Landscaping tasks, looking at a BX24, will it be enough? Pictures included!

[rbarker]

What I'm looking for is input that it will survive the job without blowing up or wearing the **** out of it. Basically I'm thinking it would have a hard (but not abusive) life for 2-3 years, then have the easy life doing less demanding chores.

These things are made to work. What you outlined and from the size of the stumps you illustrated you should have no trouble at all. I've read tons of stories from people who have worked their BX harder than that for longer without trouble.

A suggestion on the stumps that worked for me, cut the tree of 3 or 4 feet from the ground, put the loader up near the cut and then push them right over. They pop pretty good that way and there's not as much digging required. This is for your 3 and 4 inch sized stumps, btw! You won't be pushing over 10 inchers with a BX!

 

[Sully2]

I have 4 1/2 acres hre that "eventually" I will clear 95% of it...and I myself looked a LONG TIME at the BX series fo tractors and finally setteled on a "B" series! I had the B2630 down hard and let a few friend talk me into the B3030 model ( 30 hp as compared to 26 hp) and after a year of using it..Im glad I went bigger.

The BX is actually a SUBcompact..and although it uses "Cat 1" impliments...they arent the same "Cat 1" as say my own tractor uses. I can buy "std" Cat 1 stuff and use it wiht no problem...within weight restrictions of course...but on the sub CUT's ya cant do that!

I fully admit I love the BX series and think they are cuter than a beagle pup...but they are most definately LIMITED!

For YOUR usage...I WOULD NOT buy a BX series tractor

 

[Taiser]

Well I also looked at the "B" series. The one that caught my eye is the B7510HSD, but this thing with a loader will be about the same price as the BX24 and no back-hoe.

I'm not even sure if the 7510 can take a hoe and it only has 21 horses. I know that a couple of horses on a diesel don't mean much. I can save a couple of grand on the geared tranny and put that towards a possible back-hoe and I don't mind gears from what I read they are stronger overall. Anybody have any input on the kubota hydros? Would the hydro on the 7510 really be worth the 2500$ extra they ask for? If the hydro is as strong and will hold up as long as the geared version I'd probably consider it, but don't mind spending the extra cash on the hydro. I can see the "Go Bigger" reasons, heck I'd get a 580Case if I could swing it, but then again, once all the hard work is done I don't want to have a 25,000$ lawnmower...if a lawnmower can actually be attached to some of these bigger machines

Man these are hard decisions.

 

[Ken_CT]

Taiser, The BX will do the job, but don't expect to get it done in a weekend. Th BX is a capable machine, and I agree that a larger machine would be better suited for some of the task you outlined, but if you don't mind sitting in the seat a little longer, and spending more time outdoors, the BX will do the job. Stumps are tough for pretty much any machine, but after you get the hang of it, you can get out some pretty good size stumps with the BX (See attached pic). If you get the BX there will probably be a few times that you wished you had gone bigger, but overall I think you'll be very happy with it.

Ken

 

[ChuckinNH]

I stand corrected! Looking at the trees in the picture behind the JD, it seemed that many of them must be 10" or so in diameter. With a closer view of the trees, they seem more than suitable for removal with the BX. Many could be taken out of the ground in one bite for sure. I've used mine for many trees that size!

 

[Taiser]

LOL yeah those are big poplar, jackpine and spruce that are staying up! That end of the lot has already been cleared to the extent that I want. That was the old property line for the farm pasture and most of those trees are 50 years plus. No way I'd be taking those down without a skidder! That bush line is staying for privacy.

 

[BlacknTan]

I recently hired out some work to a young fella with a BX22. I have no BH for my B-7800 and I needed a fairly long trench to bury electric.
Anyone who knows the Adirondacks of Northern Ny knows that if you took out all ther rocks, the ADK's would be lower than Death Valley.
I was completely amazed at what this fella made that little Kubota do! Dug the trench 42" deep and pulled some very large rocks with the hoe. Dropped both wheels of the tractor into the trench and worked his way out with the backhoe and the loader. Amazing to watch someone who really knows what they're doing at work.
Today, I wouldn't put much beyond that little BX-22 with a good operator!

 

[Volfandt]

My property is similar to yours but it's only alittle over 4 acres and so far the BX23 has answered the bell on every task.
I've been steadily cleaning out the fence rows that encircle my property on 3 sides and I'm still on the 1st side but I'm in no hurry
I've added a thumb to the BH which is like adding another set of strong hands when it comes to cutting the trees and limbs up. It does OK on grubbing but since I've got so much more to go I'm thinking of adding a light weight grapple to the FEL. I'm researching useing an electric actuator to open/close it as opposed to using hydraulics to keep the cost & weight down.
The addition of a skidplate is also in the works too.

The good thing about the useing a BX22/BX23/BX24 is that after it's worked half the day as a grubber/stump digger/ground leveler, it can be very easily reconfigured into one of the best finish mowers without any using any tools!

I've always said that I'll rent a bigger machine when the need arrises and it just hasn't risen yet

My property is the dogleg shaped spread in the center of the pic.

 

[Taiser]

Hi Volfandt;

Except for the angle you're property reminds me of mine. My neighbours like to joke that I'm the "Baron" because of the size of my lot. Everybody around me has a normal 1/2 acre lot.

I'm still amazed at how often I get offers to sell off chunks of it to subdivide, but I'm happy with my privacy. Sounds like you don't have regrets with your 23. I'm heavily leaning that way. Another big influence is the resale value. I'd doubt I'd get rid of it anytime soon, but jeez, I've seen asking prices for used ones and honestly I'm better buying new with a warranty at the prices I've seen, peace of mind is worth a couple of grand in my book.

I've heard of fender and seat problems, but that sounds minor out of all the problems that could occur. Anything else I should be on the lookout for?

 

[Stargazer]

Hi:

I have a 1 yr old bx-23 and this past summer took a old 36" D X 6" high sawed oak stump out in about 1/2 hour. Yes middle 1/3 was rotted away so it broke into pieces but some were over 4' long and took me 3 trips with bucket to get rid of them and 5 buckets of dirt to come close to level. Plus that was my first time using any BH and was only 6" away from a building in black dirt. 3-5" D in sand should be easy. try a couple with the case. Would be a little leary of push bigger stuff over with bucket a bx ain't a D-9 dozer and hard on loader arms/bucket
Just my 1/50 of a dollar. Pat R