dealer has parked to "show off" - next to an LK3054XS TLB. I can't believe how much more rugged that LK3054 looks! Seems most of the CUT machines I've looked at have a fairly basic FEL attachment that bolts to the tractor somewhere forward of the operators deck. That 3054 has the bracket for the FEL bolted in the normal location, but has an extension running all the way back to the rear axel! The hoe on it has the added advantage of actually being under the ROPS, and is on/off in about the same time as the BX24 hoe can be removed - but much more capacity. Anyway, for about $4000 more, I'm leaning/looking real hard at that Kioti.

 

[IslandTractor]

They had a BX24 sitting right next to a B7510 in their yard - and the size of the two was nearly exactly the same. Kind of blew some of my perceptions regarding the SCUT versus the CUT.

Not sure I can agree with you here. I must admit that I am more familiar with the BX23 (which is what I am basing my comments on) but I don't believe the BX24 is that much bigger. Sit at the controls of the BX24 and you will be looking up, not across, at someone sitting on the 7510 or CK20. Even more dramatically, sit on a 7510 or CK20 with a BH and compare that to the BX24 BH. Also, check out the lift capacity of the BX vs either the 7510 or the Kioti CK20. Finally, although I recall that the BX24 has greater ground clearance than the BX23, it will still be less than the CUT size machines which might be a factor given your description of mowing in rougher terrain rather than lawn work.

 

[Renob]

The BX24 (tractor only...no loader, no hoe) actually weighs approx. 200 pounds more than a B7510. The loader specs, apples to apples, pins to pins are also very close.

The CK20 is a whole other animal and is a great machine at what it does. The loader is stout and it handles ground engaging chores much better. I would not want one if cutting grass was its major duty.