Model Recommendation

[Anonymous Poster]

Can someone give me some direction on the Kubota line and what tractor might fit my needs. Recently I stopped by a Kubota dealer and reviewed the line of BX2200's and B7500's and was immediately taken with the design. I am presently using a 1998 Wheelhorse C312 Garden Tractor given to me by my father when he sold his house. It has little value as I have almost two solid acres of grass and with a 38"cut well it isn't cutting it. I am also interested in a tractor which I can do some landscaping projects with, planting trees, fence construction, moving dirt, mulch, plowing snow etc. With numerous fruit trees (apple and Blueberry) I think I am also yearning to be that weekend farmer as well. I am not ruling out something used but have little knowledge of what models would fit my needs, etc., especially with the older Kubotas. For attachments I would like to start with a 60 mower and loader (a backhoe would be my next choice). Can anyone give me a little insight on the Kubota line. I do not have much property (2.25 acres total) but do not want to get trapped by another small tractor or then again not anything too big.

Thanks in advance!!

Jim

 

[RobS]

Jim, you ask a very broad question. There are almost as many answers as there are members on this board. Like anything else though, your best bet is to be an informed consumer. This forum is a great start (I read here at least six months before I bought my tractor). Another recent source of good info is the book recently released by our beloved forum-master Muhammad. Check out the banner at the top of the screen for info. It's available nearly instantly and truly is the only comprehensive book on the subject of compact tractors.

Other than that, talk to friends and neighbors and browse the dealers. Spend some quality time with the various machines you are trying to decide between. Good luck and have fun /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[GlueGuy]

Jim,

I second the motion from Rob.

If you spend any time here, you'll see that the general rule of thumb is that you should always go for the bigger tractor /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. However, many (me included) will say to not get anything larger than you need. For me, that ended up as the B7500. So far (only 15 hours), it seems like I made the correct choice.

The needs you describe sort of lean toward the BX line. However, when you threw the backhoe into the equation, that gives me pause. I know you can put a backhoe on a BX, but there might be issues depending on what you want to do with that BX.

Like Rob, I also suggest that you get the book just published by Muhamad. Also, hang out here for a while. Lots of knowledgeable people!

The GlueGuy

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I've posted this a bunch of times but more's the merrier!

Try to get a demo on YOUR property for a few hours. You will be amazed at the things that do not become apparent on the dealer lot. I would have been totally depressed if I had bought what I was thinking about buying. Actually I rented one for 8 hours.

Don't dig in the dealer play area and think that is what it's going to be like on your untouched property. Dealer lots are usually big and open. See if the tractor will fit where you want it to, between the woodshed and the fence, around the trees, and play with some implements. It's far more complicated then buying a car. Almost every car will take you where you want to go if you count the seats, look at the tow capacity, the difference between different size tractors and between different brands is great.

Unfortunately I have found wonderful things in ALL the major brands! Now if I can just figure out how to combine them in one JUST FOR ME unit! Must be what heavens for as "my" tractor doesn't exist on earth! So I make do with a selection of orange, blue and green units.

Dig on!

del

 

[Anonymous Poster]

In fact, what would really help in addition to the at-home test drive, is to find someone to point out what might not be obvious. Do any of your neighbors have tractors? I've bounced things off the fellows on this board and received great feedback, but I sure wish I'd had one of them with me 18 years ago when I was a tractor-babe-in-the-woods!

del

 

[JATO_RaT]

Jim, my new neighbors just purchased a Kubota BX with loader, mower and brush chipper, they have 3 acres, about 1/4 of an acre is gravel road. They like it a lot. My bet is that it would work perfectly for you. As Del mentioned, it would be nice to try one out for yourself. Doing work with it on your terms, (not worrying about the dealer watching) is a real bonus and can bring up some questions or reasons you would definintely want to or not want to purchase the respective tractor. I share your reasons for wanting something more then just your mower. 2 acres is still plenty of land and depending on how much and how easy you want that maintainence to be can be helped out tremendously with a good tractor, especially a tractor that can easily do the job. Rat...

 

[TresCrows]

You aren't the only one confused with the Kubota line up in the sub 25 horse range. There is the excellent B2400, the amazing and versitile BX1800/2200 and then out of the blue (er orange) the 7400 and 7500 in 16 horse and 21 horse respectively. Why so many? Except for the backhoe I would recommend the BX and surely soon someone, if not Kubota, will offer one for the BX. Let's look at some specs, the 7500 has a 21 horse engine with 61 cubic inches and it weighs 1367 lbs stripped. The BX 2200 has a 22 horse engine from 55 cubic inches and weighs 1300 lbs stripped. The BX is shorter wheelbase and sits lower enhancing stability but compromising ground clearnance. The BX is also slightly wider by an inch or two. Lift capacity for the FEL is about 100 lbs more using the LA272 unit vs the LA211 in favor of the 7400/7500. The BX has power steering and the 7400 does not. Obviously the BX was intended to excel at mowing especially in tight quarters and intended for homeowners with small acreage, the others appear more biased towards ground engaging work and use in rougher terrain with their better ground clearance. I do not know--even more confused now. J

 

[Thomas]

mondej,
So far a lot of great infomation has been forward to you.
Consider points like arm reach to the steering wheel,leg room,you should be comfortable as possible,also consider power steering.

Take your time in your quest for your new investment.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[MarkV]

Mondej,

Welcome to the board! Others have already offered you good information so I'll just throw in a couple of other points. As I read your post it sounds like mowing will be your largest project. With a large number of fruit trees, the lower clearance and quick turning of the BX line would work well. When you start talking fence construction (post hole auger) plowing snow, (how much??) and backhoe, I would want something larger than the BX. I would start by seeing which is the largest tractor that will meet your mowing needs and then work my way down to the smallest that would do the other jobs. When I found that combination, I would make one step back and buy larger. Most of us have found so many more things to do with our tractors than we thought, that buying to small is one of the biggest problems new owners have. Also, with that much mowing around trees, the HST tranny and power steering would be a must, for me. Good luck and let us know what you do.

MarkV

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I just want to thank all of you for responding to my submission on "Model Recommendations." It appears I have stumbled on to the right site and I can see that I have much to learn although I am the type that researches and re-researches before I make any plunge. The book seems like a great place to start.

On the surface the BX appears to fit my bill quite well but what I am afraid of is that in the future I may want a little more behind me and would like to be prepared. The 7400 is a possibility but then again my research has just begun!!

Again thanks for the warm reception to tractorbynet.com and I look forward in frequenting the site in the future.

Jim

 

[Charliebrn]

I was in a similar situation, just not so many trees yet. I ended up with the BX with FEL, 60"mower, box and tiller and am very happy with my decision. I really like the smaller frame of the BX, any larger would have been a bit of a problem with all the obstacles in my yard. Where you located, and what type of ground do you have there? Factor that in to your equation as well. If your ground is very rough and uneven, you might want to sacrifice a little bit of the low center of gravity in favor of more ground clearance.

Some others have mentioned reservations about using a backhoe on the BX. Kubota lists a backhoe in my manual that is compatible, however I'm a little skeptical, especially if your going to be using one on a regular basis with the BX. Except for that one caveat, I love my BX. Look over your needs and talk to these guys here, they have helped me out a lot...both before and after I made my decision..

In any case, let us know what you do! Good luck.

 

[DaveNH]

Re: OT: BX Backhoe

CharlieBrn.
From your previous post:
<font color=blue>Kubota lists a backhoe in my manual that is compatible, however I'm a little skeptical, especially if your going to be using one on a regular basis with the BX. </font color=blue>

Could you provide me with additional information?

We're all in this together! (3)

 

[Roy]

Re: OT: BX Backhoe

Dave;
Over at 'that other discussion board' (jplan.com), there was a thread "BX Backhoe" 2000-09-09. See the post by cewhiteman, he sold/mounted a backhoe to a BX.

 

[TresCrows]

What does larger mean?, in some respects the BX is larger than the 7400/7500, it certainly has more horsepower, weighs more than the 7400 and only 67 lbs less than the 7500. I think it should be understood that the BX is not "smaller" than the 7500 and if it is by only an "iota". Anything the 7500 can do the BX can do with the possible exception of the backhoe. Yes, somethings the 7500 would be better at such as in the "rough" use and other things like mowing in tight quaters and around trees the BX would perform better at and it's wider lower stance really inspires confidence on hillsides. The B2400 would be a step up from a BX or a 7500 but but the 7500 is not a step up from the BX and is possibly a step down. The BX can certainly pull essentially the same box blades the 7500 can, can run a post auger up to 9 inches, same as 7500, can blade snow, has an excellent snow blower/remover, can operate tillers, can pull a harrow, has a respectable 5.5 gpm hydraulic pump which is more than the 7400, in fact you are not loosing much by stepping "up" to the BX over the 7500 and you gain a lot of manuverability. Please do not think I am running the 7500 down, it is a nice machine but it is not clearly "larger" or more capable than the BX---just different and thanks to Kubota we have such excellent choices to make. J