Buying Advice Need advise! (long)

realmccoy10751 · Jun 8, 2005

Hello to all, I am knew to the forum but have been sneaking around for a couple of weeks. I just purchased 2.5 acres of land with many many trees. I am getting ready to build a home on the lot and have a couple questions. My problem is trees, nothing huge but a few descent size trees. I had a loader come in last week and clear about an acre for my home site. Trying to save money I just told him to pile all the trees and alot of brush in a very good size pile. Not thinking I did not have him clear behind the pile or around it. So burning it as it lays is out of the question. I have been looking @ a kubota bx2230 with bar tires, fel, 60 finish mower for I would like to save myself alot of money on grading, temp drive (spreading the stone), backfill and any thing else that I can do with this machine. I went to a local dealer and he quoted me a good price(I thought)$12850 plus tax and fees. My problem is will this little machine pull out some of the bigger trees that I need to get out of the pile to cut up and burn. The dealer told me it probably could but might tear up the tractor eventually. I do not plan on doing this for ever, just until the pile is gone. What do you all think.

btolle · Jun 8, 2005

I think the BX series is not a good choice because of the lack of ground clearance and vulnerability of several items under the belly of the tractor.

I started to buy a BX2230 and had ordered it when I started reading and looking at the ground clearance. The BX series has 6" ground clearance. The power steering rams are also exposed on the front of the axle. While I have never heard of anyone bending a ram I suspect I would have the first time I hit a stump.

I went with the B7510, 12" ground clearance and not nearly as much underbelly vulnerability. Cost me $1,150 more than the BX2230 was going to cost.

Like you, I am clearing about 2.5 acres of woods. There are lots of fallen limbs and logs in my woods (and I'll bet there are in your woods also) and I would be high centered regularly with 6" ground clearance.

Let me caution you that I am planning on spending the next 2 or 3 years clearing and leveling. If you are in a hurry, i.e. you want it done in the next 6 months you need to call the bulldozer back or buy a larger tractor than even the B7510. It is a little workhorse but once trees get over 3" diameter you have to do some digging around them before pushing them over.

One more thing that will be a necessity for the little (1 1/2" trees and undergrowth) is a toothbar. I bought mine from Markham Welding and consider it the best $225 I spent on the tractor.

You will also need a box blade, and if the budget allows, a straight blade.

A bush hog will be needed for the woods. A 4' bush hog will cut sapling up to 1 1/2". The finish mower won't last in the woods, it is not made to cut brush and small trees and you will tear it up if you start hitting dead limbs, rocks, etc. The bush hog is made to stand up to the abuse.

Bill Tolle

frank_f15 · Jun 8, 2005

The Bx would probably do it, But u might want to jump up to the B series, don't think the extra cost would be that much. at least talk to the dealer about it.

realmccoy10751 · Jun 8, 2005

I am not in a hurry now. I have my building pad cleared. So nothing is slowing me down now, in fact my excavator is digging my basement next week. As for stumps, there isn't any on my acre any way and I don't plan on takeing any more trees down with the exception of the septic field and I will have my excavator do that when he digs my basement. As far as the B class is that all of a price difference there is, roughly a grand or so, what about the implements. I sure do appreciate the advice.

Bird · Jun 8, 2005

Steve, I wouldn't hesitate to do it with a BX and a good chain or cable (be sure it's strong enough to not break and snap back at you), hooked to the drawbar (never hooked up high since a tractor can rear up and go over backwards very quickly). Then pull slow; don't jerk on it. It'll be slow and you are not going to pull a very big tree, but you can cut them up with a chain saw into sizes you can pull. Naturally, it'll be easier, faster, and you can handle bigger trees or pieces at a time if you get a bigger tractor.

Egon · Jun 9, 2005

Dito Birds reply:

The smaller tractors require patience. The fel will also help loosen up trees in the pile. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

TroyR57 · Jun 9, 2005

Hey, try and have the guy with the large track hoe, move that large pile of logs around, then you could use the BX, to pull the rest of the pile down. On the other hand, with 2.5 acers, you should be thinking about the B size tractor any way. I know, I only have eight city lots, and want a larger tractor, than my new BX 23, but know its all the tractor I need.

CurtisB · Jun 9, 2005

I went through the same debate a couple months ago. I ended up buying a B7610 and I have no regrets over doing it. I had piles of trees like you that I placed with a backhoe. No problems pulling the trees into the burn pile with the 7610. In the 2.5 months that I have had my 7610, I final graded my entire 1 acre of cleared land around my house, rest is woods, tilled the entire deal up and seeded. I am finally getting grass.

The final grade included have 7 24yd. semi loads of dirt hauled in plus 2 25 ton loads of grade nine. I moved it all with the trusty little 7610 with no problems. The grade nine for my driveway is a little tough to get scooped but otherwise no problems. I now have 78hrs. on the machine and still love it. I recently put the mower deck back on for my frontage and the things mows great as well.

Good Luck on your decision but I would definitely go with the 7610. The lower RPM diesel is also nice along with tach.

Curtis

HomeBrew2 · Jun 9, 2005

Ditto all the pro-BX replies. If you consider spending more money on a bigger rig, make sure you consider a BX23 ... you will find the backhoe invaluable for the plan that you have.