I Think the BX2200 is Just Right, but ...

[Anonymous Poster]

In about 1 month we will be moving from 1/2 acre to 15 acres (yes!). I have been reading & studying on various tractors, but couldn't make a decision, because I was unsure just what I'd be using the tractor for.,

Well, this morning, I got a chance to walk over the whole property with the current owner. It's gonna be a little tricky to find one tractor to do all I need, but ...

About 1/2 of the property (8 acres) is hay that is farmed by someone else (this allows to say many $$ by getting farmland assessment). I'm told that I don't have to touch this land, as it grow just fine by itself & then he'll cut it down & haul it off. (Does that sound right?)

Around the house is about 2-3 acres of grass with lots of trees. Part of this area is a slope (kinda steep) that leads down to the 2 acre pond.

The rest of the land is thick woods & pasture. The current owner says he cuts the pasture down once or twice per year.

I will have a 1/3 mile long paved driveway to clear during the winter.

I was thinking of something bigger than the 2200 to handle the large flat areas that need mowing. But now I'm think that the 2200 would be better (with a mid mount mower), so I can navigate around the trees & handle the slope.

Does my reasoning seem sound? Would a bigger tractor be able to get around the trees & handle the slope?

All comments appreciated.

 

[Von]

Hook, What is the current owner using now? this will be a good marker to go by. If he can do it with a larger tractor, than so can you.

 

[frank_f15]

I THINK THE 2200 would do all u want, BUT, i think u might be a little happier with something a little bigger. with hydro and ps it is surpriseing how well u can get close to trees and stuff. what are u going to use to clear drive?

 

[Newtractorguy]

Hook - That farmland assesment arrangements sounds absolutely fine. I have a friend in central New Jersey doing the exact same thing with a 10 acre parcel; he's been doing it for years now and has never had a problem. Not a bad arrangement to save some serious tax dollars, either.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Poster: Von
Subject: Re: I Think the BX2200 is Just Right, but ...

> Hook, What is the current owner using now? this will
> be a good marker to go by. If he can do it with a larger
> tractor, than so can you.

Unfortunately, what the current owner has is no help. He has a bunch of old equipment he had at a previous farm: large TLB, old mid-size tractor, 2 seated mowers.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Poster: frank_f15
Subject: Re: I Think the BX2200 is Just Right, but ...

> I THINK THE 2200 would do all u want, BUT, i think u
> might be a little happier with something a little bigger.
> with hydro and ps it is surpriseing how well u can get
> close to trees and stuff.

I would like something bigger, also. But I'm worried about maneuvering among the trees on the sloping grass that leads down to the pond. I was thinking that a low center of gravity would be better there.

I'm going to visit the property again in a week. I think I'll take a tiltmeter to get a feeling for the slope of that area. I'll also walk among the area & see if there is a reasonable path among the trees.

> what are u going to use to clear drive?

Well, I was going to use either a front blade or a snow blower on the 2200 (I'm not sure which one will work better).

Make sense?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Poster: Newtractorguy
Subject: Re: I Think the BX2200 is Just Right, but ...

> Hook - That farmland assesment arrangements sounds
> absolutely fine. I have a friend in central New Jersey doing
> the exact same thing with a 10 acre parcel; he's been doing
> it for years now and has never had a problem. Not a bad
> arrangement to save some serious tax dollars, either.

Yep. It's a sweet deal. With the assessment (and because of the pond), I'll be paying the same property taxes on the 15 acres as I do right now on 1/2 acre!

And the farmer makes a few thousand dollars, also

 

[JimMorrissey]

Hook,

Use something like this to clear the driveway.....
That's a BX22 with 51" 2 stage blower.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Poster: JimMorrissey
Subject: Re: I Think the BX2200 is Just Right, but ...

> Use something like this to clear the driveway.....
> That's a BX22 with 51" 2 stage blower.

My God. It looks like a mutant

Isn't it a pain using a rear blower? How long is your driveway?

HOOK