Kubota BX25 or B2320

[ror105]

Hi all,
I am buying a tractor...soon I hope. I spent a lot of time looking at the BX25 and thought it would do everything I need it to do. Loader, cut grass, plow snow on my 350' drive and most importantly, install 2 200 foot french drains, clear out the creek running through my yard and put in a patio behind the house with retaining walls...all of this done with the backhoe.

I was able to stop at a local dealer and I looked at the BX and there was a 2320 with the BH65 on it. The 2320 looks like a much more capable tractor in the backhoe department. The dealer did mention you only get a half foot more digging but i have been told the BX 25 hoe is powerful but slow. Just because I have the tractor does not mean I want to spend all of my free time on it. I am afraid I will be frustrated with the slow progress of the BX25.

The plan would be to get a lot or most of the work done with my backhoe and then bring in an excavator to complete the creek work, i.e Gabion baskets and replace the 20' X 30" pipe that goes across my driveway. I think the BX25 would be much better at the other jobs I will have, plowing and mowing but I envision doing a lot of backhoe work. I am concerned that I will wear out the joints and pins on the BX25 with all of the work I need to do.

Thanks for any comments. I know right now, either one of them is going to do a better job plowing my driveway than the Cub Cadet 1811 I am using now.

Also, how difficult is it to remove the BH65 hoe on the B2320 to mount the 60 Inch MMM?

 

[TigerfaninAR]

I'm sure others will comment on the comparison but after a few times you can put the mmm on in 5-7 minutes.

 

[Bota4me]

Ror, I own a bx25 and it surprises me when I run it hard. As far as the bh being slow that's not the case. Throttle it up and it's pretty fast. The thing about the bx is its soo versatile! Pull off the fel and bh it's a great mower. It's been stone reliable, sips fuel. I would not worry about wearing out pins, just keep er greased, give some maint and it will run a long life. Hope this helps

 

[art]

The only area that you might be hurt in would be manuverability while mowing. Go make some circles in the diveway with each and see if the difference is a breaker!

On the plus side of the 2320 is the three ranges! More ground clearance, better drive system with no fan to worry about and a better hitch height for three point hitch attachments as well as a bigger loader lift.

Manuverability is all you have for a minus with going larger.

 

[Artisan]

If you need a small machine the BX25 is superb. If you do not "need" a small machine then go bigger. I "needed" AND "wanted" a small machine, but, if I didn't need a small machine I would definately go much bigger. It has it's limitations. Go big if you do not need small! If money is the issue the BX25 is a GREAT choice for a starter machine.

 

[ror105]

I finally made the decision and bought the 2320. Had a local dealer configure it with loader, BH65 backhoe, 60 inch deck, 60 inch hydraulic plow, R4 tires, 40 amp alternator, block heater, and tire chains. Great price too. I want to thank Neil Messick and Brady Barlow for working with me on packages too. Turned out the local dealer just gave me a deal I couldn't refuse and there was no haggling involved. Makes the process that much sweeter. Now, if they can get it built and delivered by Friday I can start checking off the to-do list.


Thanks everyone else for your input too.

 

[Artisan]

Post LOTS of pics when she's born!

 

[Martian]

Does the backhoe need to come off when you put the MMM on. I would definitely recommend taking it off if your land is wet but if you don't need to take it off I wouldn't bother. If to run the MMM you have to take the BH of I would look at a Deere 2x20. Be a pain in the rear to be taking that thing on and off a lot.

As for which size to get my rule of thumb is if you can afford and do most of your small projects with a larger tractor get it. Nobody has ever complained for having "too much" horsepower. So as long as B2320 won't sink into your lawn I would go with it. :thumbsup:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Does the backhoe need to come off when you put the MMM on. I would definitely recommend taking it off if your land is wet but if you don't need to take it off I wouldn't bother. If to run the MMM you have to take the BH of I would look at a Deere 2x20. Be a pain in the rear to be taking that thing on and off a lot.

As for which size to get my rule of thumb is if you can afford and do most of your small projects with a larger tractor get it. Nobody has ever complained for having "too much" horsepower. So as long as B2320 won't sink into your lawn I would go with it. :thumbsup:

I think the OP has already made his decision...

 

[Martian]

I think the OP has already made his decision...

Haha. Guess I should have read the whole thread instead of just the question!

Sounds like a good machine though!

 

[ror105]

You know, I never even thought about cutting the grass with the backhoe on due to the weight and overall length.

Anyone know if that is the case or not with the deck and backhoe issue?

Thanks everyone, pics to follow soon.

 

[wdchyd]

We love pix.....Looking forward to them.....:thumbsup:

will you have need for an engine block heater?

If you're in a cold climate, it may be a good time to install one...

 

[GPintheMitten]

Why mow your lawn with a backhoe.
Set your projects schedules up so that you do backhoe work when you don't need to mow. Then switch out equipment.

 

[ror105]

Dealer is installing the block heater as part of the deal.

I have heard the glow plugs are sufficient, but it is going to be kept in an unheated garage and there is just something about the clanging of a cold diesel engine that makes me feel like I am stressing something in that engine. When I worked at the railroad and we would turn over those big Detroits on a cold day, wow, sounded like something could really use some nice warm anti-freeze.

 

[Martian]

You know, I never even thought about cutting the grass with the backhoe on due to the weight and overall length.

Anyone know if that is the case or not with the deck and backhoe issue?

Thanks everyone, pics to follow soon.

As for my comment of keeping the backhoe on I wouldn't recommend keeping it on all the time, I would even take the loader off when possible. Just time consuming. If your in the middle of a project and don't have the hour to waste from going from digging a trench to mowing and back to digging without taking it on and off would be nice. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't recommend keeping it on full time. When your in between projects to take the loader and backhoe off and you'll be a lot more versatile.

 

[scrappy isb67]

Does the backhoe need to come off when you put the MMM on. I would definitely recommend taking it off if your land is wet but if you don't need to take it off I wouldn't bother. If to run the MMM you have to take the BH of I would look at a Deere 2x20. Be a pain in the rear to be taking that thing on and off a lot.

As for which size to get my rule of thumb is if you can afford and do most of your small projects with a larger tractor get it. Nobody has ever complained for having "too much" horsepower. So as long as B2320 won't sink into your lawn I would go with it. :thumbsup:

you can't run with the BH and mower at the same time on the Deeres either.
and you wouldn't want to run that way anyways, that is alot of unecessary weight to be hauling around your yard!

 

[Martian]

you can't run with the BH and mower at the same time on the Deeres either.
and you wouldn't want to run that way anyways, that is alot of unecessary weight to be hauling around your yard!

I guess I can't say that for the 2x20 series but I know I can with my 3120

 

[Martian]

you can't run with the BH and mower at the same time on the Deeres either.
and you wouldn't want to run that way anyways, that is alot of unecessary weight to be hauling around your yard!

I guess I can't say that for the 2x20 series but I know I can with my 3120

I just fact checked and this is pulled from John Deere's 2020 series brochure

"Backhoes New 270 Backhoe allows you to keep the 3-point hitch arms in place and lift with them. You can even leave the mid-mower deck in place when installing and using the backhoe. All of these conveniences while still ensuring powerful digging and backfilling action.*
*270 backhoe available Summer 2011."

That is referring to the 2x20 series.

 

[wdchyd]

Dealer is installing the block heater as part of the deal.

I have heard the glow plugs are sufficient, but it is going to be kept in an unheated garage and there is just something about the clanging of a cold diesel engine that makes me feel like I am stressing something in that engine. When I worked at the railroad and we would turn over those big Detroits on a cold day, wow, sounded like something could really use some nice warm anti-freeze.

I have a 110V plug handy for mine and will plug it in for a short while before I start-up.....been contemplating using a timer on the wall to do it for me for the early am usage

 

[scrappy isb67]

I just fact checked and this is pulled from John Deere's 2020 series brochure

"Backhoes New 270 Backhoe allows you to keep the 3-point hitch arms in place and lift with them. You can even leave the mid-mower deck in place when installing and using the backhoe. All of these conveniences while still ensuring powerful digging and backfilling action.*
*270 backhoe available Summer 2011."

That is referring to the 2x20 series.

With the 46 backhoe you could not, I didn't know you could with the 270 but that still doesn't mean that you should mow with the BH on. that is too much weight and sheer size to deal with while mowing.