BX22 - How tough? Worth refinancing?

weedsportpete · Apr 9, 2003

I'm thinking I should have gotten the BX 22 instead of the BX2200. We've hired an excavator to do various things and its getting expensive. But we have very hard clay, not very far down. Can a BX22 dig into that easily?

Can someone give me a comparison between a BX22, mini excavators (that I can rent at an equipment rental place) and regular (contractor) sized excavators?

Most of the excavating work is digging drainage ditches, about 800 feet immediately, another 1000 feet next year, then probably 500 feet a year for the next five years. Some of the trenches have to run under fences.. I'd rather not cut the fence and rebuild it just get an excavator in. Also, for about five months out of the year, I've got a lot of mud.. don't know if that is a factor.

Is it worth refinancing, or is it better to rent? or keep paying the excavator contractor..

techman · Apr 9, 2003

I would recommend getting the BX22. Once you have it you will never find an end to the things you can do with the BH. If you rent, which also gets expensive, you will later find a hundred things you wished you had a BH around to do.

Given the strong resale/trade-in price of the BX2200, the cost to go the a BX22 is well worth it.

As far as digging, I have found that the '22 has not yet lost a challange. It may not be as fast at times as a bigger machine, but it will get the job done. I took out some big tree stumps. A big machine might have done it in a few scoops, but I needed to do more digging around the edges to get them out. But in the end, the stumps yielded. It sure is better than digging by hand. Also if you thing the digging will be tough, get the 10" bucket instead of the 12". It will have more digging force at the expense of a slightly smaller bite.

paul

nitronut1 · Apr 9, 2003

Techman said it perfectly. It you have a lot of mud; get the bar tires.

weedsportpete · Apr 9, 2003

Are the bar tires going to dig up the lawn when I use the mid mount mower?

Glad to hear that I can still do the same work as a larger machine.. I don't mind more seat time, especially when its on my schedule, or rather then getting a rental machine back by a certain time.

And I know you are right about finding more things to do.. thats what happened with the loader.

techman · Apr 9, 2003

I opted for the bar tires. Most of the tractor time has been mowing 2+ acres of grass w/60" MMM. The bar tires have not left any marks in the lawn. I was a bit concerned in the beginning, but they have been great on the grass. The only time I ripped any grass was when using the FEL and pushing hard. Granted when the bars slip, it is like a tiller running, but I guess that is the purpose.

I was truly impressed in the snow. In 4WD, the bars climbed through 20"+ of snow without a hitch. I purchased chains for the rear for snowblowing up hill. But I think the chains will end up rusting in their shipping bag before I ever use them.

Go for the bars for sure.

paul

nitronut1 · Apr 9, 2003

For what its worth, I bought my BX22 last July with turfs. They were great in the summer and fall...then came the Northeast blizzard...and now the mud. I went to the dealer and paid $360 for a set of bars on rims. With an airgun I can swap all four in 10 minutes. Now I can adjust the tractor to whatever weather and work conditions I need to. It makes the "tool" more "adaptable".

Gregg

Rick Jay · Apr 9, 2003

Hi,

The BX22 is a GREAT unit. However, try to size up the jobs you have listed. How much reach and depth do you need. The little hoe on the BX22 can run out of reach pretty quick.

As for the difference between a mini-excavator and the BX22. The excavator can probably rotate 360 degrees, where the BX is limited to 140 degrees, a full size hoe can swing 180 degrees.

For trenching, nothing compares to a mini-excavator. You can straddle the trench and just dig. Much easier than always re-setting the backhoe.

However, the excavator is a very special purpose tool. You might be able to pick-up a used one with some life left in it, use if for a few years and then sell it.

Of course, if you've got lots of time and your projects are within the capabilities of the BX22 or larger CUT with a backhoe, then I'll be the first to recommend that route.

~Rick

Steven · Apr 9, 2003

1. How much do you plane to spend on trenching work to complete job?

2. How much more money do you need to upgrade to a bx-22 that will be YOURS when job is complete?

Then decide on wich way your money would be better off spent #1 or #2

Looks like a free upgrade to me. because your going to spend the money one way or an other. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anonymous Poster · Apr 9, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm thinking I should have gotten the BX 22 instead of the BX2200. We've hired an excavator to do various things and its getting expensive. But we have very hard clay, not very far down. Can a BX22 dig into that easily?

Can someone give me a comparison between a BX22 and regular (contractor) sized excavators?)
Is it worth refinancing, or is it better to rent? or keep paying the excavator contractor.. )</font>

No comparison. The BX backhoe is really wimpy compared to a full sized excavator. Compared to doing the same task with a shovel it's a brute /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Kubota is offering zero percent financing at the moment. That makes it a little less painful to think about refinancing. I'm really happy with my turfs. But I've never seen any of that white stuff you guys keep talking about.

weedsportpete · Apr 10, 2003

Well you are right about that. I'm spending money either way. Getting the BX22 is spreading the payments over five years.. going with the contractor is a quick, big hit in the wallet. I'd rather have the BX22 when all is said and done and paid for. I have to work the numbers and run it by the CFO. I would love to do it myself, though I run the risk of doing it wrong and taking a lot longer, which the CFO doesn't like.
Thanks