Kubota newbie...w/Questions.

[Dirk]

Well gang, here's what I decided:

I went with a Toro ZTR. I figure'd that a BX might not be nimble enough to get close to all my obsticles, plus, if I have to mow 5 acres in the future, it might be too slow. The Toro mows at 6.5mph, and get's extreamly close to everything. So, it's perfect for my small property now, and should even be perfect for my future property if I have lots to mow. Then, depending on what I need done on my future property, I'll get a BX or 2410, or whatever I need. But, I've rationalized that the Toro ZTR is the best purchase that isn't wasted money.

 

[Bill_in_MI]

I agree that in some circumstances a dedicated mower is the right tool. I tried using my 3 point Landpride 60" grooming mower on the lawn for a few years and finally decided that I was not getting the quality or efficiency that I desired. It's great for the open spaces that I cut (2 acre field out front) but lacks in manuverability. I still had to get out the hand mower for trimming. I opted for an eXMark Turf Tracer with a set of the "jungle wheels" to stand on. Like the commercial guys use a lot. I got the 36" width to make sure I get the manuverability I need. With the jungle wheels (only thrown once while I got used to them...amazing what centrifugal force will do in a near-zero radius turn at a moderate speed!) you can really move along. Not quite zero turn with this set up, but close enough. Speed makes a big difference in time to finish. And, no more trimming with the hand mower, although I do have to make use of the string trimmer along a few places that I always had to do anyhow. I also feel I am being kinder to the turf than with the tractor. The big plus is the super high blade speed these things get. Can cut wet grass with virtually no clumping. When the clippings hit the pavement in some areas it looks like someone spray painted the pavement green.
It is not so much that I was disappointed in the tractor, but I am convinced I made the right decision with the mower.

Attached photo right after a mowing session. We are in the woods a bit so the grass is always quite juicy.

 

[msocko3]

I have to say go with the BX, you can sell it later if you need something larger. You can get the 60" mower with the BX1800 and it will work just fine, I have a 1800 with the 60" mower and have go through 8" high field grass without bogging the engine. Most folk go with the BX2200 because it's only $500-$750 more than the 1800. I went with the 1800 because the 2200 wouldn't do anything more than the 1800 could, I just couldn't justify the extra dollars when according to Kubota they handle the same attachements.

 

[richfromPA]

HEY DIRK,
i traded my grasshopper ZTR on my new bx2200. i only do alittle more push mowing than before. the bx has so much more to offer and im glad i did the deal. i made a hitch for my grasshopper to pull a 10 cuft trailer and it did it ok. sometimes though, i barely made it up the long back hill with a full load of topsoil. now i can pull that trailer and the loader full of dirt with ease. if you want to move snow and stone and dirt, the toro aint gonna do crap for ya. hey this is only my opinion and i also know that the time to mow my 1.2 acre hasnt changed. as far as the 1/3 acre i would buy a push mower, maybe even justify a bagger and self propel. anyway good luck.
rich

 

[TresCrows]

Dirk the ZTR might be just what you need but I figure the BX would have done as well. The time difference in mowing a small lot would not have been great and the ZTR is not nearly as flexible. In my development the guy about 4 houses from me has a big ZTR, he has five flat acres and no landscaping yet and I have 6 with quite a bit. If he starts mowing when I do on his square lot and me on my pie shaped irregular lot we finish about the same time. The BX can maintain 6 or so MPH and with a 60 inch deck can cover ground pretty fast. Yes, the ZTR may provide a better cut at that speed(?) and may can go faster even than that(?) but he sure looks forlorn shoveling dirt into a small cart puled by a ZTR. A good ZTR is a nice tool too, either way I hope you are happy with the results. J

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello Dirk,

We are in the process of purchasing a 10 acre house in the country (moving out of a 1/3 acre in the burbs with pond, garden, shed, pool and extensive (wife) landscaping) and was looking for a compact tractor. Looking for information about tractors, I came across this posting. I have two questions; first, did you get the bx1800 and did you like it, and second, are you sure you didn't write this about me and my wife? I read the letter to her and, until I got to the YardMan mower, she thought I was writing the letter myself!