b7500 ?

[Anonymous Poster]

hi all, love the site. i've learned a lot from you guys over the last few weeks but still need some more info. i'll be buying my first (and hopefully last) tractor in the next month or so and want to be sure to size it correctly. i think the B7500 will do all i need but would like to hear your thoughts.

i plan to build on a gently rolling 10 acre lot (4 acres of woods and 6 pasture) so the first couple of years the tractor would be needed for :
-landscaping work,
-dragging firewood/logs/anything else that may get in the way. no trees really, i can cut up and then move.
-moving small to medium size rocks - only a few and i can move them by hand but can't lift them.
-pulling fence posts - wood and metal
-digging post holes
-bush hogging
-pushing snow
-create a driveway.

after the first couple of years i figure it'll become mostly a mower, snow pusher and driveway maintenance machine.

i feel pretty confident it'll do most of these things but am worried it may be a little small for the initial driveway work. my plan is to use a box blade and loader to scape the topsoil down a few inches before bringing in the gravel. the drive is about 350 feet, drains well, no ditch work etc.. is the b7500 strong enough for this? can it pull a box blade through what i would call normal topsoil? will the loader handle the heavier loads of gravel. can it get fence posts out of the ground?

i know bigger is bettter but i think the b7500 is plenty big enough for my long term uses and fits in my budget better than the bigger machines BUT i'd be disappointed if i can't use it for the drive work and don't want to be working the machine so hard its lifespan is shortened. am i asking too much of the b7500? would a 2410 or 2710 hold up better/last longer?

looking at b7500 HST, 4wd, 302FEL, 4 foot bushhog, 4 foot box blade, have access to post hole digger and will buy finish mower in a couple of years.

any thoughts are appreciated.

thanks

BaldGuy

 

[fishman]

Baldguy,

<font color=blue>am i asking too much of the b7500? </font color=blue>

It depends on what your expectations are. The 2710/2910 series offers significantly increased capabilities, including the ability to use 5' implements (box blade, bush hogging), and much improved loader and 3 pt lift capacity. The 7500 will do all of the things you list, but will likely take longer to accomplish them. Your driveway project sounds pretty ambitious to me.

I have 10 acres and initially looked at the 7500 because of price and maneuverability. In my case, loader capability was most important, because I planned to do a lot of landscaping. However, the 3010 was too big to get around the tight places on my hilly and brushy property. I went with the 2910 and have not regretted it. The 2710 would have done just fine as well.

Although these two tractors are 3 to 4 grand higher than the 7500, you can take advantage of the easy availability of 5 foot implements. Often, the 4 footers are more expensive. Used 5 footers are also common, and buying used could save a portion of the difference in cost.

Also, welcome to the site. Go ahead and register and fill out your profile. It's free!

 

[GlueGuy]

Re: B7500 !

BaldGuy,

I have a B7500 that I use for a lot of the same things; and my driveway is 4300' long. I still have minor grade changes to make in the drive, but it is mostly "in place", and what I do these days is maintenance. That said, <font color=orange>Lucy</font color=orange> pulls the 4' Woods boxblade very well. There have been a couple of times when I get the boxblade fully loaded with wet clay & rocks that she will run out of traction, but she keeps pulling. It's true that 4' doesn't cover as much area as a 5' at one go, but it's also true that it's tough to get a 5' boxblade into a ditch to clean it out. With only 350' to do, I would say that a B7500 would be a cakewalk.

BTW - Do get a HEAVY boxblade. The Woods boxblade that I use is at least 400lb, and it is a fine piece of equipment.

The GlueGuy

 

[TresCrows]

Finally Glueguy joins the smaller is better arguement /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif -- 4 foot blade can get in ditches and the 5 foot cannot! Baldie, I bet the 7500 will do exactly what you want. I just built a long drive doing what you mention with my BX pulling my 4 foot boxblade through tough heavy clay removing the upper few inches. I then had the trucks come in a poor the gravel out as they rolled -- a good driver can do most of the work for you. It is just the aggregate base and when that settles down then I can add the gravel top coats.
Why does everyone jump over the 2410 to the 2710 or 2910? It's shorter wheelbase could have real advantages in tight work and would be less destructive to your lawn areas than even larger, longer, wider, heavier machines. It has position control and more power on the same short wheelbase--more manuverability--- as the 7500 and can probably also use most 5 foot implements. I think the 2410 could be the perfect choice for you, as manuverable as the 7500 with more power and flexability---hey, it's a Deluxe tractor and it says right here in the brochure it is the true workhorse of the B series! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif . J

 

[TxBilly]

I would think the 7500 would do your job, but also agree about the B2410. I have a B2400 and although I do not have a 7500 to compare against from a power standpoint, the position control was a deciding factor for me. I am not an experienced tractor owner and having the position control has been extremely valuable to me in terms of using all of my implements. Being able to lift and then return to a given level or another by looking at the indicator has increased my productivity. Either way, I am sure you will be happy with whatever selection you make.
Bill

 

[Westbilly]

Trescrow is CORRECT. I jumped to the 2410 over the 7500, and I have thought that to be the wisest decision I have made since joining tractordom.

2410 FEL LA352

 

[frank_f15]

i guess i will have to add my 2 cents. i agree the 7500 will do what u want but i also jumped to the 2400, never sorry. a little more power, pc, and not enough weight to tear things up.

 

[GlueGuy]

J,

Now that's not fair! I think if you look back through my posts, I have (usually) argued for the "correct" size. And, frankly, based on the power curves between the 2410 and the 7500, the 2410 has the weakest (HP-wise) engine of the B series. Granted the 2410 has about 10% more torque than the 7500, so maybe that's what you're buying when you go that route. In my mind, the only major difference bewteen the 7500 and the 2400 is the position control. I can say for a fact, after driving a 7500 for a year (almost), and not having position control, I really don't know what I'm missing. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

The GlueGuy

 

[Anonymous Poster]

thanks all!

i still haven't made up my mind but will choose between the 7500 and 2410. Based on your comments i think the 7500 will do what i want but if financing rates stay low and my wife doesn't spend all my cash for xmas, i may move up to the 2410.

my main concern was to try to get an idea of how strong and tough the 7500 was. will it pull posts? will it pull the box blade? can it handle a loader full of gravel? can it mow 5-6 acres many times every summer for twenty years without too many problems etc. i didn't really have a good frame of reference for these compact tractors, having experience with only lawn mowers and a john deere 4020. you guys and TBN have helped a lot.

again, this is a great site and thanks for the input.

i'll register and post after i get the machine.

BaldGuy

 

[Jeff396]

I ended up doing the purchase two step between the BX2200 and the B7500. I opted for the B7500 though I'm sure the BX2200 would have worked fine too. I was just curious what the price difference was between the B7500 and the B2410?

Jeff