If you could do it over...would you?

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I have a John Deere 4200 MFWD with HST, FEL & BH on R-4's. The only thing I wish were different is that there are times I wish it were bigger with the same options (with the appropriately larger FEL & BH, of course).

Honestly, I think that's pretty common. If I had a 4300, I'd wish it were a 4500; if I had a 4500 I'd lust after the 4700. I'm not complaining, though. I got a good deal on the 4200 that made looking at anything else ridiculous.

For a smaller tractor I have a 20 hp Yardman by MTD with MMM, snow blower, wheel weights and tire chains. Again, not what I would have gone out and bought, but, it was such a deal I couldn't pass it up. It also was a deal as I took it as a partial down payment on something I was selling.

 

[RonR]

YES--the BX2200 has saved me hours of work

We took out a swimming pool that was partly in ground. Moved 36 tons of sand/topsoil into the hole. Used the loader to fill wheelbarrows and my son and his buddy moved it to the back.

Used the FEL to level the dirt, then the tiller to smooth it. Wife drove it while I hooked chain to an old sprinker system and we pulled it out of the ground. Couldn't have done it by hand!

Used the Post hole digger to dig two holes for burying wire for the new water well. Need a trencher or middle buster or something to rip a trench to bury the electric wire.

Have nearly 20 hours on the new BX and it's performed like a CHAMP.

Plan to use it this fall to install a new sprinkler system. Hope to rig a ripper to lay the poly pipe for the sprinkler runs. Have seen some great ideas posted at TBN.

Planting new grass in the backyard, so would like to build a power rake (can't afford to buy one!) to work the soil up for that.

Also plan to get commercial insurance and hire out to do custom work, but that likely will have to wait til next spring--too busy now on my own stuff!

Best wishes.
Ron

 

[david43a]

I have a bx22 it has 43 hrs on it I have had it since june 5th
It is a nice running tractor. I would like a little more power in the loder sometimes I don't get much rain my yard soil is really hard and full of rocks. I want to do all of the earth work with my little tractor it will take longer than a larger model but that is ok when I eventually finish the grading and leveling the size will be just fine. I looked at the 7800 a lot. I also Liked the New Holland boomer series the 29 hp and the 33 hp model with super steer. I wanted a compact stable easy to operate tractor with hydro trans and a backhoe the bx22 was the best value for my money. I am a little undecited more time on my tractor will firm up my opnion. David

 

[rambler]

Bought a Ford 1720 in February, that's what got me to this forum. Like it. Looked for a year to find whay I was looking for. Some days I would like more lift, more power, bigger - like many are saying.

But, now for the rest of the story:

I have 6 other tractors, mostly older, mostly bigger - up to 140 hp with duals....

You forget, those bigger models won't be as manuverable, will tear up more sod, won't fit in your shed, take more room to turn, have less visibility..... And so on.

It's nice to wish for something bigger, but remember that brings baggage with it as well! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif If your 'little fella' is getting the job done, it's probably a good size. Bigger isn't always better.

I run that little 1720 almost every day - got almost 200 hours on it so far. And I put plenty of hours on the big boys too.

Me, I really like the 2-stage pto clutch, 12 speed tranny, 4wd, all-hyd loader, very manuverable for 4wd, and just enough power to pull some loaded wagons or move some round bales when I need to, but small enough to get into the small doors & tight areas I need to get to. Some days it would be nice if it were bigger, some days it should be smaller - so that makes it about right.

And, my wife likes it. (Altho she spent more time in the 140hp tractor than I did last fall.)

Can't beat that.

--->Paul

 

[chim]

Yes I would. The B7500 is ideal for me. The R4's have performed well in all seasons. On Friday, I mowed at my Mom-in-law's place using the B7500 there for the first time in a while. Standard procedure for mowing her 5.5 acres is to get Son III on the Kubota, and me on the Ford 1210 that I keep at her place. Son III had other plans, so I used the Kubota for the whole thing. I always do the steep banks and rough areas with the Ford, leaving the nicer areas for the kid. The Ford has an old Caroni RFM, so it's no big deal if it hits a few stones here and there. I did stay out of the stones with the 'Bota/Landpride, but did the slopes.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Kubota did on the slopes. It was more stable than the Ford which wears R1's. There were a few spots that I normally need to use 4WD when on the Ford that went fine in 2WD on the Kubota.

The Kubota is plenty of tractor for my needs, and is small enough to be quite maneuverable. This weekend included removing a downed tree and loading some dirt on my pickup. Can't imagine being without the B7500 now that I have it..........................chim

 

[B7500]

Henro,
I never thought so much about what tractor I'd "do over" but I have thought many times on my land purchase. When I bought my 5 acres last year I had a chance to buy the 5 acres next to me. At the time my new lot was so much more room then my city house I thought it would be plenty. Now, I kick myself for not buying the second lot.
I know, how much does a guy need? Answer:
As much as it takes that you don't hear or see your neighbor.
Call me antisocial but that is what I am after.
Plus, it would be a good excuse for a bigger tractor.
-Terry

 

[monkeybreath]

I can't say what I would do over regarding a tractor as I do not yet have mine - but I moved from L.A. 17 years ago to 90 acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and one thing I would definitely have done differently would have been to get a tractor when I first moved up here - not 17 years later. I did a whole lot of work basically by hand and ingenuity.

 

[B7500]

Never too late Monkeybreath

 

[Rick Jay]

Henro...I've had my B2910 for 3 years...only 80 hours...and I still think it was the best deal for my uses. I easily could have be happy with a B7500 and even a BX22 (which weren't available 3 years ago), but I really like the extra power, weight, ground clearance, loader capacity and nice 3 pt. hitch hardware of the B2910.

I would buy it again in a minute. Of course...3 years ago Kubota was charging 7.49% on their loans...and I thought that was a good deal. Now...with 0%...it would be hard NOT to buy an L.

I wouldn't putz about it like you...I'd just go do it. C'mon...you know you want it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

~Rick

 

[5030]

Bill:

As you know me pretty well, every time I get a new Kubota, I always go bigger. The problem is that now with the 5030, I can't mow the lawn any more so I had to get a disposable rider. What I will probably do is wait until you decide to sell one of your two and then make you an offer you cna't refuse.