Tractor for 3 acres

[buckeyefarmer]

Howdy, the church I attend is considering a used tractor for our new building location, so I thought I'd come to the TBN braintrust for suggestions on a size /model. Obviously I prefer orange. We will be buying used, as we will be building on the lot within a year and don't want to put too much into this tractor. We have access to backhoe and skid steer during construction, so probably won't use it too much for the construction phase, however, if it is there, I'm sure it will get used. The lot is flat. We already have an existing 100'x34' pole barn on the lot where we will store the tractor. I've kind of talked them into a small tractor instead of a riding mower.
Uses will be: lawn mowing, snow removal, landscaping. FEL and mower is a must.
Help us decide

 

[montelatici]

A small BX with an MMM. Bx1500, BX1850 etc.

 

[easygo]

Almost any BX or a B1700/B7500/B7510 or any similar size model would shine with those tasks. Either one with 18hp or so would handle a 50" snowblower as well. Piece of cake and sounds like more seat time for you.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

BX2360 FEL MMM. New. Kubota gives a discount to Churches. Monthly payments with 0% interest.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I've been looking at BX so far and have a couple prices for used. One of our members was concerned about cat 0 hitch instead of cat 1.

 

[OrangeRidge]

BX are Cat 1 . The hitch arms fit all "true" Cat 1 that I've seen.
Some Cat1 implements are also near Cat2 hitch-size , which is what confuses some readers. How long do you need to keep this tractor for ?
If it's just a couple of years , then an old L or B series maybe easier to
come across and find parts for ..........

 

[ae_ted]

I now am down to 2.9 acres and I find my 30hp MF 1040 is none to big. especially with trees to contend with.........as for mowing I find my Kubota ZD21 60" is FAR BETTER than mowing with any tractor type mower.

 

[Thomas]

Check local farm equipment auctions..still many 20 to 30hp 2 WD w/fel second hand.

 

[Yandaddy1110]

Glad to hear you won the garden or compact tractor argument. Ive heard that argument lost too many times, in my life.

 

[daveshoot]

Cannot say enough good about my B2320 for that range of tasks. I don't know how much more they cost with FEL than a BX series, but the 23hp has been great.

 

[TripleR]

I would take a BX over just about anything for these uses. Too many people report lawn damage when turning tight with a B to make me comfortable buying one.

 

[bp fick]

I would take a BX over just about anything for these uses. Too many people report lawn damage when turning tight with a B to make me comfortable buying one.

I think that is a real issue. The B series does seem to have different geometry than the BX for lawn turning issues.

Totally agree with TripleR.
For what the OP listed for church duties, and I am very, very familiar with church grounds keeping, the BX is flat out perfect.

 

[DiezNutz]

Too many people report lawn damage when turning tight with a B to make me comfortable buying one.

Fwiw, with R4s on wet/soft lawn, I agree.
However on dry lawn, no problems at all - my ZTR turf tires are harder on the turf (and I never make true "zero turns").
I expect turf tires would be somewhat better overall (though not as much as some might think).

Anyhow, it's been established that a BX is the right tool for this job. :thumbsup:

 

[leonz]

Howdy, the church I attend is considering a used tractor for our new building location, so I thought I'd come to the TBN braintrust for suggestions on a size /model. Obviously I prefer orange. We will be buying used, as we will be building on the lot within a year and don't want to put too much into this tractor. We have access to backhoe and skid steer during construction, so probably won't use it too much for the construction phase, however, if it is there, I'm sure it will get used. The lot is flat. We already have an existing 100'x34' pole barn on the lot where we will store the tractor. I've kind of talked them into a small tractor instead of a riding mower.
Uses will be: lawn mowing, snow removal, landscaping. FEL and mower is a must.
Help us decide

BX 1850 if you can find one
loaded tires
A curtic soft cab for winter with the heater or the curtis hard cab-better glass and wind break, Kubota 3 speed heater defroster
Caroni TL1200 FSC flail mower from agrisupply with the finish mower rotor- very safe to use around people and buildings- it wont throw objects. they have an internet special on their mowers all the time.
dual rear remotes
Pronovost PUMA P 48 rear snow blower-plenty of poweer and snow removal ability with dual hydraulics so you can stay warm in the cabin while snow clearing.

You might be better off buying a new or used 1860 with the front end loader and dual rear remotes much easier with the zero down and vero low paymentt they are offering these days.

The rear flailmower and rear snow blower will last longer than the tractor and will be much easier to take care of too as they will be using the rear PTO to power them rather than the mid mount PTO, MMM and front blower and gear box, as that system is expensive to purchase and you dont know how beat up a used mower and blower really are until you have a foot of grass or the worst storm comes with lots of heavy packed snow.


my thoughts anyway

 

[DiezNutz]

BX are Cat 1 . The hitch arms fit all "true" Cat 1 that I've seen.

Do all of the newer BX's have a full Cat 1, or are there still some limitations, i.e., with smaller models?
Older, small, BXs - while "technically" being Cat 1 - had limited range of motion/lift arm length, which caused problems with some implements/driveshafts. (Cat 1 doesn't define all aspects of the 3PH geometry necessary to make all Cat 1 truly compatible).

Of course, if you stick with Cat 1 attachments made for or appropriately sized for SCUTs, there shouldn't be an issue.

 

[TripleR]

Fwiw, with R4s on wet/soft lawn, I agree.
However on dry lawn, no problems at all - my ZTR turf tires are harder on the turf (and I never make true "zero turns").
I expect turf tires would be somewhat better overall (though not as much as some might think).

Anyhow, it's been established that a BX is the right tool for this job. :thumbsup:

When it's dry, I can run my L5030 on my yard without leaving any visible signs. I have even mowed our yard with my 80 HP Case and an 8' RFM when we had it up here during our reforestation. Right now, a JD combine and a couple of 8000 Series JD tractors are sitting on a part of my yard and in a few days, you won't be able to tell they were there.

 

[DiezNutz]

When it's dry, I can run my L5030 on my yard without leaving any visible signs. I have even mowed our yard with my 80 HP Case and an 8' RFM when we had it up here during our reforestation. Right now, a JD combine and a couple of 8000 Series JD tractors are sitting on a part of my yard and in a few days, you won't be able to tell they were there.

And yet a B would make you uncomfortable? I don't get it.

 

[TripleR]

And yet a B would make you uncomfortable? I don't get it.

Doesn't make much sense does it

My post was really as to what I would recommend to someone else as living in farm country I have a yard and not a "lawn", so I am not too picky.

When I bought my BX2660 in 08, I was going to get a B Series, but after measuring everything found out it wouldn't fit in some of the tighter places around our house, so I went with the 2660 to replace my 2200.

If I could afford it, I would get a B3030 with cab for our open areas and keep the BX for trimming. Since my wife retired, the area we mow has increased quite a bit as we both like to stay busy.

 

[DiezNutz]

Doesn't make much sense does it

I was mostly pulling your good leg, in reference to your seemingly-contradictory statements.

I figured you'd provide a pretty good explanation, which you did, so thanks. Same here with "yard" vs. "lawn". I have much more important things to worry about than crabgrass. :laughing:

 

[newbury]

OP -
Since I've been slammed for posting Craigslist ads I pm'd you.

I've been following CL ads since before I got my ride. I'm in the market for a SCUT for my stepson.

The prices are dropping and availability seems to be rising.

Also - check Barlow's you can usually get what you need there and transportation cost isn't that much if you can wait. You can't always get what you want,