Size Tractor

Matt_W · May 4, 2005

Well I have been reading and following the website for sometime now and you all have been a great resource for me. I have never owned a tractor and have just built a new home on 21 acres of wooded land in Pa. It has hills and springs but is flat (1 acre or 2) where the house is built on top of a hill with a 1100 foot gravel driveway winding up to it. Would the BX23 be right for me or should I consider a B series? Any info is greatly appreciated!
Some of my needs are:
Maintain Driveway
Cut Grass (1 Acre or Two)
Haul Wood
Plant Grass, (rent tiller)
Make Trails
Landscaping
Make Pond
Excavate for Garage

KubotaSteve · May 4, 2005

I'm a little on the partial side to the B series. I like the B series because of the higher dump height and increased loader capacities. I would go with the biggest machine you can afford and it works for your yard. When I got my B7800 I really wanted the L3130 but I couldn't afford the extra money and now I'm glad I went with the B7800 because it is perfect for my 6.5 acres. It has good loader capacity and is pretty light for mowing with and is quite nimble. You may want to see if a dealer will let you try out different machines on your property to see which ones fits it best.

coveredbridge · May 4, 2005

Welcome to TBN Matt! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Your new place sounds a lot like mine. I'm sure you'll get some who will tell you that the BX23 is just right for your property. But I won't be one of them.

Not that the BX23 won't do the jobs you listed, but you better really like tractoring, because you won't have much time for anything else. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Just to maintain the winding 1100' driveway, I would want at least the B-series, more likely the L-series, or the competitor's comparable models. Actually, I would rather have the Meyer ST-7.5' plow attached to my pickup, which is the outfit I use for snow removal. It gets mighty cold out there plowing snow in the PA winters. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

A couple acres of relatively flat lawn can be managed with a more economical lawn tractor.

When you build that garage, make sure you've got room for two tractors, one for the yard, and one for work. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Trying to use one tractor for two very different purposes usually results in less than optimal performance for either purpose.

Besides, it's only money, right? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Also, if you've never owned a tractor before, and you've never operated one before, by all means try to find an experienced operator to give you a little guidance. Tractors are great tools, but they are not toys, and can do great harm to property and person if not operated properly and safely. Especially on slopes.

jim_wilson · May 4, 2005

I bought a BX23 last summer for some of the same reasons you are looking for a tractor. I only have 1/2 acre and for the work that I am doing - which is pretty extensive - I think the BX23 is a good fit. If I had more land however I think I would go with something bigger. I think the next logical step up from the BX23 would be the B7610 with FEL and backhoe, the tractor is slightly bigger and the FEL and backhoe capacities exceed the BX23 by a good amount. For the amount of land that you have I would recommend going to something bigger than the BX unless the budget is a constraint.

Bob_Skurka · May 4, 2005

Matt, I would be looking at the B7800 or B3030. The two are different, although they mechanically are fairly similar. One is very basic, the other is a deluxe version. Within the last few days there has been some discussion on both, please do a search and you will see the differences.

The 7800/3030 are not too large for lawn mowing, in fact they are very light, and very small for 30hp tractors, which makes them great with a MMM. With over 20 acres, I think it is actually a bit hard to recommend this small of a tractor, but it sounds like you are not planning on doing commercial logging in the woods, and it sounds like general landscaping is more important than heavy duty plowing in the fields, so I'd say you would find this to be a very good fit for you. I seriously doubt if you will regret buying this "large" of a small tractor, but I wonder if you will regret buying one as "small" as a B7800 or B3030.

I'm not sure what you mean about making a pond, but if you are thinking of using a small tractor like this (or any of the smaller ones) for digging a swimming & fishing pond, then I think you will be overwhelmed with MONTHS of hard labor and the pond will simply not ever get done. If you are talking about a little garden pond, then any of these tractors, equiped with a backhoe, could do that job. Real swimming/fishing ponds are a test for big commercial equipment and professional operators.

wushaw · May 4, 2005

I will agree with the need of having a lawn mower for mowing and a tractor for tractoring. A B7800 or the B3030 is a good choice.
Contract the building of the pond out to someone with a buldozer, trying to dig a pond with your tractor will take years of your spare time...I know I am still working on one and into my third and final year.

4x4sche · May 5, 2005

Well I worried a lot about getting a tractor that was too big. (11 Acres). I got an L5030 and have never regretted it. I also have a Toro riding mower for the lawn. Both Toro and Kubota have hydrostatic drive and have the same pedal arrangement.

My opinion= go as big as you want or can afford. I have never met anyone who wanted a smaller tractor (or boat).

John

Tractor_Jim_CT · May 6, 2005

Though I like my BX23, I would go larger and get a separate riding mower. If the paths you plan to clear involves trees, the BX23 will take much longer than a larger tractor, which means the 50 -100- 200 - 400 etc. hour service comes quicker.

Rusty_Shovel · May 6, 2005

The bx2200 work ok on my flat 500 foot gravel driveway but for the winding up hill driveway and working in the woods the bigger will be better. Looking back on it I would of done more test drives before buying.

coveredbridge · May 6, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The bx2200 work ok on my flat 500 foot gravel driveway but for the winding up hill driveway and working in the woods the bigger will be better. Looking back on it I would of done more test drives before buying. )</font>

You could always trade in the bx2200 for for a bigger, better and newer machine! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif With 0% financing it's easy monthly payments. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif