Are the BX tractors top heavy and tippy?

[check]

A website that sells wheel spacers for the BX series tractors (thetrackscompany.com) says that the BX tractors are "top heavy and tippy". What are your thoughts on this matter?

 

[milkman]

Nope, not at all.

 

[BXinNH]

Mine's not.
(Unless I'm doing something I shouldn't be)

 

[MikeInEburg]

A website that sells wheel spacers for the BX series tractors (thetrackscompany.com) says that the BX tractors are "top heavy and tippy". What are your thoughts on this matter?

The folks selling wheel spacers want to induce you to buy their product by adding a touch of fear. BX tractors are quite stable. However, like ANY tractor, a slightly wider stance would make them more stable.
Mike

 

[leonz]

Especially when you buy wide turf tires and rims and its a very nice ride compared to ags or R-1-4's.

 

[Tom_H]

Top heavy and tippy? That's completely not true. Just look at the thing; it's low and squat. It has a low center of gravity and is more stable than most other tractors.

That being said, some people go ahead and take the BX on hillier and more rolling terrain than they would a big tractor. Make no mistake, you surely can roll a BX. If you are going to take a BX on such terrain, at that point, the wheel spacers can then give a stable vehicle even more stability in an environment where that is needed.

I have to respectfully disagree with leonz, I find the ride perfectly smooth on my ag tires.

 

[gwdixon]

The BX is probably the most stable of the Kubota line. Very low center of gravity and very little ground clearance. It is built like a Porsche in that way.

However, don't get overconfident. There are a lot of Porsches in the junkyard for that reason.

 

[ibnxe]

I am a bit surprised that the response wasn't a bit more mixed. My BX23 doesn't have spacers and the tires are not loaded either. So far I have not tipped it over, but it has been on two wheels a few different times.
I live on ten, very irregular acres lots of dips and bumps. The ROPS is always up and any time I am off the smoother areas, the seat belt is buckled up.
I do love the tractor and for most normal use, the tractor is quite stable. One of these days I may put a pair of wheel spacers on it, but then I might get over confident.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have to respectfully disagree with leonz, I find the ride perfectly smooth on my ag tires.

Me too. I switched from turfs to ags and the ride improved noticeably.
larry

 

[dex3361]

I have a BX1500 and have the rear tires loaded. It is a great stable mower for the hills where I mow. When start the mower I belt up. I would like to try a set of the spacers but the spacers supposedly will not work on the BX1500. I think it is from deck clearance.

 

[ayelvington]

I have the spacers and love them for two reasons: The obvious one is that baby feels more stable on uneven ground; the second reason is that the spacers make installing snow chains incredibly easier!!

 

[TripleR]

I have had a BX2200 and now a BX2660 and mow hills, pond levies etc., both have been very stable with no need for spacers.

 

[bp fick]

Top heavy and tippy? That's completely not true. Just look at the thing; it's low and squat. It has a low center of gravity and is more stable than most other tractors.

:thumbsup:

Don't know how anyone could make a lower center of gravity machine.
Nothing wrong with buying spacers, I suppose, especially for chains, but the marketing hutzpah of that outfit is pretty suspect.

 

[Tom_H]

I am a bit surprised that the response wasn't a bit more mixed. My BX23 doesn't have spacers and the tires are not loaded either. So far I have not tipped it over, but it has been on two wheels a few different times.
I live on ten, very irregular acres lots of dips and bumps. The ROPS is always up and any time I am off the smoother areas, the seat belt is buckled up.
I do love the tractor and for most normal use, the tractor is quite stable. One of these days I may put a pair of wheel spacers on it, but then I might get over confident.

You do make a good point here. The strength of the FEL and the BH in relation to the weight of the tractor itself are such that it is indeed possible to get tipsy under certain conditions. Put too much weight in the FEL (especially with no counterbalast on the back), lift it too high during transport, drive on a grade while turning with an overloaded FEL and I guarantee you will have wheels coming off the ground. I have done that more times than I care to think about. It can lead to scooting your body in the opposite direction trying to prevent a roll concurrent with considerably increased cardiac activity. If those are going to be your (the O.P.'s) operating conditions, then by all means, buy the spacers.

gwdixon makes a good point as well. The same squatness and small wheels that give the low center of gravity create a tradeoff of very low ground clearance.

 

[leonz]

You will love this little brat from ferrari Tractor in California.:thumbsup:

 

[ultrarunner]

All of my BX work is hillside work... the nature of the Subcompacts is they have a narrow stance which allows them to access places larger tractors can't.

Part of operating any piece of equipment is knowing it's limitations... a good operator will take into account terrain, loading and balance at all times.

I had my rear tires foamed filled because too many weekend plans were cancelled by flats... as an extra bonus, the foam added significant weight down low and noticeably improved stability.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

BX2200, BX1500 (already counted), BX2350, and BX2660,,,,,,,,NO but I have gotten some of them up on less than 4 wheels but it was me and not the BX's fault. My current BX25 with the BH doesn't feel as stable as the others without BH but that may be in my mind but I am more careful with it. BX1500 with MMM only seemed glued to the ground and next was the BX2350 MMM only. Add the FEL and gets a bit more tippy feeling and then add the BH and seems even a bit more tippy. Any BX with MMM only are tight to the ground, in my opinion/experience. I also have gullied, hillside rocky treed property.

 

[KKPop]

A website that sells wheel spacers for the BX series tractors (thetrackscompany.com) says that the BX tractors are "top heavy and tippy". What are your thoughts on this matter?

I have a BX 25, and before I installed spacers I would only go straight up and down hills when the FEL and BH were attached. The BH in the upright folded position made it feel too "tippy" for my liking. My dealer actually recommended rotating the BH to the uphill side to help compensate for the feeling.

I installed 2" spacers on the rear only, and the difference was remarkable. I can now navigate on almost all of my property without the pucker factor kicking in. Additionally, the 2" still allows use of my MMM which is a 60" model. With FEL and BH removed, I can take my machine nearly anywhere.

I would recommend spacers in any situation when hills are involved.

 

[Grandad4]

JohnThomas and others nailed it. Big difference between BX only and BX + FEL and BH. The FEL and BH add a lot of weight up high. Spacers help if needed, but the BX by itself is quite stable compared to some of the slightly larger CUT's with taller wheels. Saw an older Mitsubishi CUT at an auction... narrow, high and no ROPS! Probably a good little tractor otherwise, but no thanks!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

(Unless I'm doing something I shouldn't be)

:thumbsup: