Best, smallest, tractor with bucket and rear hoe?

CFHartman · May 20, 2006

I beleve the JD 2210 is larger than the BX1500. The JD 2210 is more in line with the BX2200 or BX2300. John Deere dosen't have a backhoe for the 2210. The replacement for the 2210 is the Jd 2305.
New Holland and Case IH make nice ones and Cub Cadet

CFHartman · May 20, 2006

I beleve the JD 2210 is larger than the BX1500. The JD 2210 is more in line with the BX2200 or BX2300. John Deere dosen't have a backhoe for the 2210. The replacement for the 2210 is the Jd 2305.
New Holland and Case IH make nice ones and Cub Cadet

Hootie · May 21, 2006

Kubota 2230 would be more apples to apples.

Hootie · May 21, 2006

Kubota 2230 would be more apples to apples.

daTeacha · May 21, 2006

This is a small detail, but don't tell the dealer you want to be pulling a trailer that can hold 10 or 20 cubic yards of rocks. Cubic feet maybe, but 10 or 20 cubic yards is a couple of big dump truck loads, at least. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif My Dakota pickup holds about 2 or 2 1/2 yards when filled level.

daTeacha · May 21, 2006

This is a small detail, but don't tell the dealer you want to be pulling a trailer that can hold 10 or 20 cubic yards of rocks. Cubic feet maybe, but 10 or 20 cubic yards is a couple of big dump truck loads, at least. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif My Dakota pickup holds about 2 or 2 1/2 yards when filled level.

DannyD · May 21, 2006

I have a BX 23, would not want to be without it. For cutting grass it is great. For the retaining wall project it will be a back saver with the front loader, just plan on a lot of trips to the dirt pile............but hey more seat time that way. My drive is also paved and uphill from the road, snow is no match with the tractor tires on and 4wd. Also the neighbors around me love it, cause I do their drives too...........more seat time. As for the hoe, YES. 2 stumps becomes, digging for planting new trees, which becomes an ornamental pond, which becomes digging a trench line, which becomes removing a sidewalk, which becomes............you get the idea, you will never run out of things to do with it NOW that you dont have to rent one each time.

You might also consider resale value, Kubota is in the top on this area. I cant speak for the other brands, and all have good and not so good things about them, but this is my second bota, and if when we get our ten acres or more to build our retirement place on, it wont be my last.

DannyD · May 21, 2006

I have a BX 23, would not want to be without it. For cutting grass it is great. For the retaining wall project it will be a back saver with the front loader, just plan on a lot of trips to the dirt pile............but hey more seat time that way. My drive is also paved and uphill from the road, snow is no match with the tractor tires on and 4wd. Also the neighbors around me love it, cause I do their drives too...........more seat time. As for the hoe, YES. 2 stumps becomes, digging for planting new trees, which becomes an ornamental pond, which becomes digging a trench line, which becomes removing a sidewalk, which becomes............you get the idea, you will never run out of things to do with it NOW that you dont have to rent one each time.

You might also consider resale value, Kubota is in the top on this area. I cant speak for the other brands, and all have good and not so good things about them, but this is my second bota, and if when we get our ten acres or more to build our retirement place on, it wont be my last.

Henro · May 21, 2006

I wouldn't spend the extra $1500.00 for the BX mower, not for one acre of land. You'd be better off with an inexpensive Sears riding mower for around $900.00. 

Well, I certainly would not follow this advice!

After having a number of "riding lawn mowers" over the years, cutting grass with my BX is more of a pleasure than I can express /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...it is a great mower.

Fuel economy of the diesel as compared to a gas mower is amazing too.

If you end up getting a diesel subcut, get the MMM.

Now if you think removing and installing the MMM will be an issue for you (varies person to person) this could be a reason to go with a lawn tractor type mower.

The more hills and slopes you have to mow, the more valuable the 4x4 capability of the BX or other subcut is, by the way.

NoviceguyInCT, I don't mean to be rude or anything, hope my tone of voice in this post does not come over that way...

Henro · May 21, 2006

I wouldn't spend the extra $1500.00 for the BX mower, not for one acre of land. You'd be better off with an inexpensive Sears riding mower for around $900.00. 

Well, I certainly would not follow this advice!

After having a number of "riding lawn mowers" over the years, cutting grass with my BX is more of a pleasure than I can express /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...it is a great mower.

Fuel economy of the diesel as compared to a gas mower is amazing too.

If you end up getting a diesel subcut, get the MMM.

Now if you think removing and installing the MMM will be an issue for you (varies person to person) this could be a reason to go with a lawn tractor type mower.

The more hills and slopes you have to mow, the more valuable the 4x4 capability of the BX or other subcut is, by the way.

NoviceguyInCT, I don't mean to be rude or anything, hope my tone of voice in this post does not come over that way...

daTeacha · May 22, 2006

I have to support the resale info regarding little 'botas. I bought mine for 4200, used it 7 years, and got 4500 on trade-in on an A-plan priced Case. Fuel use was miserly. I could run for many hours on 2 gallons of diesel.

daTeacha · May 22, 2006

I have to support the resale info regarding little 'botas. I bought mine for 4200, used it 7 years, and got 4500 on trade-in on an A-plan priced Case. Fuel use was miserly. I could run for many hours on 2 gallons of diesel.

bandit67 · May 22, 2006

( I was wondering what the best little tractor that comes with a front bucket and a rear digging hoe would be? I have about 1-acre of property and need to move around a good amount of dirt, rip out stumps, and do a bunch of other landscapping stuff. I would also like to use it to mow my lawn, unless it's much more cost effective to buy a seperate riding lawn mower for this? )

To answer your original question, I agree with those that recommended the Kubota BX23 or new BX24. Those machines are the perfect size for a 1 acre lot with lots of projects like you mentioned. I'd also recommend spending the money on the mid-mount-mower, as you will spend $1500 on a riding mower with a smaller 42" deck, and have a cheaper, more flimsy machine, and a second machine to maintain. Maintaining and storing a heavy duty 54" or 60" mower deck is much easier than a cheap riding mower that won't last as long as the Kubota mower deck.

One of the things you mentioned is the backhoe, and that is why the BX23 and BX24, and Massey GC2310 are the only machines that fit that bill of all the others mentioned. I've used a Kubota BX22 pretty extensively, and feel that Kubota has put together a great little TLB package, and am thoroughly impressed with the new BX24 - I think Kubota has significantly upped the ante with the new BX series. I'm not as impressed with the MF GC2310, but that is only my personal opinion. You will shell out $16-17k for one of these, but I'd bet after logging 50 hours, you'll be asking yourself why you waited so long to get one.

bandit67 · May 22, 2006

( I was wondering what the best little tractor that comes with a front bucket and a rear digging hoe would be? I have about 1-acre of property and need to move around a good amount of dirt, rip out stumps, and do a bunch of other landscapping stuff. I would also like to use it to mow my lawn, unless it's much more cost effective to buy a seperate riding lawn mower for this? )

To answer your original question, I agree with those that recommended the Kubota BX23 or new BX24. Those machines are the perfect size for a 1 acre lot with lots of projects like you mentioned. I'd also recommend spending the money on the mid-mount-mower, as you will spend $1500 on a riding mower with a smaller 42" deck, and have a cheaper, more flimsy machine, and a second machine to maintain. Maintaining and storing a heavy duty 54" or 60" mower deck is much easier than a cheap riding mower that won't last as long as the Kubota mower deck.

One of the things you mentioned is the backhoe, and that is why the BX23 and BX24, and Massey GC2310 are the only machines that fit that bill of all the others mentioned. I've used a Kubota BX22 pretty extensively, and feel that Kubota has put together a great little TLB package, and am thoroughly impressed with the new BX24 - I think Kubota has significantly upped the ante with the new BX series. I'm not as impressed with the MF GC2310, but that is only my personal opinion. You will shell out $16-17k for one of these, but I'd bet after logging 50 hours, you'll be asking yourself why you waited so long to get one.

inneedoftractor · May 22, 2006

what bota did you have?

inneedoftractor · May 22, 2006

what bota did you have?

howlin_wolf · May 22, 2006

( With the projects you mention and the mowing, I PROMISE you that if you were to buy a JD or Sears siae mower to pull a dirt cart, that you would you would regret the purchase. KUBOTA! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Not only that, but you may end up in the Emergency Room. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I couldn't afford a CUT for a while and did a bunch of work that was out of the range of my garden tractor and now it has for sure seen better days. It was stuff that had to get done one way or another like hauling rocks, dirt, mulch up and down hills, pulling a heavy lawn roller (well trying to), core areator, and trying to keep some brush cut back with my mower deck. The little gal still runs like a champ, but we both ended up backwards in the dump pit with a load of rocks twice, the brakes are COMPLETELY shot from trying to stop on hills with a cart of mulch or soil, If you forget and put her in 2nd gear, you have to rip the tranny out and pick out some more gear peices before you can mow again. The headlights are busted out from where I used the grill and an apple tree to stop me from sliding down a bank a few times. The hitch is bent up from where my 10 ft3 cart ripped it up flying backwards down a hill and jack knifed. I'm on deck spindle #3 from trying to use it as a bush hog.

I was finally able to afford a CUT a month or so ago, and now Old Yella can finally go back to mowing grass and nothing more. She's a heck of a grass cutter, now that I got her new blades and don't cut brush with her anymore, but she still won't stop on the hills for me. Maybe I should try to find some brake parts for her now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

howlin_wolf · May 22, 2006

( With the projects you mention and the mowing, I PROMISE you that if you were to buy a JD or Sears siae mower to pull a dirt cart, that you would you would regret the purchase. KUBOTA! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Not only that, but you may end up in the Emergency Room. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I couldn't afford a CUT for a while and did a bunch of work that was out of the range of my garden tractor and now it has for sure seen better days. It was stuff that had to get done one way or another like hauling rocks, dirt, mulch up and down hills, pulling a heavy lawn roller (well trying to), core areator, and trying to keep some brush cut back with my mower deck. The little gal still runs like a champ, but we both ended up backwards in the dump pit with a load of rocks twice, the brakes are COMPLETELY shot from trying to stop on hills with a cart of mulch or soil, If you forget and put her in 2nd gear, you have to rip the tranny out and pick out some more gear peices before you can mow again. The headlights are busted out from where I used the grill and an apple tree to stop me from sliding down a bank a few times. The hitch is bent up from where my 10 ft3 cart ripped it up flying backwards down a hill and jack knifed. I'm on deck spindle #3 from trying to use it as a bush hog.

I was finally able to afford a CUT a month or so ago, and now Old Yella can finally go back to mowing grass and nothing more. She's a heck of a grass cutter, now that I got her new blades and don't cut brush with her anymore, but she still won't stop on the hills for me. Maybe I should try to find some brake parts for her now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

inneedoftractor · May 22, 2006

see what is the turning radius of something like the BX23 or BX24? Right now I am debating whether to just get a $1,400 Sears Craftsman 42" riding mower with a 22hp Briggs Intek Twin engine, it has a 16" cutting radius which is great because I have lots of small things to cut around.

Also, my property, without the house is only about 1/2 acre, I checked out my survey.

inneedoftractor · May 22, 2006

see what is the turning radius of something like the BX23 or BX24? Right now I am debating whether to just get a $1,400 Sears Craftsman 42" riding mower with a 22hp Briggs Intek Twin engine, it has a 16" cutting radius which is great because I have lots of small things to cut around.

Also, my property, without the house is only about 1/2 acre, I checked out my survey.