2 Acres half Woods and Lawn Is this B2320 for me?

[Gary Fowler]

As I have posted before, my daughter mows their 2 acre (minus house and driveway footage) site with a 2320 and I have never seen it tear up the lawn and it has R4 tires. I mowed with it once and found it to be very easy to use and fast. I think you would like it much better than a BX in the long run and the FEL capacity is so much more useful than the BX.
Price wise, I don't see paying $5000 or more extra just to get financing at 0%. Those 0% interest rates are not really free interest as some of the cost is figured into the price, so just as the old saying goes, you don't get nothing for free.

As for rutting on the lawn, even a ZTR mower is going to leave marks if it is wet. My ZTR weighs in at 850# so it is almost half the weight of the BX. It mows great but just as with using a tractor, you have to wait till it is somewhat dry or you will rut the yard and or get stuck. I think you will not get stuck as much with a tractor as with a dedicated lawn mower if you go in too early. The good thing with having an FEL is that you can back drag any ruts to smooth them out. Good luck with your final decision.

P.S. New is great to have, but if you get a good deal on used, it is a great feeling also and I think you have found a great deal on used. I bought my B26 used (1year old and 68 hours) and saved well over $10K.

 

[GPintheMitten]

You will be fine mowing with the b2320. Just don't go out there with any mower when there is standing water or its squishy when you walk around.

It might seem big to you now but once you become accustomed to it it won't seem that way.

 

[Tompet]

Tompet,

My main concern with the 230 is whether it would be overkill on my >1 acre lawn. The advantage would be in the acre of woods and the substantial increase in FEL capability. The deal is solid. The owner is a very good friend of mine. The 2320 has been stored outside and has faded a little. Other than a dent i=on the top rim of the bucket, it is fine.

S219 stated following, and I would agree with the suggestion, is you borow the 2320 one more time, take the FEL off, put it in 2wd and go for a pretend mow around your yard. Go around the perimeter and what you perceive as difficult areas to mow. See how it feels to you and marks on the turf.

I did look up the weight of the b2320 and the Deere 1025r on tractor data and the weight listed of the two are within 40 lbs. of each other. So if those specs are correct, as I wrote before, any difference in turf pressure on the lawn between them would be negligible.

Then go sit or drive scut of your choice at a dealer and see how that feels. If it feels $5k better without a couple extra implements and around another grand to purchase same implements, if you prefer the scut and you like the idea of a new warranty...then great you made the right choice for you. I understand it is a difficult decision, I'm just relating some of my experience...and 2 cents!

Btw, last week I stopped at a friends house and he had just purchased a 1025r with FEL, BH, mmm and was thrilled with the purchase for his 27 acres 20 off which is woods. A little small IMO, but was much better than what he had so good for him. The only thing I would like better on the 1025r over the 2320 is the drive over deck. But in your case I assume the mmm would be on most of the time.

The faded paint will buff out.

Hah, lot of posts added while I was writing this response, so excuse the redundancy.

 

[AxleHub]

There seems to be two things that tbn posters are not focused on with some of their responses that Avery has mentioned a fewvtimes.

1. 1 acre of lawn and 1 acre of woods. If I were reading this thread from end to end at one sitting . . I would get the impression that Avery had 10 acres of woods instead of 1 acre. I'd get the impression that making trails was going to be a significant thing instead of a very minor thing. And that Avery had some big storage building to put the b2320 and multiple implements in . . but we have no indicator that is true or accurate. All Avery has right now is a 12 year old lawn tractor with bagger.

2. As I recall, Avery has mentioned that 90 % of his activity will be lawn mowing and hauling some mulch and some dirt moving related to the lawn/landscaping etc. and that only 10% will be related to the woids/trails/moving some dead wood . . and even much of that is only thev1st year. He also has indicated much of his lawn is 20 to 25 degree slope. Personally to me, that is a big issue because the majority of his uses on the tractor will be related to mowing and steep slopes. We also have heard that up to this point . . he bags his grass clippings. This tells me he has a nice lawn . . a manicured lawn . . because nobody goes to the effort of bagging that much on a "farm yard" or non-manicured yard. In addition I've read numerous posts about mowing in 2 wd to protect the lawn. My lawn is just a hair bigger than Avery's. My lawn also has a fair amount of 15 and 20 degree slopes and only 1 time did I cut my lawn in 2wd because in 2wd the hydro braking benefit is not operational on the front wheels and you definitely want the hydro braking benefit when you are on steep slopes. In addition in 2wd on slopes is when you get the opportunity to spin a wheel and damage the lawn. But in 4 wheel drive I have no issues with lawn damage at all on even my steepest slopes or on sidehill movement. And again lets focus on the quality of Avery's lawn. If you have a quality lawn you have much less fescue and much more bluegrass and it is thicker. And bluegrasses and thicker growth often mean slipperier surface because of those grasses and the slopes . . . finner quality grasses have greater percentage if blade surface and water content making them smoother. And manicured lawn is not golf course greens . . Its the pleasant fairways lol.
My point is if Avery has or desires a manicured lawn on his lot. He "can have" an excellent cut from the right tractor and mower combination . . and have it without compaction or sod damage . . but his needs can't be compared in my opinion with a low slope or flat lawn with rye grasses and standard fescues.

P.S. Something I once mentioned also . . Is Avery's lawn could actually improve with the advent of a tractor of the right size and ability . . because he could add an inexpensive 3 pt. tank sprayer to use which is so much easier than pump or trailer sprayers. Better weed control and both boom and wand reach around the tree lines.

And for those suggesting he test drive mowing his lawn with the b2320, that's a great idea however . . lets remember that the mmm the neighbor has . . has never been used . . so I'm guessing the neighbor would not want to alter that situation just so Avery could test drive it.

 

[GPintheMitten]

This becoming a debate between members with the desire to win the debate.

At some point, you just need to make a decision. There will never be enough empirical data to make the decision for you.

 

[AxleHub]

This becoming a debate between members with the desire to win the debate.

At some point, you just need to make a decision. There will never be enough empirical data to make the decision for you.

Gpint,

I believe a friendly debate is a giod thing because Avery has shown a tendency to alter perspectives as some new tractor prospects do. So a well reasoned and friendky debate from members can often bring out points that his lack of experience would not be able to bring out himself.

I also think that upnto a point its healthy because ge hasbyetbto drive some of the units at all so he can write down certain points being made so his test drive time is more productive. And the appearance of a debate is not even brand oriented imo . . also being healthy.

But at the same time Avery needs to take information posters offer and "make it his own". None of us walk his property . . but he does.

I can't speak for anyone else . . but for me at least . . a friendly debate is not something you win . . its purpose is to merely be heard and balanced. Then Avery acts on that infornation as he chooses or researches. I know when I was considering choices . . I actively desired others to point and counterpoint because it alliwed me to see how logical the viewpoints were.

If I have offended anyone . . I apologize. I just don't like the idea of rookies being "led" to any one conclusion.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Gpint,

I believe a friendly debate is a giod thing because Avery has shown a tendency to alter perspectives as some new tractor prospects do. So a well reasoned and friendky debate from members can often bring out points that his lack of experience would not be able to bring out himself.

I also think that upnto a point its healthy because ge hasbyetbto drive some of the units at all so he can write down certain points being made so his test drive time is more productive. And the appearance of a debate is not even brand oriented imo . . also being healthy.

But at the same time Avery needs to take information posters offer and "make it his own". None of us walk his property . . but he does.

I can't speak for anyone else . . but for me at least . . a friendly debate is not something you win . . its purpose is to merely be heard and balanced. Then Avery acts on that infornation as he chooses or researches. I know when I was considering choices . . I actively desired others to point and counterpoint because it alliwed me to see how logical the viewpoints were.

If I have offended anyone . . I apologize. I just don't like the idea of rookies being "led" to any one conclusion.

You're right. Friendly debates help. I probably went overboard. (Man Overboard!) Ha ha. Just a little frustration on my part.

 

[brasco426]

This becoming a debate between members with the desire to win the debate.

At some point, you just need to make a decision. There will never be enough empirical data to make the decision for you.

Agreed

 

[Avery11]

Yes, I can try it out on my lawn. I do have a couple trees and flower beds and I try to keep the grass looking nice. My turf is neither a golf course nor a field but rather somewhere in between. No sprinkler system so it is nice and green in the spring and fall, and brown and struggling in the summer heat - like most I suppose.

The current owner is a friend but not a neighbor. He will have to trailer the 2320 and drive it over as I no longer have a truck. I asked the favor last night and am now waiting for a good time as we recently had snow. This is a great time to test it with the turf tires as the ground is soft and wet. If my lawn can take the 2320 now, it should stand up any other time.

As I recall, the 2320 is not that much bigger than the 2370 with the FEL off though I didn't pay close attention at the dealer since I was really only looking at the BX series.

According to the spec from Kubota, the B2320 weighs 1433 lbs and has a wheelbase of 61.5 inches with a turning radius of 6.9 feet.

The BX 2370-1 weighs 1410 lbs and has a wheelbase of 55.1 inches with a turning radius of 7.5 feet.

I don't think the 20 lb difference in tractor weight is a big deal though the 2320 tires could hold much more liquid ballast. The turning radius on the 2320 is only 8% more than the 2371 while the wheelbase is 9% greater. If the tires were filled proportionately, the side hill stability should be a wash.

Sooo, mowing with either machine with the same deck in 2wd should produce similar cut quality with about the same turf damage or lack thereof.

On paper, the B2320 with its similar dimensions (sans wheels) to the "nimble" BX2370 is a machine with much greater lifting capacity in the FEL, a slightly better 3PH and for me, around $2500 lower than a new BX2370 and comes to me with about 1K in attachments, all of which I have use for.


Thinking out loud here but I'm starting to see it more clearly. Gonna give the 2320 with MMM a run at my lawn and see what happens.

I think I got caught up in "new" factor and false notion that I should not have a bigger machine on my small property but that is starting to fade.

It sure is a good thing I came here before making an impulse buy without testing the one in front of me. This thread and all the great advice may just save me some $$ and some remorse.


Thanks for the patience as I take the long way around to a good decision.

There is a lot more to this tractor buyin than I thought but I must admit, it is kind of fun.

A.

 

[AxleHub]

You're right. Friendly debates help. I probably went overboard. (Man Overboard!) Ha ha. Just a little frustration on my part.

Forums and frustrations sometimes go hand-in-hand.

Recently a thread started about someone who bought property in a semi arid location. He was going to gavevan acre or two of lawn and some mostly unattended pasture of a few acres and then some woods that he had no plans to do anything with and a gravel driveway. He had considered a subcompact or maybe just to start . . Getting a used lawn mower. Budget was potentially up to a new subcompact but not more and not a separate lawn mower and tractor.

So ya figure post about planning and subcompacts. By the time the thread finished he had bought a new cab version tractor about 40+ hp. That's what becomes frustrating for me. The property didn't change . . you want to treat the thread starter like he's done research which he said he did. And a budget to consider . . and you go from "maybe as much as a subcompact" and not both tractor and separate mower all the way up to good suzed cut with cab. Those are the kind of threads you wish you didn't make your 1st post till 50 or 75 responses are already done lol.