Numbers on a BX1500

[NhcoastalJ]

I stopped over at a Kubota dealer today and he gave me a quote on a BX1500 $7200 tractor bare / $1360 RCK 48" / $2500 Front 50" Blower = $11060 He recommend that I buy the tractor packaged with the loader LA 181 for $9600 instead of without (better resale and larger discount). The rear blower 3rd party would be $1500

How do these numbers sound to you guys out there??? I am a first time home owner starting 06/15 w/2.5 acres 75% wooded (currently) 200' paved driveway with a fairly steep slop going up to the house. Im not sure if this tractor is over kill, the dealer said they do not stock the G series do to the close pricing it doesnt make sense.
I am in the market for something: mowing / snow removal / taking out trees.
Thanks for the input.

 

[DaveInColorado]

I don't think it is overkill. It will be really handy for pulling logs out of the woods where you can cut them. The 4WD is very useful. I would not own one without the loader! Think of all those times you've pushed a heavy wheelbarrow around the yard. You'll never do that again if you have a loader.

Unless you get a whole lot of snow I wouldn't bother with the blower. An angled front blade works really well for driveways. The FEL is what I use. It isn't great though it does work. If you live in Maine or Michigan, get the blower.

 

[Junkman]

I am going to assume that the Nh means that you are in New Hampshire. If that is the case, then I would go with the front mounted snowblower and if you can swing the extra cost, go for the BX1830. It is a superior machine to the BX1500 IMHO. Others will tell you that the BX1500 is all the machine that they ever need, however, I always look toward the future and try to anticipate needs. Considering the size of you lot and the driveway situation, I think that in the end, you would be happier with the larger machine. As for the woods, I strongly suggest that if you are going to be falling trees and you don't have any experience in this area, that you find someone to teach you the proper safe method. Many new homeowners think that just because they have a chain saw that they are Paul Bunyan and can handle almost any tree, especially the smaller ones. Keep in mind that even small trees can kill you if they fall the wrong way. I just learned of a local woman that was watching her husband fall a 3" diameter birch tree, when the wind picked up as it was falling and pushed it back in the opposite direction and she was hit by the top of the tree. In this case, she received a broken collar bone and arm. She is very lucky to say the least. When the wind caught that three, it just as well could have been her husband that was hit.

 

[coveredbridge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I stopped over at a Kubota dealer today and he gave me a quote on a BX1500 $7200 tractor bare / $1360 RCK 48" / $2500 Front 50" Blower = $11060 He recommend that I buy the tractor packaged with the loader LA 181 for $9600 instead of without (better resale and larger discount). The rear blower 3rd party would be $1500

How do these numbers sound to you guys out there???

I don't know about the blower or regional differences but when I bought my bx1500 w/48"mmm and LA181FEL I was quoted 10,600 and 10,000 at two different dealers in my area. so I would say 9,600 is a pretty good deal, if it includes the mmm. If not, then 10,960 seems a little high.

I also don't think the bx is overkill at all, and I would agree that for the extra money one of the larger bx's would be a good value. Personally, I would forego the 1830 and get a bx2230, I don't think there's that much price difference. I would have bought the 2230 myself except that I couldn't get it with a 48" mower so it wouldn't find in my storage barn. However, I am still very satisfied with the bx1500.

 

[btolle]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am a first time home owner starting 06/15 w/2.5 acres 75% wooded (currently)------------<SNIPPED>---------------
I am in the market for something: mowing / snow removal / taking out trees.
Thanks for the input.
)</font>

My concern is the woods. Any BX model has only 6" of ground clearance and several vulnerable parts underneath. This is not a problem when mowing the yard but can be a big problem working in the woods.

I was going to buy a BX2230 with FEL until I started looking underneath it and realized that it was not the right tractor for me. I have about 3 acres of woods that I am clearing.

I moved up to a B7510 with FEL for an additional $1,150 (over the price of the 2230) and am sure glad I did. With 12" ground clearance and not nearly as many vulnerable items underneath I still get lots of limbs and sticks stuck under it. I also dented one of the hydraulic filters.

If you decide to stay with the BX series you should search on "skidplate" for some ideas of how to protet the undercarriage.

Bill Tolle