easytractor said:
John, I will be spreading gravel I need under the new basement floor before the mason's pour concrete, backfill around the addition, move roofing material from my parking area to the building (no rooftop delivery avaliable). Using the machine for general duty to save my back. After the addition is complete working on my parking lot and driveway spreading more gravel (I have bankrun now). Removing some decaying tree stumps along with a few trees to fell. I also have plans to remove an old decaying railroad timber retaing wall and build a replacement retaining wall using landscape block. This wall will be 48" tall maybe 15-20 ft long. After that is complete, Iwill be building a new replacement shed then preparing to build a 2 1/2 car garage. These are the biggest projects I have planned and the other tasks are landscaping projects. What do you think about the
bx24 handiling these type of tasks?
Hmmm, All of these tasks are marginal at best with a
BX24. It (and it's multicolored cousins of the same size) would be about my last choice. Sure, most of the tasks can be accomplished by a BX given time. Same can be said of a shovel & bucket, I would choose neither if a larger tractor was available. I would buy a used 2wd construction loader/backhoe and invest in a hydraulic thumb (or better buy one with a thumb). Use it to do the tasks and then sell it and buy a BX or B machine for continuing lawn and grounds maintenance activities. But, I am fearless (read stupid) when buying used machines, have a shop full of tools, welders, torches, air compressors etc and a small amount of experience in repair. It's easy to see where less experienced (or smarter!) people would shy away from used. Still, buying a 15,000# TLB for less than a BX does have a certain attraction.
My opinion, shared by some and shunned by others, is that construction tasks are better accomplished with a much larger machine. One item from your list is the movement of roofing materials. The BX's loader will be maxed out with a pallet of shingles and it's lift is too short to get them to the roof. On your 73rd trip up the ladder with a bundle of shingles on your back, you might wonder if the larger tractor would have been worth it. A second area is lifting roof rafters. The BX lift can only get one up 1/2 the distance. Not too handy, if you are wanting them up all the way.
If you don't have the appetite for a used monster, try looking at used tractors in the
L3410,
L3710,
L3830 and larger class with 400-1000 hours. That will be still pretty new, not need repair and be 5-10x the utility of a BX for your first round of tasks. The mid sized L's are also able to mount a belly mower. The same can probably be said of other tractors in the 35-45hp range. For excellent control in tight areas, HST is the usual choice of transmission.
One of the supporting vendors here, Carver Equipment, has lease return tractors and does ship across country. There web site is worth a visit, lots of good info on buying and using tractors.
Sorry to be so long winded, but thought a contrasting view might help you make a more informed decision.
Merry Christmas,
jb
