Buying Advice Is it good for me?

[Freedom dave]

Hello guys, I have been through alot of forums and you guys are very informative and I thank you but wanted to start this thread to get some direct answers and opinions.

I am a landscaper in Toronto Canada and presently own a Boxer 320 (stand on mini skid steer) 36" with a bucket and a auger. I am getting into more work that involves digging and grading whether sod or interlocking and planting trees and retaining walls.

I am thinking of the BX25 TBL for alot of reasons, its size that its still compact enough to get places and its price and 0% financing. I was thinking full size bobcat because its a machine and a half but way to big for alot of my jobs I do and have done and getting it I know it will sit alot of the time and even a 4' wide one will be nice but limited to its actions.

The tractor with backhoe is a nice alternative. My questions are can it dig using the loader bucket, is it comfortable to ride all day, it says lift capacity is 750lbs so does that mean at highest height to dump into my F550 and is there any other landscapers using this machine as I don't see alot if any landscapers up here using them here and wonder why if its so good in my mind. What would be the cons in me buying one.

Thanks in advance from all of you experienced users.

Dave

 

[PapaPerk]

I would look at the B size machine with loader and hoe. I think the BX will be too small for u.

 

[Freedom dave]

I would look at the B size machine with loader and hoe. I think the BX will be too small for u.

Thanks Papperk, I was thinking the same thing but the B puts me into a whole different price range and size catagory, thats the problem.

 

[treman]

I think it would work well for small areas but i would check to see if it would even get over the sides of your dump and if it does your not going to be able to reach the center of the truck so you will have to load from both sides. I would agree however to look slightly larger. You could likely get a similar tractor in size but with much better specs for your needs.

 

[Freedom dave]

Thanks Treman, yes that is what I'm scared of, it being just a bigger version of my mini skid steer. I love the backhoe aspect of the Kubota and thats what started my interests. I also have a 6 tonne dump trailer but thats what I would use to haul the machines. I just don't know if the reach in front is more than my other machine or same that would make the difference. My Boxer can load the 550 but like you said from the sides and limited to the height so making it smaller loads. Trying to talk myself into getting a new toy but will kill myself if its useless and stops me from getting next size up in the future.

 

[CAgnoli]

My suggestion. Take your F550 and the trailer to a dealer. Get on a BX and see if it will do what you want. Costs ya nothing to mimick what you'd do at work in the dealers parking lot. If the BX won't do it, try a B, maybe the dealer will have some nice used stock....

Personally, I'm not sure a BX would meet the needs of a landscaper, not because the machine isn't capable, but that you'd get the jobs done faster with a larger machine, time being money and all....

 

[Verticaltrx]

I echo the others that say look at the B-series. Even the smallest B2320 is a step above the BX, and priced pretty close. I have a B3200 that I use in my small construction business and it is none too large to load a 1-ton dump. Reach and lift height are the most important things to be able to efficiently load a truck, the larger models will be a lot better in that regard.

IMO and of the B series would serve you well, even the largest B's are very small tractors and maneuverability is excellent.

 

[dodge man]

I agree with what the others have said. What makes the BX so attractive is the price with the backhoe. I think even a smaller B with a backhoe will be more money, but you can price one out. You also have to balance how much a heavier machine will tear up lawns, and be less easy to maneuver around. There is no doubt a larger machine will do it all a lot faster.

You probably have a pretty good idea of the kind of work you do, so its just a matter of figuring out what machine fits your need better. I think even a BX will perform better than your current machine for digging. What the compact tool carriers have over a small tractor is a much more powerful hydraulic system, but if you keep your current machine, you have that covered.

 

[Freedom dave]

Thanx guys, all help is appreciated, I love the toys but very indecisive about this and thats why so on the fence. My wife says go for it but I know what will happen if I complain about it once so thats why I am so up in the air or do I wait and get the next thing and hope for bigger jobs but than I think I should get the skidsteer.

Sorry so confused.

I would keep my smaller machine cause it has not let me down yet and perfect for small areas but looks funny and takes so much time for the bigger areas or jobs. I figure I could use backhoe from kubota and use my mini skid steer to load dirt away all at same time.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Even the smallest B2320 is a step above the BX, and priced pretty close. .

1*Until you figure in a BH then the gap widens.

I agree with what the others have said. What makes the BX so attractive is the price with the backhoe.
2* I think even a smaller B with a backhoe will be more money.

2*My BX24 TLB was $15500 and a B2410 was about the same but with out any BH.
Putting A BH on the B2410 would have cost about 6000 or more dollars than I paid for the BX24.
.

 

[R_Walter]

Hello guys, I have been through alot of forums and you guys are very informative and I thank you but wanted to start this thread to get some direct answers and opinions.

I am a landscaper in Toronto Canada and presently own a Boxer 320 (stand on mini skid steer) 36" with a bucket and a auger. I am getting into more work that involves digging and grading whether sod or interlocking and planting trees and retaining walls.

I am thinking of the BX25 TBL for alot of reasons, its size that its still compact enough to get places and its price and 0% financing. I was thinking full size bobcat because its a machine and a half but way to big for alot of my jobs I do and have done and getting it I know it will sit alot of the time and even a 4' wide one will be nice but limited to its actions.

The tractor with backhoe is a nice alternative. My questions are can it dig using the loader bucket, is it comfortable to ride all day, it says lift capacity is 750lbs so does that mean at highest height to dump into my F550 and is there any other landscapers using this machine as I don't see alot if any landscapers up here using them here and wonder why if its so good in my mind. What would be the cons in me buying one.

Thanks in advance from all of you experienced users.

Dave

Most landscapers I see around use a skid steer and a walk-behind trencher.

 

[CHDinCT]

Just to jump in here on the BX25 specs - it is rated to lift a little over 500 lbs (510?) to full height, not 750. Not sure where the 750 comes from but it might be the rating at the bucket pins (which is not a real life measure) or it could be the lift to 4 or 5 feet.

I also tend to think the BX will be a little small for your application, but of course you're the only one who really knows the job requirements.

As far as loading the F550, can't say for sure but I know I've removed heavy objects from my F150 using the loader with bucket hooks with a decent amount of room to spare, so I guess it depends on how much higher your F550 bed sides are.

 

[Freedom dave]

Thank you guys, yes you have all confirmed to me what made me so hesitant in the first place that it might be a little small and not much better than what I have. I am going to to price out the B series and see if its worth it.

I know alot of guys use skid steers but than I know that is to big for me. I like the backhoe part and the loader is the bonus especially if i can get something with forks to move skids of brick or sod for me.

There are so many different "B" models now i have to research those.

thanks
dave

 

[taborekle]

I don't think that a BX has the lift height to dump into a full sized pick up. I have the B2920 and recently used it to dump wood into the box of my 2003 Tundra. The 2003 is a smaller model of the current truck, and it's height is about the same as the current Toyota Tacoma. The B line sits quite a bit heigher then the BX line, and I could do the dumping but 'just'. It's not enough to clear the box, you basically want enough height to have the bucket pointed straight down AND clear the box. You also want enough reach to not just clear the box but reach to the middle of the bed without the tractor hitting the side of the pickup. The B also gave me a better view into the box while dumping. I think on a BX you'd be dumping blind.

If the truck could be positioned in a hole or the BX had a ramp, then that would help.

I had a old carpet remnent that I hung on the side of the box to protect it, and a pallet that I had in the box leaning against the back of the cab. You don't want to hurt your pickup. no no no

Larry

 

[MarkV]

For commercial work it is hard to beat the Kubota B26 or it's predecessor a used B21. It will be more money but much more capacity.

MarkV

 

[Freedom dave]

Yup I think I have to go with B26 as even the B2320 might be to small and if I'm already there might aswell go with 26.

I have to extend my thanks to everyone on here for taking the time to help me with this as you all made it easier to choose and not let me make a mistake.

I am going tomorrow to dealer to discuss and bring my dump truck so will let you keep you updated.

Thanks
Dave

 

[Verticaltrx]

Yup I think I have to go with B26 as even the B2320 might be to small and if I'm already there might aswell go with 26.

I have to extend my thanks to everyone on here for taking the time to help me with this as you all made it easier to choose and not let me make a mistake.

I am going tomorrow to dealer to discuss and bring my dump truck so will let you keep you updated.

Thanks
Dave

Have you priced a B26 yet? If not you better be sitting down, lol

They are great machines, I've spent many hours running B21's and B26's, but you better have plenty of work lined up for such a machine to pencil out.

 

[Freedom dave]

I was online and built one and it was about 25000 and than I talked to someone at dealership and he said 14000 for tractor, 3000 for loader and about 7000 for backhoe - that was a 2630 I think - tomorrow I'm going to find out.

This whole thought process started when I got a kubota flyer saying BX25 TBL for 18500 so that got me thinking but now that its getting up there I might really have to make sure I have the jobs.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I was online and built one and it was about 25000 and than I talked to someone at dealership and he said 14000 for tractor, 3000 for loader and about 7000 for backhoe - that was a 2630 I think - tomorrow I'm going to find out.

This whole thought process started when I got a kubota flyer saying BX25 TBL for 18500 so that got me thinking but now that its getting up there I might really have to make sure I have the jobs.

When they are referring to the B26, they are talking about the dedicated TLB, not the B2620:

Kubota Tractor Corporation - Tractors | TLB Series | B26 Series

That particular unit is about $37,000 without any options, which is why I said you better be sitting down, lol

 

[Freedom dave]

This is why I'm so confused, now there is so many different tractors. B2630, B26, B2620 and all priced so different and even if you take tracto and add loader and add backhoe than 24000 but the B26 TBL is 37000 - this is crazy. I just want something that will grade when I sod, load my F550 properly, lift some weight when I get the forks and dig a little with the backhoe and that's it and figured a tractor was more conveinent that a bobcat cause can do more.

Pretty much a BX25 but with more power, now so confusing.

Again its been helpful with this forum but made me have to learn a lot.