Snow removal options with BX2200

[EldoNixon]

I've decided to buy a BX2200, but I don't know what snowblower to buy. I have a Bed and Breakfast in upstate New York, and I need to be a able to do a good job of moving snow, but it also has to be easy enough for my wife to use--and she's no to mechanically inclined. We often get heavy snow.
My driveway is a flat asphalt about 8o foot long with a parking area off to the side. At the head of the driveway I have the three buildings in a u-shape that I need to be able to access. I have rose bushes lining one side of the driveway, so I can't plow.
My dilemna: Front mounted Kubota 50" snow blower or a rear mounted 54" Blizzard snowblwer made by RAD industries. The rear mounted blower is about $1400 cheaper because I won't need the quick hitch, mid PTO, or Hydrallic valve kit. I'm thinking that this will allow me to get a Front End Loader, to help move accumulated snow. (OK I'm trying to justify more toys, but I don't want to regret buying a rear blower if they are a pain or not as well made as the Kubota product.)
My question: How hard is it to use a rear snowblower, and would I do better to get the front now and by the FEL later whae I can afford it. I don't think that I'll need a front blade or sweeper, so I can't see tha advantage to getting the front hydrallics, etc. Am I missing something?
I'm also thinking of getting a rear rototiller (to sweeten the deal for my wife.) The dealer sells Bushhog tillers. Any feedback?
I'm also getting the 60" deck. Is there anything else I should think of. I bought a used JD four months ago and I don't want to make another mistake.
Thanks.

 

[botabob]

I have had the same dilemma. I bought the FEL first and then plan to get the snow blower next $$$. I am going to try the loader in the winter but I know the front snowblower is needed. My opinion is that a rear snow blower is a pain in the neck.

 

[EldoNixon]

Literally that's what I'm afraid of--a pain in the neck. My driveway is straight and the advantage of the rear blower that I can see would be leaving the FEL on at the same time, versus having to remove the front blower to use the FEL.

 

[Wheeldog]

I think the rear blower / FEL would be a great fit for your situation. Only 80 feet worth of driveway means that you won't have to be looking back for long periods of time AND for short distances the FEL actually works OK as a plow. Having the FEL on there will allow you to clean up those little areas that are hard to access with the blower, and to cut back any banks if needed. The one problem (other than the expense) would probably be convincing your wife to want to operate this setup - the FEL takes a little practice.

Rob

 

[frank_f15]

i live in buffalo ny area(we get mega snow) and for me i prefer the fel with back blade, very versetile. at times a blower would be grand, but for 90% of the time my set up is good. front blower is better, but i don't like giving up the fel to use it. it is your choice.

 

[TresCrows]

One thing about the BX since it has a ROP is that I find it easy to operate going backwards because I twist in the seat and hold to the ROP with my free hand thus removing most of the strain from the neck and back. I could see this would be painful quickly without a ROP to hold to.
Eldo is a new convert to tractorbynet--everyone please welcome him to register and talk Kubota and BX. Welcome to the BX and the ongoing discussions. J

 

[frank_f15]

WELCOME ELDO!!!!! lots of nice people on this site. good info and lots of fun.
FRANK

 

[want2buy]

Eldo

I am currently looking at the Kubota BX as well as the John Deere 455. Did you look at the JD? If so what were you likes and dislikes. What are you likes and dislikes about the BX.

Thankyou in advance for any information.

to everyone else.

I do not want a war of words.
Please do not add your two cents if you have an axe to grind, Otherwise feel free to chime in.

Jacob

 

[Charliebrn]

I myself was looking real hard at the 455. A very nice mowing machine, though it seemed that their deck was a little lighter...don't remember the actual specs though. What finally swayed me was the 3 pt on the back and the FEL that was available at the time seemed "tinny" to me, especially after playing with the LA211 on the BX. I might have gone for green except for the attachments. Oh...And the 4WD! If I remember right, the price on the 455 was just about $2000 less, without all the goodies or the 3pt or the 4WD. Overall, the BX was more money, but it seemed you get a LOT more for the extra money.

 

[EldoNixon]

I to was looking at JD. In fact I bought a JD400 several months ago and for an old tractor it runs great. Having a B&B though has made me question if I can rely on an old tractor. I have had some problems when I really needed the machine. I need a snow removal option, and I'm afraid to invest in a snowblower now. It's useless if I don't keep the 400 running. When I figure payments at 6.49% and realize that I'm going to need a tractor for the next 30 years. If I take care of the Kubota it should last me atleast half of that.

I looked at the JD 445 and 455 and even the 4100. By the time I spent that much money, I figured I should get the extra capabilities of the BX2200--FEL and 4WD. The 4100 was too much tractor and too much money. I need to trim around trees.

I also have about an acre of field that my wife would like to use to grow flowers and herbs for sale and vegetables for our consumption. Hence I can get the rototiller and justify my new toy.

My only reservation at this point is trying to decided front snowblower or rear. I'd like to have the front blower, but I don't think that I'll need the quick attach ting for anything else. I'd rather put that money into a FEL. I,m also waiting to see what JD does with the 455 this fall. Reportedly they are coming out with a 4WD 455 to compete with the BX. Could be interesting.

Good luck and thanks to all for the thoughts.
Eldo

 

[huckflynn]

I don't recall the specifics on the 455 either -- but I took a long look at it and was comparing it to a top of the line Cub Cadet. I had never heard of the BX. I was doing all my research through a forum like this but geared toward garden tractors. Somebody mentioned that I should check the BX before going with a 455. I did and here I am. Why? It was a lot more tractor for close to the same money.

I don't know if JD has lowered the price on the 455 since a year ago -- or if they've redesigned it and extended the warranty on it to compete more favorably with the BX. If they haven't, I'd make the same decision today that I made a year ago. I'm very pleased with my decision on the BX.

Huck

 

[pcmem]

Has anyone tried the electric or hydraulic chute controls
for the front mount snowblower? I'm thinking this would be
a useful option abet expensive. Does anyone know if it
can be added later or is cheaper to buy with the blower?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[RichNJ]

My 1 cents worth-
I use a front mounted single stage 4 ft blower on an old 12 hp Cub Cadet to clear my 500 ft driveway. Most of the time it takes 15 - 30 minutes for up to 6 inches of snow. I've done up to 18 inches of heavy wet snow in 1 hour.
I've considered getting a blower for my L4310 but decided to continue using the Cub Cadet. If I were getting a blower I'd save the $$ and get the rear mounted one. An 80ft paved driveway would clean up real quick and the FEL would be real handy to pile up snow after repeated snow storms.
The only down side that I have found with a snow blower is when the wind is blowing. You can only blow the snow with the wind or you'll look like Frosty The Snowman in minutes.
Another consideration when using the FEL on the BX is a counter weight on the rear. I know the L4310 is very stable on level ground and does not need any weight on the rear hitch for a full load in the FEL. On the BX - I don't know. But I always think safety.

 

[pcmem]

I'm looking at the BX w/ blower to replace the two Ariens
GT's we currently use. The 4' blower work great but the
upkeep on the Ariens is getting spendy. I haven't been
able to checkout the BX blower but hope it works as well
or better. I just figured I'd better decide soon or I'll
have an order for one with delivery expected next year.

It sounds like the dealer has never ordered the power
chute options (elect or hyrdo) and didn't recall how the
manual worked.

For convienence and safety we're focusing on the front
mount blower and with repeated loops you'll need to keep
moving the chute to stay with the wind as you pointed out.

If we go with a cab I'd think the remote blower control
would be a must. Someone said the electric wasn't much
to write home about. I liked the idea of using the 4way
valve to work the blower up/down and chute lf/rt.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[BXmark]

Charlie,
What kind of price did you find on the JD 455? My Father-In-Law just bought one with the 60" deck and paid $9,400 + tax. I tried to tell him the Kubota was the better deal but JD gave him $3,900 for his JD325 and Kubota would only give him $2,900. I told him it was because they were getting him on the price of the 455.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have the front mount blower on my BX. It works awesome. I live in southwestern BC where we can get several feet of snow. I also have the FEL, but the blower did such a good job last winter that there was never any need to put on the loader. My drive is about 500 ft with a large parking area. I keep my 5 ft rear blade on to pull out snow from tight areas where there is no where to aim the blower and also find it saves time when the snow is 3" or less to windrow the snow to the center of the drive and whisk the pile away with the blower since the snow flies better when there is a substantial amount to feed into the blower. I do have the electric chute rotator but am a little dissapointed with it because it works quite slow and sometimes you want a quick change of the chute direction and it takes quite a while to do a 180 change. The unit is little more than an automotive power window motor with a mounting bracket and adaptor sleeve. IMO Kubota could have come up with a hydralic unit that utilized the other unused hydralic circut of the FEL control. I guess I'll have to design that one sometime and send it back to Kubota.

 

[pcmem]

stephen,

I'm looking at buying a BX or B7500 and the dealers have
quoted me both the electric and hydraulic chute controls.
The hydraulic is more dollar wise, which was dissapointing
as I hoped it would be simple and cheap to use the 4way
valve. I can't speak for performance as I haven't been
able to find a blower to check out much less the controls.
Thanks for the info on the electric unit.

Michael

 

[Charliebrn]

Sorry about the delay, with all that's happened, I've not been around. The JD 455 with the 60" deck was $9500. And that was without the 3pt, which, if i remember right, was a Cat 0, not a Cat 1. By the time you added the real light duty FEL, the price was quite a bit higher than the BX that was built much heavier and had 4WD.

 

[wdn]

Greetings all this is my 1st post so bear with some newbie questions...

I too am looking at the BX2200; would the FEL by itself be suitable for shoveling a 200-300' flat driveway? I could dump the snow on either side of the drive. We get 6" to 12" wet snow not infrequently here in southern New Hampshire.

Also technique: would I 'plow' the snow like I would with a plow blade, or do I scoop it up a bucket at a time with the loader and dump it?

If the bucket is full of wet snow is the FEL strong enough to lift the weight of it? Thanks.

Do you gentlemen use tire chains or is it enough with just the 4wd

Bill

 

[frank_f15]

BILL: i live in western ny(buffalo area) i have a b2400 with fel and rear blade. depending on the amount of snow and type of snow u can use the fel as a plow or if it is to deep and heavy then pick and dump, till u can plow. i don't have chains just rely on 4wd and r4 tires, no problem for me. guess u just have to experiment, but part of the fun of owning a tractor/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif