Big tractor syndrome

[Cherokee140]

I admit I am kinda a noob at this tractor thing.....I have lived in the country for 16 years, own ~13ac that is a mix of pasture terraced, pretty heavy wooded areas, swampy areas that do not drain well, and some steep hills in the back part of the property....a little bit of everything.

I started looking at new tractors about 2 months ago....my old JD650 is just worn out...so I am looking for something to replace it. Its old job was mowing (belly mower) Brush hog the thicker areas, pulling a small 2 bottom plow, and the odd push pull type jobs that come up. I still have an 8n that starts right up with the turn of a key, and an old JD 70. I have also borrowed from neighbors larger more modern tractors with loaders and such for special projects.

I was very happy with the size of the 650 never found it lacking for power, currently I am looking at Kubota BX and JD 1 series machines.....Same basic jobs as above, but I want a backhoe to thin out that forest area, bucket for moving gravel, mulch, dirt....

I was really thinking that the BX and 1series would really do the job....but all the dealers are trying to up-sell me on larger (more expensive machines).

I made a post on another thread and made this comment.

Everyone and I do mean EVERYONE wants to up sell you in this market....reminds me of the motorcycle market.....you really don't need a 1200cc motorcycle to ride on the highway, I rode a 225 across this state, and there are books by a female that rode one across Africa, and then rode from Alaska to the very tip of south America....all on a Yamaha XT225 (Books called Lois on the loose if you are interested and they are good books) point being that you really don't need a big machine to do a lot of things....a small machine correctly run and projects planned can make do with less.

Yes I know some things you HAVE to have that big machine....round bails and such....but I have yet to find anything on my 13ac that is a mixture of fields, woods, and pretty swampy with some steep hills that my little JD650 would not do. I really have a problem seeing how people with 4ac need a 40hp tractor

The money is really not a huge issue.....yea I don't want to spend it, but I don't want to buy less then I need.....I also don't want to buy more then I will ever use.

Just would like some thoughts on the big tractor syndrome.....am I way off base here.

BTW: There is one Kubota dealer that listened to what I was going to be using the machine for and he suggested the BX, the size my internet research seemed to suggest....everyone else has been suggesting other larger models.

 

[murphy1244]

Then buy the BX. If you feel its right for you go for it

 

[motownbrowne]

Just depends what you're doing with it. For me it's less about HP, more about weight and tire size and lift capacity. You say you have woods, but must not be making 10 cords of firewood/year, or if you are it must not be from 20-30" diameter logs. There are lots of situations I encounter on our twenty acres when the clearance, traction, and weight of a bigger frame tractor are a necessity. I also don't have neighbors with stuff I want to borrow. If you've already tamed your 13 acres, a small compact would probably be great, or even a scut if you're not worried about clearance.

 

[Tompet]

I looked up the size of your JD650 and from photos it looks to be more the size of a small compact like a Kubota B 2320 or 2620 for example. It also looks like it has similar ground clearance to these models (and no bottom hydro fan as in some sub compacts). For the description of your land and chores I think the ground clearance is one factor in people suggesting a slightly larger cut rather than a scut. Also a little more lift height in your 3pt implements with the cut size. Again seems closer to what you currently use.

Personally, I have had both a scut and cut and in your case I think a small cut would be a better fit. It doesn't sound like anyone was trying to talk you into a huge machine, but if you want something a little smaller than you currently use but still very capable like a scut get it and don't listen to the suggestions. Also you stated wanting an FEL and BH (I agree with that) and the scut packages like a bx25 or Massey 1720 etc. are attractive and simple to purchase as a pre configured package. Plus you have the 8n to handle some ground engaging chores. Btw, you don't sound like a noob to me!

 

[TripleR]

We love our BX2200 and BX2660 and will always have one or two just like it, but after doing much of what you describe, we decided to buy a bigger one to supplement them. The BX will do what you describe, but we have ripped the boots off of ours due to the low ground clearance and as we have gotten older, the small wheels and rough ride just became too annoying.

I got protection for the boots, put skid plates on from Bro-Tek, BXpanded also makes them, and have our BX2200 set up for wandering off into the rough stuff so it sometimes works right along with our bigger tractors.

Good luck.

 

[s219]

Nothing against the BX or 1-series, but they are very focused on low-ground-clearance applications. If mowing was a priority, I think these machines would have a very compelling advantage over bigger tractors. For working in the woods, doing loader/backhoe work, and just banging around, I'd say to move up at least one size. A bigger tractor won't mow quite as well, but it will do better at most everything else.

I ignored advice to go bigger when I bought my first tractor, a B2920. At the time, the priority was skidding logs out of the woods between trees, and I honestly couldn't have gone bigger. The B2920 was perfect, and served me well. Once I transitioned to things like driveway maintenance and moving bucked/split firewood, suddenly the 2920 felt too small. I moved up to an L, and it's been great -- I can carry significantly more firewood in the larger front bucket, which means fewer trips moving it around.

When shopping for the B2920, I had looked at the BX and 1-series, mainly because I was focused on cost/value. But it became obvious they were not going to be good log skidding machines, and I didn't need to mow anything.

 

[Wolfman]

I don't know if you are planning on needing to do fencing, but one of the drawbacks to the JD 1 series is the fact that it can't use a standard sized post hole digger. I really like the small machines, but I have to agree that ground clearance can become an issue. If your place is not too rough, though, the BX and 1 series might work for you. When I sat on a JD 1026, I was very impressed with how comfortable it was and liked it a lot.

I haven't priced these type of machines out in a while. I know that the 1 Series with loader and MMM come in somewhere around 14-15K. What is the difference in price when you step up one level? If its not all that much, maybe it would be worth it since it would still be able to do the same work that the 1 series and BX could do - but only better. You wouldn't have any regrets in the future, and resale might be better for you as well if you ever decide to sell.

 

[Sodo]

I have a BX24. I find that the front wheels are too small to drive around in the woods, the little wheels can't climb over small logs very well, and it's too light to skid logs out sometimes if theres uphills or sticks on the ground. Everyone tells me that I need an L-size, which is a lot bigger than the B-Size. I suspect when you get an L-size stuck it's a bigger deal than a BX stuck. I have found the BX to be too small for what I do. The BX lifts 460 lbs, I need to lift about 800lbs.

Anyway that's my feedback with regard to your question. The BX retained its value well, did what I needed to 95% of the time, and was more maneuverable during that time. But I'll sell it and get a bigger tractor soon, no regrets. Not sure of Ill get a B or L size, depends what kind of good deals come up.

 

[aginn]

The only thing I would like to add is the backhoe specs. Beware of very limited digging depths with the small tractor.
I hope to add one to the L model that I bought and am rather depressed that the biggest hoe I can get will dig to a max depth of 7'7". That is even a bigger drawback to the smaller units. And for any loader work with a lighter tractor having an HST transmission would make it far easier to get traction to the ground on the lighter tractors.
Whatever you get, I wish you many pleasurable years with it.

 

[motownbrowne]

The hst may make it "easier" to get traction to the ground, I think it makes just about everything easier. But it doesn't let you put more traction to the ground. Traction to the ground is a factor of weight, and tread. Heavier is better, more tread/bigger tires is better. A small machine without much weight will spin it's tires early, regardless of transmission type.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Why not sell or trade all 3 tractors and get one medium size tractor with backhoe, loader and either mmm or 3pt grooming mower then use whatever other implements you already own. Maybe a B2920 or even a little larger. By trading or selling all 3 maybe you can get a 4 ft to 5ft rototiller as well.

The ground clearance and weight is an advantage. You might also look at other brands like Kioti, LS etc. I have used older stuff like Ford 2N and smaller Kubota, the B6200 and im quite happy to have the B2620. Sometime this next week im picking up a used BH65 backhoe. The 48 " tiller I have is a blessing and I love the loader (my first loader). Ive used my daughters BX and I would never go that small.

Thats my advice, but get what you want.

 

[Cherokee140]

Lots of good advice here....I really did not want to come across nasty or anything....just really trying to bounce all of this off as many people as I can. We have 4 people that are mowing the "yard" now, so having a few machines running really speeds things up.....that is a real reason why I would like to keep all the machines....except the 650 that has issues.

They 1 and bx are both looking like good quality machines. And from watching videos (the only thing I can really go by) they seem to be pretty strong machines.

It just seemed that many of the dealers before even finding out what I wanted to do tried to talk me out of the small units.

 

[TripleR]

Lots of good advice here....I really did not want to come across nasty or anything....just really trying to bounce all of this off as many people as I can. We have 4 people that are mowing the "yard" now, so having a few machines running really speeds things up.....that is a real reason why I would like to keep all the machines....except the 650 that has issues.

They 1 and bx are both looking like good quality machines. And from watching videos (the only thing I can really go by) they seem to be pretty strong machines.

It just seemed that many of the dealers before even finding out what I wanted to do tried to talk me out of the small units.

Why that's just ridiculous, why the heck have more than one tractor...:laughing:

 

[GPintheMitten]

Why that's just ridiculous, why the heck have more than one tractor...:laughing:

Is that why you go by "triple"?

 

[TripleR]

Is that why you go by "triple"?

No, those are only three of the nine we own.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Quoting Mr. Wonderful, "I forbid you from getting a small tractor. If you do, you are dead to me."

Just kidding. Get what suits you best. There are a lot of folks on here that have scuts.

 

[Gary Fowler]

No doubt the BX 25 TLB will do a lot of work if you are looking at a tractor /backhoe combo. I would just say take a look at the B series also as they give you a lot more for not to many more dollars.

 

[dave1949]

I think it is a mistake when considering backhoe work to think the size of the lot has much to do with it. Trees and rocks don't know what size lot they are on.

The size of the rocks, if you have them, matters the most since you aren't going to cut them down to the size of your tractor like you could with a tree. Stumps are hard work too if they are of any size.

I would be careful to match the machine to the task. Trees and rocks are a much harder task than digging a trench in dirt. Or, rent a big machine and get the tough things done and then a SCUT would be better suited for maintenance.

 

[Cherokee140]

That is really what I am trying to do...the only backhoe I have used has been a "real one". Real fricken big, and naturally it had no problems doing anything I needed.

All I really have to go on is the videos I have seen on youtube, I try to take that with a grain of salt, but there are a lot of grains on there with people doing all kinds of things with the smaller machines. The same kind of things I would be doing....one guy, eh, two guys eh, 30 people well perhaps it really will do what I need it to do.

That is really the point here, I have ZERO experience with a machine this size, I can't really borrow or rent one for a day and see. So I am jumping in at the deep end.

The poster that said not much difference in price....yup that is correct, only a few thousand between the two models equipped the same.

Just trying to figure stuff out here...sorry for all the questions.

 

[jenkinsph]

I think it is a mistake when considering backhoe work to think the size of the lot has much to do with it. Trees and rocks don't know what size lot they are on.

The size of the rocks, if you have them, matters the most since you aren't going to cut them down to the size of your tractor like you could with a tree. Stumps are hard work too if they are of any size.

I would be careful to match the machine to the task. Trees and rocks are a much harder task than digging a trench in dirt. Or, rent a big machine and get the tough things done and then a SCUT would be better suited for maintenance.

I agree with this post.^^^


I try to buy the size equipment that will handle the majority of my uses, on rare occasions I need to call in something smaller or larger.