BX2660 for small "farm" use

[dablack]

Ok guys. I just picked up 30 acres of very hilly land just south of Rusk Texas. About 15 acres are woods and the other 15 has trees but needs to be mowed. Some of it I will finish mow, the rest I will just brush hog four times a year. We will be building a house there and putting in a large garden and some fruit trees.

I was thinking of getting a 2660 with a FEL. What say you?

thanks
Austin

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Ok guys. I just picked up 30 acres of very hilly land just south of Rusk Texas. About 15 acres are woods and the other 15 has trees but needs to be mowed. Some of it I will finish mow, the rest I will just brush hog four times a year. We will be building a house there and putting in a large garden and some fruit trees.

I was thinking of getting a 2660 with a FEL. What say you?

thanks
Austin

I say mostly no because of the lack of ground clearance on the BX models and the fan that has been damaged so easily (If your in any thing but grass) by other BX owners. I've had several BXs and even a BX2660. Also had several Bs. The BX is a power house and will run out of traction long before it runs out of power. I'd look more toward the B models.
Now your going to hear from several people that equate acres to size tractor but I'm not one of them. If you want to mow with a 15' wide bush hog then yes you'll have to get a much bigger tractor. If your in a hurry to mow it all then you need a bigger mower which requires a bigger tractor. Bigger and heavier implements require a bigger tractor. Those issues aside the more acres does not require a bigger tractor.
I have hillside, gullied and rocky treed property. The BXs stick well to hillsides but in the gullys and rocky areas they are to close to the ground. The Bs give enough clearance off the ground (but not as much as bigger tractors) to go over "stuff" but they do not feel as secure if your going across a hill as the BXs. I even tried an L3240HST and it was pretty scary for me on the hill side so I got rid of it quick and got another B.
I do currently have a BX, B and an F. The F is for mowing, the King of mowers . I have a Kubota F3080 6' front deck four wheel drive. Can't see life of mowing with anything else now but it's just for mowing for me. There are attachments for it but I just use mine for mowing and it sticks to hillsides like a mountain goat.
Good luck and here come the suggestions for big tractors.

 

[s219]

Go bigger -- look into the B-series or larger. I think the BX is too small for what you describe.

 

[TripleR]

Can't really improve on what John said and we do love our BX. I spent a lot of time working our BX2200 and BX2660 in the woods, bush hogging and moving rock long distances, but while it will work, it is far from ideal.

Look to distance traveled and work needed rather than just total acreage. Our biggest property has the smallest tractors as that is what works best.

I include distance traveled as a bumpy ride is no big deal if you aren't going far, but if you are, it sure gets old.

I would be looking at a B Series at a minimum and one of the variants may well be optimal.

 

[radair]

Go bigger -- look into the B-series or larger. I think the BX is too small for what you describe.

I agree. I loved my BX23 but it had its limitations.

 

[bp fick]

Don't overlook the fact that Kubota offers a kit to make rear wheels wider, nice for stability issues. Just wish they didn't charge so dang much for them.

Cheap though, I suppose, to save that "awkward" moment, shall we say?

 

[David_Kb7uns]

L series, The BX would be the same as a push mower on a big field.

David Kb7uns

 

[dodge man]

I own a BX and love it, but I would also recommend bigger. One of the larger B's or L's would be better. They also cost more, so I don't know what your budget is. I have no doubt a BX would do the job, its just a matter of how much time do you have.

 

[Davee]

Last spring I purchased a B2620 with FEL, tiller and mower for our land with large garden and orchards. It has worked fantastic. I was leaning toward the larger B2920, but at the advice of the dealer didn't. I haven't yet found myself running out of horsepower with any of the implements. The larger ground clearance swayed me from the BX - never tried one so I can't say how they would perform.

 

[aczlan]

We have a B7500 with R4 tires and a BX2660 with Turf tires. The B will do much more than the BX will do due to its higher ground clearance and faster ground speed.

Aaron Z

 

[bigbull338]

your going tobe doing alot to your place with a tractor.an as said to me the 2660 is to lil todo whats needed.so id look something like the L3800 kubota.that should do everything your wanting todo.

 

[dablack]

Guys,

Thanks so much. I will take a harder look at the B line before I decide on the BX.

thanks
Austin

 

[wcampbell47]

Ok guys. I just picked up 30 acres of very hilly land just south of Rusk Texas. About 15 acres are woods and the other 15 has trees but needs to be mowed. Some of it I will finish mow, the rest I will just brush hog four times a year. We will be building a house there and putting in a large garden and some fruit trees.

I was thinking of getting a 2660 with a FEL. What say you?

thanks
Austin

Don't have any experience on hilly land. Large garden? You want a tractor with some ground clearance for sure. The FEL will be way more useful if it will lift up to 84 inches or more. With 15 acres in woods you will at some point in time have to clean up downed trees and such. Buy a little larger ... you won't regret it.

 

[wcampbell47]

Guys,

Thanks so much. I will take a harder look at the B line before I decide on the BX.

thanks
Austin

I am loving my B3200 over my B7510. More ground clearance, 3 point implements are easier to hook up. The B3200 comes standard with a mid PTO. I don't have a mid mount mower for it however with the mid PTO I can easily add one. Has good power with the 32 hp 4 cyl . The FEL is way more powerful than the 7510.

 

[KU Gator]

We live on 3 acres and bought 12 acres adjoining some Corp property which is on a lake. The property is about 25 miles from our home, so knew we would be needing to trailer whatever we bought to take care of it. We first bought a 16' trailer and carried our JD garden tractor there while we started shopping tractors. We looked at a BX25, a B2x20, and a B7800 (now B3200). It was hard to pass up on the BX25 package which included the backhoe, but decided we would need to be bigger.

After 4 years of using it on both pieces of property, I think the B2920 we bought is perfect for the 3 acres we live on and gets the job done at the other property. If I did not have to trailer it, I would definitely go to a bigger B or an L for the other property. I use a 5' rotary mower and the small B will handle it, but a larger framed tractor like the bigger B's or small L's would handle it easier. I probably average about 1.5 acres per hour mowing, less if I haven't mowed in more than 3 or 4 weeks.

A disadvantage of the BX is it only has a 2 speed HST and smaller wheels, so its top ground speed is about 8 MPH vs the Bs at about 12 MPH. For mowing, you are usually in the mid range on the B, so not much difference, but I do like to be able to get from one end of the property to the other a little quicker.

If I started the search from scratch today, knowing what I know now, I would look hard at a B3030. I don't like the mid mount mower it uses quite as much, but like its size and capability and features better. Would also want to check out the smoothness of its engine at PTO speed as some of the 4 cyl Kubota diesels are more prone to vibration at higher RPM.

 

[dablack]

Campbell and Gator,

Thanks for the detailed explination. We will be building on the property but don't have anything there yet so I will most likely be trailering mine as well.

Austin

 

[Bota Bum]

What I have learned researching several forums before I got my BX was, BX's are primarily mowing machines. Tasks they handle beyond that are a bonus. The B's are meant for implement use, with mowing a secondary task.

The development of the property, building a house & outbuildings, driveways, landscaping, gardens, maintaining hogged fields, I think would be better done with the B with a modified stance. And down the road when you can, add a F.

Good luck with your project!

 

[sw18x]

I'll throw it out there since I didn't see it mentioned yet. If you can afford it - even if you don't think you need it - consider a model with a backhoe. Based on the description of the property, it sounds like sooner or later you'll wish you had it. Then add the three point hitch as an option.

 

[Bota Bum]

Exellent point, especially with development of the property. I wish I got the BX25, with hoe. I do not need it. But it would be fun.:laughing:

 

[OrangeRidge]

Whatever you buy , put spacers on the rears ; makes 'em very stable.
Mine slides side-ways whereas before it would lift a rear tyre.