Upgrading BX2200 to B3030 or 7800

BXBota · Nov 14, 2007

I recently increased my lot size from about 3.5-4 acres of mowing to 6 acres of mowing. 2 acres are well manicured lawn and the rest is pasture field mowing. I currently mow with a 60" MM deck. I'm considering upgrading the BX to a machine capable of handling a 72" deck which I've been told would require at least a 30 HP tractor. I've heard the 60" deck may provide a better cut than a 72". Anyone have an idea how much time could be saved cutting 60" vs. 72" for 6 acres or the difference in cut quality?

I've also been doing some brush clearing and the BX has been limited due to size and lack of ground clearance. My dealer is offering approx. 70% of what I paid in 2003 for BX as a trade (currently has 440 hours). Is this a good amount offered for a trade? Are there any websites that provide used estimates? I did check on ebay a while back and it seemed like a good offer based on used BXs I saw there.

Thanks for any input, just trying to decide if larger machine would be a worth the investment for primarily an increase in mowing capabilities. The brush clearing would likely only be a one time event and therefore I could try other options for getting that project finished.

Finally, anyone know when are '08 models are due out?

frank_f15 · Nov 14, 2007

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

another option might be to use the 60" MM for your manicured lawn and get a rear finish mower or brush cutter for the fields?

BXBota · Nov 14, 2007

I did consider getting a Woods rotary cutter however the largest the BX is capable of is 42 inch and therefore it would increase my mowing time since I now mow with 60". I have mowed the entire 6 acres with my 60" MMM, with the exception of maybe 1/4 acre that is too dense with brush to mow. The majority of the pasture is grass and is not a problem to cut with the MMM. My only concern is the time involved.

I also have a 50" snowblower that maintains a 700 foot long paved driveway. The B7800 or 3030 could also decrease snowblowing time since I could upgrade to 63" snowblower, although that would only be a minor benefit since snow removal in MA is not usually a big task like weekly mowing.

We may also add a barn and a few horses to the added 2 acres so that will decrease the mowing needs but I don't know what additional tractor tasks may arise if we do decide to keep a few horses.

The main reason I'm considering the change is what I consider a high resale for trading in my BX and low financing still available. I don't want to be in a position down the road a few years wishing I made the upgrade due to add'l tractor tasks the BX can't handle but no longer willing to upgrade due to lower resale value on my BX.

amigauser · Nov 14, 2007

I would say go for it. I like spending other people's money

I owned both a BX1500 and a B3030 at the same time. The larger "B" series is much more capable as you stated. It has more ground clearance, weighs more, has a 3 speed hydro (low/med/high) and will run a 72" mower. The nice thing with a B3030 is you can do most chores in medium HST range instead of low range as on a BX. So even with a 60" deck on the B your ground speed would probably by higher and it would take less time to cut. With the 72" deck on the B it would definately be much quicker. The downside for mowing is the B mid mower is a full ground contact type not floating like the BX mid mount deck. Most people I think prefer the cut of the BX floating deck.

Good luck on your decision.

Norm

Bob_Young · Nov 14, 2007

hi BX,
If money's not a big issue and you plan to use the 3 point hitch much, get the B3030 for the position control. I've tried bush hogging on uneven ground with quarter inching, and it makes the job tougher and scalping more likely.

The 30HP B-models sound about perfect for what you're planning. If you're really flush, you could keep the BX for the lawn and small chores and get an L2800 or L3400 for the heavier work. You'd have one to load the wagon and one to haul it away. That's probably overkill, but would avoid the hit on the BX, maybe get you a better deal on the large tractor, and you wouldn't have to buy a bigger belly mower...just a bush hog.
FWIW
Bob

riptides · Nov 15, 2007

I have got about 8 - 10 acres of pasture I am cutting with my B7800 and a 5 foot woods Brushcutter. It looks really nice when done.

For my lawn areas, I have rider mowers and hand mowers. About 1-2 acres of lawn.

For your sized area, and by what you describe, I'd say the B3030 or B7800 would be a good fit.

We originally bought our B after sizing a ten acre lot, woods works, some pasture, little lawn.

-Good luck
-Mike Z.

AMR · Nov 15, 2007

I am on my 8th cut or so with my B3030 and 60" MMM. I had a BX23 for 3 seasons. When I campare the two now I would say that the B3030 cut is about 99% as good as the BX23. I am cutting now at 3" where I was at 4" before when I first got my 3030. It makes a noticable difference. At 4" I had pretty good "grass crushing" from the tires on the machine and even the mower, I rated the cut lower than I do now. At 3" cutting height the tracks are gone by the end of the day, couldn't be happier.

Also, I SWEAR that I use much less fuel than I did with my BX23 mowing.

BXBota · Nov 15, 2007

Here are some pics of the mowing areas. My front yard stays nicely manicured but the remainder includes both former pasture land and some manicured lawn. At the field edges is where I am looking to clear out brush to open it up into wooded area. As you can see I already have a pretty large brush pile waiting to be burned. I'd also like to rebuild some old stone walls at the tree line which again would probably be beyond my BX's capabilities. A bigger snowblower certainly wouldn't hurt on that long driveway.

Tom_H · Nov 15, 2007

BXBota said:
the largest the BX is capable of is 42 inch.

This is just FYI; I can't tell you what you should do. I have a BX2200 and run a 40" GearMore Heavy Duty rough cutter. I can cut 2" saplings and 14' high weeds with no loss of RPM. Ultra-dense broom grass is the only thing that slows it down.

If you have simple pasture grass, oats, etc., I will guarantee you that a light duty or medium duty 48" rotary cutter on the rear of a BX will work. If the conditions are not extreme, I would think that a 54" or 60" model might work as well. You could rent a bigger tractor for your one time brush clearing. You might also think about a Bro-Tek thumb and ripper with a Woods BH6000 bh to go on your BX for some of that work.

That being said, if $$ were no object al all, I would trade my BX for a B3030 for a plethora of other reasons: ability to rip, ability to use bh in duripan/durapan, more hp for chipper & generator, etc.

As for the brush pile, if you have a secluded corner where you could pile that stuff up and all allow it to sit for some years, you could get some compost. With a 3ph log splitter and a chipper, you could get some firewood and mulch out of it.

Not making the trade, you could use the same $$ to buy the bh, thumb, ripper, rough cutter, log splitter, and chipper to go with the BX

Good luck with your decision.

BXBota · Nov 15, 2007

Tom_H said:
This is just FYI; I can't tell you what you should do. I have a BX2200 and run a 40" GearMore Heavy Duty rough cutter. I can cut 2" saplings and 14' high weeds with no loss of RPM. Ultra-dense broom grass is the only thing that slows it down.

If you have simple pasture grass, oats, etc., I will guarantee you that a light duty or medium duty 48" rotary cutter on the rear of a BX will work. If the conditions are not extreme, I would think that a 54" or 60" model might work as well. You could rent a bigger tractor for your one time brush clearing. You might also think about a Bro-Tek thumb and ripper with a Woods BH6000 bh to go on your BX for some of that work.

That being said, if $$ were no object al all, I would trade my BX for a B3030 for a plethora of other reasons: ability to rip, ability to use bh in duripan/durapan, more hp for chipper & generator, etc.

As for the brush pile, if you have a secluded corner where you could pile that stuff up and all allow it to sit for some years, you could get some compost. With a 3ph log splitter and a chipper, you could get some firewood and mulch out of it.

Not making the trade, you could use the same $$ to buy the bh, thumb, ripper, rough cutter, log splitter, and chipper to go with the BX

Good luck with your decision.

I did give strong consideration to getting the Woods BH 6000 backhoe for my BX back in the summer but was concerned with the rocky dense soils here in New England that it might have difficulty digging. I was planning on planting a row of aborvitaes or spruces as a privacy fence but since we purchased the adjacent lot that need went away.

My thought right now is to keep the BX and make due with possibly adding some implements that will help complete some of these projects.

Thanks for all the input!