HELP w/Used Tractor Choice

[PJNH]

I am new to this site and tractors in general so bear with me. There are two Kubota tractors for sale in my "neighborhood" and would like some user thoughts and opinions on each model and what might be a better purchase. There is an '04 BX1500 with 48" mower and LA181 loader with 190 hours for $7900. Appears to be well maintained and in good shape. The other is a small '95 B7100 HST with 60" mower and it has 630 hours for $5100. This one also appears to be in good shape and well maintained.

I have about 1.5 acres to mow and a 150FT drive to remove snow from and of course the use of a loader would be a great benefit as I have lots of loam, mulch, fire wood, and some gravel to spread on an annual basis. That said, none of the work is commercial or extremely heavy duty. Budget is also an issue as I had hoped to keep my purchase under $6000 but that might not be possible.

I have done limited research on both models but I wanted to hear from users and those who have experience with tractors. They appear to be similar in size and weight though the 7100 has larger tires. It also has a 3Cyl 16HP vs a 2Cyl 15HP but I am not sure if that is moot on a deisel with the kind of work I would be doing. How much to add a loader for the 7100 and would that eat up the difference in cost of the 1500? I would probably purchase a rear blade for snow removal. I have read that either one of these tractors well maintained will outlast me so I guess longevity is not an issue.

Thank you for your thoughts and help.

 

[Thomas]

Welcome to TBN PJNH.
I know nothing about BX1500,but I do own 1995 B7100HST

??'s...B7100 gear or HST? & would that be a mid or rear mower?

1995 to have Kubota frontend loader install at the dealer about $2.500.oo

I suggest you take them both for a test spin....but as of now I would shine up to BX1500 for your use.

 

[WayneB]

I go along with Thomas and think the BX would maybe do what you wish to accomplish.

By the way are you in New Hampshire?

Wayne

 

[art]

Add a loader to a B-series with no power steering? NOT! I'd stay away from that move as you'd have more into it to add the loader then the BX and a difficult tractor to use unless your young and work out in a gym for your excercise now!

 

[PJNH]

BX seems to be the winner thus far.

Thomas: you own a B7100 and voted for the BX. Why? Since I know very little about either model and tractors in general, I have no particular bias.

Wayne: Yes, I am in NH.

I hope to have a chance to see both tractors today and I will report back. Does one mow better than the other or are they both equally capable? The 60" would be faster but probably negligible for just under 1.5 acres.

Art: It is a HST but I do not think it has power steering. Loader work difficult without PS? Adding a loader to the B7100 would make the price difference moot but I will negotiate with both.

Can you add a hitch of some sort to the 3pt for towing? Suggestions?

PJNH

 

[RobJ]

Go with the biggest one, a tractor can actually still do plenty of work without a loader.

 

[Renob]

PJNH,

For the size`of your property and the tasks you stated that you want to accomplish with a tractor, the BX1500 will do an excellent job and more.


Hours are good and with cash in hand you may do better on an already good price.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I have 2 wooded acres and have a BX2230. Had the more powerful machine not been 'on sale', I would have purchased a 1500 also.

I have to say that the smaller machine (BX vs. B) is VERY helpful in a great many situations. Sure, you're giving up some capabilities. But I have done many things in spaces too small for even a B to fit.

In my escapades over just this past weekend, I cleared 1/2 acre of 1" to 3" pine trees...roots and all...in about 5 hours. I moved (rolled) 800# to 1,000# logs out of the way of a driveway (minutes). I removed and regraded my parents front flower bed (2 hours including stump removal of 2 6" holly trees). And I moved and placed two 800# panels of exposed aggregate sidewalk to a side entry of my parents house. When I got back Sunday afternoon, I moved 4 cubic yards of mixed soil into my wife's garden to replace the 4 cubic yards of red clay I had dug to a depth of 2 feet a week ago...that whole project has about 3 hours into it.

All this without a backhoe. All this on a machine I transport on a 5' x 10' trailer.

What I'm saying is that I have done in about 10 hours of tractor use what would have taken me MANY, MANY ENTIRE WEEKENDS to complete. Is there a time I'd like to have a little larger machine? Sure. Love to have Glowplug's Grapple Monster sometimes. You can't ever have a machine too big for some jobs. But would/could I ever own a monster like that? Nope.

I'd 100% go with the BX. Has a loader and truckloads of capabilities. You won't know what to do with yourself.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I couldn't concieve of using the loader without PS. Actually, the overall tractor experience would greatly suffer IMHO without PS. It is a big factor in my overall tractoring pleasure, I have to say.

There are all manner of hitches you can add to the rear for towing. I personally have a nice assembly that allows me to use a standard 2" drawbar and ball (or shackle or whatever). It looks just like this, but a little smaller (LTH-1 instead of -2)...Leinbach Machinery, 3 Point Gooseneck Mover, Trail Hitch Receivers, Leinbach Machinery Co, Leinbach Machinery 3 Point Gooseneck Movers...very handy.

Mow quality with the 48" BX deck should be exemplary. My 60" deck is amazing. With ground speed and maneuverability taken into account, it will chop your mowing time WAY down. Not quite a ZTR, but a HUGE improvement over "standard" tractors...even HST ones. Again, the power steering makes it a dream.

 

[MadReferee]

There are all manner of hitches you can add to the rear for towing. I personally have a nice assembly that allows me to use a standard 2" drawbar and ball (or shackle or whatever). It looks just like this, but a little smaller (LTH-1 instead of -2)...Leinbach Machinery, 3 Point Gooseneck Mover, Trail Hitch Receivers, Leinbach Machinery Co, Leinbach Machinery 3 Point Gooseneck Movers...very handy..

Yes, very handy, but also very expensive. I can build PJNH one in my shop for $75-$100 depending on material cost.

Too bad PJNH has a limited budget. My B2710 is for sale with all the goodies including hydraulics and snowblower and box scraper. Oh well.