BX2200 vs. B7500

jwstewar · Sep 6, 2001

I have 7.68 acres. It is pretty much flat other than the road ditch and ditch that runs through the property. I hope to eventually get to the point where I'm finish mowing everything. Right now I'm waiting on the excavators to come and finish cleaning and leveling the "other" side and finishing grading the ditch where I had them clean it out with a trackhoe. Too many trees and items that would have pretty much killed any rubber tired vehicle. Any way I digress. I'm hoping to buy something in the spring, I know I could probably get a better deal now but for financial reasons I must wait + I want to get a garage built to house my new Bota in. Don't want it to get wet. I'm torn between the B7500 and the BX2200. I like the fact the 2200 has a lower center-of-gravity because of mowing the edges of the ditch, but I'm worried about crossing that ditch. Don't want to go clear out around the road and onto the highway to get to another section of my property. I know the 7500 could get a hoe attachment for it that would help to keep that ditch cleaned out after heavy rains. Will also do some snow removal with it. We don't get a lot of snow here in southern Ohio, but yet I own a 4X4 truck for it. Only about 160' gravel driveway. So will probably just be looking at the FEL for that purpose or a rear blade. Either tractor I got with will have the 60" mmm and FEL. To help the 60" mmm I have a 63" Agri-Fab mower that I plan to pull behind the Bota offset. This should give me a total cutting width of around 105-115". I know you should always buy a big as tractor as possible but these tractors seem very even in almost every aspect. Which seems right for this application? I've seen Will cost comparison chart, but does anyone know what kind of price I should expect here in Southern Ohio for these tractors and toys that I've mentioned to go with them. Sorry for the long post.
FWIW I'm currently using a '65 Sears Suburban 12 HP Garden Tractor. It has a 42" deck, but that died on my last week and I can't find the parts to fix it. Seem to be unavailable. I currently (or at least did) use it to mow and pull the Agri-Fab without any real issues other than its age and lack of dependability. Until I get my Bota I guess I'm down to just the pull behind, but that is real difficult to mow next to something with.
Edited by jwstewar on 09/06/01 03:22 PM (server time).

Charliebrn · Sep 6, 2001

Well, I guess a lot would depend on how much ditch bank you have to mow. Myself, I mow quite a bit of it, and I can mow my ditch bank without any serious problem with the BX. When I purchased, the dealer brought me out a 7500 to try, and it was going obviously going to tip. In my particular application, the BX was the way to go. Keep in mind that the BX has less ground clearance, and this could be a factor with some implements. From what I"ve heard, Kubota is coming out with a backhoe for it, and I've seen others on this board with one already, but for a lot of this kind of work, you might opt for a much larger tractor...perhaps rent one when you need the backhoe...they can be hard on the little tractors.

Try them both out on your ditchbanks. You decide.

RPM · Sep 6, 2001

I don't know how big your ditch is - but why not just put a 6' section of culvert pipe in it and cover with dirt / concrete? Would solve that problem in a hurry. You could also do it with railroad ties. Not like it's a stream after all ... no more potential problem with ground clearance on the BX and you get to do your first project with the FEL too.

Patrick

theboman · Sep 6, 2001

I suggest the B7500 because it's bigger and that's only reason. The ditch if it's too steep up and down for a B7500 I'd weedeat it, bushhog (back the sucker over the bank) or find another way to cut it.
I got my B7500 HST, 60" MMM and Woods 1006 FEL for $13,8500 on 6/1/01 at Davis in Ashland. The matched or beat the prices for Jividens (sp) in Galapolis by several hundred dollars. I live in Ashland KY were in Ohio are you?

Bluegrass, Pick It Up!

jwstewar · Sep 7, 2001

I don't how steep the excavator is going to make the ditches yet. Hope I'm home when he comes to do it so I have some control of it. Otherwise it is his discretion. When we talked it was agreed to leave sloped so that I could mow it. Don't know if putting a culvert in is a solution or not. Neighbors put a 15" culvert in their portion of it last fall. We had a pretty good rainy spell here in the spring. Where we had both just had the ditch cleaned out, it washed about 2 feet wider then what it had been and his culvert was then sitting on my property. They have yet to replace it. They retrieved but have not returned. He just bought a new Long 4WD diesel w/ FEL, not sure of model or hp. Any thoughts on this brand of tractor? Don't want to get a war started but would like to here some thoughts.

BTW I'm in Chillicothe, OH. We are about an hour north of Galipolis straight up 35. About an hour south of Columbus. I've been looking at a couple of dealers. I've been talking with Ricer (I think that is the sp) in Lucasville and I've looked at the equipment Hill Implement in Circleville has. By the time I get to come through there on my way home from work they are closed (love those 4 10 hr days - will give me 3 days to play with my Bota when I get it). Can't remember the exact numbers Ricer quoted me as we were at the county fair at the time. But seemed like it was competive to what I'm seeing on other BXs.

frank_f15 · Sep 7, 2001

bx2200 vrs b7500. i would go with larger machine, but u know YOUR needs best. BX alittle more stable(mabey) 7500 more ground clearence, which is more important to u? as for your friends new purchase of a LONG TRACTOR, i have a dealer 3 mi. from home. looked at them then did some reasearch, and decided not to give them much consideration. it may be a good tractor, but decided to go with a proven machine. just my opinion

GlueGuy · Sep 9, 2001

I would weigh the uses you really intend to use it for. Since the property is flat (with the exception of that ditch), there shouldn't be a great difference in the mowing capabilities. If the slope is a concern, the BX would have the advantage in mowing it.

Like others have stated, the B7500 has more ground clearance. This isn't a big advantage in actual usage, except that it makes fitting "some" attachments to the 3PH work better (like a post hole digger or backhoe).

In spite of the HP "specs", the B7500 does have a noticable advantage in the power department, and in the hydraulic department as well. The B7500 also has a two-speed PTO on the rear.

Our driveway os about 4300', and I use Lucy to maintain it with a 4' Woods boxblade.

The GlueGuy

pcmem · Sep 10, 2001

We finally found a dealer that had both so took a trip over
the weekend to check them both out. The BX was actually an
1800 but was told they are physically the same, only
difference is the engine. Except for the larger tires they
seem very similar in size.

I liked the lower rpm of the engine in the 7500, as well as
the heavier loader and 3pt lift capacities. The adjustable
rear wheels was nice too. Ground clearance was more but
we didn't think the BX was limited. The BX had a MMM where
the 7500 didn't and neither had a loader. We liked the
suspended mower on the BX. When trying the mower the BX
seemed very sure footed on the slopes. Trying the 7500 on
the same slope felt tippy although it didn't. I don't know
if the addition of a 300# mower deck on the 7500 would have
made it feel more stable or not.

This will be a tough choice to make. Thanks for the help.
Michael