Buying Advice First Tractor Need some advice BX or an L

[montelatici]

"
As someone who is strongly considering a BX, what situations have you found the BX to underperform due to ground clearance?
gdh"



The recent mid-atlantic snow storms were enough to beach the BX24 a few times. Plus, especially with the mower attached, you may have difficulty going over uneven ground. I have a step down from a brick patio to a lawn on which the BX1850 gets hung up on, so I have to go around the long way. I would guess the B would have less of these problems, but I only own BXs.

 

[medicshawn]

I am a member of the the bigger is better club. I had a B7800 and went up to a L3940. I was just looking for some different features and capabilities. Having said that I didn't have any issues with either tractor marking up my lawn or feeling tippy. Both had loaded tires The B7800 had turfs and R1 tires, my L3940 has R4's. I used both to finish mow and have to traverse some hills and have to turn around going downhill to go back uphill.

I think what is best for you depends on what you will be doing and what your land looks like. Mine is not flat and I mow ditches and around a pond with no issues, but I don't really have any trees to get around either. I don't have to get in and out of a barn or stalls I have no narrow gates to go through. Do you need to be able to load Hay or Feed regularly. Any attachments you plan to run? PTO Hp might make a difference. Good luck on your search.

 

[wmitch1000]

Wow, I can't thank everyone enough. So glad I found this site, as I'm getting more information for thought than the dealer can give me.

To answer a few questions:

1. My property has some minor hills and trees to mow around

2. Since my driveway is over a 1/4 mile and gravel. I want a front mounted snow blower.

3. Also want a MMM, a rear blade and of course a FEL.

I'll be mowing, landscaping, and barn/stall work in addition to snow removal.

 

[medicshawn]

I think you need to look at blowers for tractors and their HP requirements. The size you want to run might dictate the tractor. I don't know much about blowers, but I think wanting a front mounted one might narrow your choices.

The size MMM you want to have might also dictate the tractor. For example if you want a 60 inch mower the choices are endless but if you want something bigger your options narrow.

 

[KU Gator]

You might start by going through the price my Kubota routine on some different configurations. For instance start with a B2620 with and without a snowblower and a BX2660 with and without the snow blower and print the specs on both. That would give you a reasonable apples to apples on a B vs BX. Then go sit on them and drive them.

The snow blower adds quite a bit to the cost. For where I live, we usually don't get enough snow that stays for a long enough period to justify it. I also have a 1/4 mile drive plus the area in front of the garage and it takes me usually about an hour with the FEL and rear blade. A front blade is better, but then you loose the use of the FEL, again is relatively expensive for the amount of use I would get out of it and is a one trick pony.

But having lived in other areas, I know there is a great deal of difference. Advantage to going with a package all in is you assuming 0% financing is going you can spread it out and go for it. Otherwise you could try it and add the blower later with probably no problem. My dealer has been good about discounting attachments later, just no financing.

When I decided on a B2920 vs the BX24 the cost was essentially the same, but I did not get the BH on the B. But decided to get the bigger tractor and add the BH later. Haven't needed it so far, but when I do, the option is still open or can rent.

 

[Tom_H]

I was able to borrow a friend's B and quickly realized that it FELT very unstable to me when traversing uneven ground with anything in the bucket.

I remember seeing a pic of a B3030 beside another B series tractor. I don't know which model the other B was, but it was barely more than half as wide as the B3030, so which one your friend had may have been one of the narrow ones.

Also, it helps to keep the loader bucket only an inch or so above the ground.

After owning a BX2200 for about six years, I decided I needed a bigger tractor and one with cruise control.

A cruise control add on kit for the BX2200 has been available since the early 2000's. I have one on my BX2200. It is a mechanical link with a lever that sticks out of the empty slot on the fender.

To the OP: I also think the L is too big. A BX has a low center of gravity and I do take mine on some inclines. I would recommend a BX. You can do everything you stated, and more with a BX. If you want "big", then a B series would be an appropriate "big" for your place. An L would be like using a 17 passenger van as your 1 person commute vehicle. You can do it, but it's overkill.

Now if you're a real wheeler-dealer, that L price sounds good. I couldn't do it but some people might be able to buy it, then re-sell it for a profit.

 

[ronjhall]

barn/stall work

This alone may limit your choice on tractor size. Getting into a stall with a B or L tractor may be impossible unless your stalls are very large.

 

[DavidVT]

Ditto on the 'barn/stall' objective. I agree that this may be the point that keeps you away from the 'L'arger tractor.

While I am in the 'bigger is better' camp, I would love to be able to afford a second smaller Kubota with a MM mower and front blower.

For now the mowing duties remain with my Husqvarna and Craftsman GTs until they finally wear out. The Kubota always starts, those newer AYP mowers are a true PIA and ,I am sorry to say , the last AYP/Husqvarna yard products I will buy in my lifetime.

 

[TripleR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TripleR View Post
"After owning a BX2200 for about six years, I decided I needed a bigger tractor and one with cruise control."

A cruise control add on kit for the BX2200 has been available since the early 2000's. I have one on my BX2200. It is a mechanical link with a lever that sticks out of the empty slot on the fender.

Like I said, my reason for selling my BX2200 was twofold, "bigger and cruise control", only one of which was available by installation of the cruise control.

As it turned out, I was wrong about "needing" a bigger tractor, more like "wanting", but by the time I figured that out my BX2200 was in the loving hands of my son in law who desperately needed, but couldn't afford one, so all in all I am happy with how things worked out as the BX2660 is much more comfortable and at my age, worth the price of admission and he has something to use on his property and I have visitation rights. The BX2200 is a great little tractor.

As has been said by others, bigger is not always "better".

 

[radioman]

I haven't ran into that yet?

you never do lbrown. you just putt around the yard with one of the 3 BX's. Your big projects seem to be done unless you got something coming up?