BX24 right for me?

J0be269 · Mar 17, 2008

First off, I'm new around here....have been reading alot trying to learn what I can about the BX. I have ready many many good things about it but I have a few things that are still unanswered. To give a little background before I start, I'm in Georgia with mostly good ole Georgia clay, the BX24 is gonna my at my upper price limit, and I have a L2800 DT on the property. The L2800 belongs to my parents who rarely use it, but we have a compound type place on 13 acres which we all use and the tractor is no different. I don't want to try to add to it though as I want my own machine.

So for the questions, initally I want to use the BX24 to help clean up the three piles of trees left by my grader. I know it will not easily cherry pick from the top of the piles as they are full trees with root balls. But would it be possibly to pull out some of them and use the hoe to lift for cutting the moving with the loader to burn/burry?

My next task is going to be removal of some stumps which I hear can be done with paitence and time.

I just really don't know what to expect at the moment, can I expect to get full hoe buckets or does it lack the power? I have many jobs to be done and most will take weeks/months or years as I don't like short cuts. Buying seems to be the smartest thing due to rental costs and financing, as I've been quoted $17,000 for the 24 with the 60" MMM at a dealer about 3 miles from my home.

One more thing for you dealer types out there, the current Kubota financing rates expire on 6/30/2008, could I expect to see very similar rates after this date or do you think I should try to get in on the currect before it expires?

Thank you in advance for any help/comments and suggestions.

Nathan

KeithInSpace · Mar 18, 2008

You already have a bigger tractor, so you have the 13 acre thing covered.

To pick things up with the BH effectively, you need to factor in a Bro-Tek or Wallenstien thumb. It will greatly increase the utility of your BH.

Regarding the BH: There are a couple of things going on there. The hydraulic pump in the BX only has sufficient capacity to run a max of 2 operations smoothly (versus larger machines where you can do whatever you want...curl, raise, and rotate simultaneously). Obviously, it gives up some raw power to larger machines also. One thing it will NOT do is cherry pick whole trees with root balls from the tops of any piles unless the tree in question is under 4" or 5" in diameter. But I used my BH just yesterday to easily lift a 6" diameter tree (sans root ball) so I could safely chop it up for hauling without getting my blade into the dirt.

All that said, it is immensely powerful for its size. I have removed Pine stumps (where you must dig to China to get around the tap root) up to 12" diameter in about an hour. It takes a few more moments to get the root ball topside, then another few minutes to get the dirt knocked off. This isn't one of those things where you reach into the earth and pop the root out with one tug...it takes a process to remove each one, but after a solid dozen of them, I've gotten pretty efficient.

If your stumps are, say 16" in diameter or larger, I would say that you'd have a hard time working with them in a BX. It can handle smaller than 12" with the best of them, but the stumps just get too heavy for this machine, both out back and in the front (FEL) when you go to transport them.

You will easily get full BH/FEL buckets. It has a great deal of power and can handle itself. It is when you start asking the impossible that it talks back, but it has made nearly every aspect of outside life easier for me. Instead of my outdoor work taking 3 days, it takes 3 hours. THAT is the beauty of a BX.

Regarding the financing: They have scared folks with the expiration of 0% financing since before I bought my machine in the early 2006. If there has been a gap in the financing, it has been for a week or so before they re-institute a new 0% gig. I'd say you're 93.4% safe to simply assume 0% will continue past the current expiration date of June '08.

That isn't a bad price you were quoted, either.

Hope your search goes well. Feel free to ask the folks here anything you think of. Happy to help spend your money anytime.

Bucky4 · Mar 18, 2008

Kub list prices...
BX24 w/R4 tires = $16669
12" hoe bucket = 419
60" MMM = 1805
-------
Total = $18893

17000/18893 = ~90%

10% off is better than here in Western Pa!

J0be269 · Mar 18, 2008

Thanks for the replies guys. You kinda put me at ease a little Keith about a few of my final concerns. I have read nothing but good about the BX here on the forum as well as others. I never expected the BX24 to be able to pick up whole trees at extension, main just for cutting like you described. Worst case is I'll do like I've been doing and use the L2800 and the ole chain to get trees off pile, then use BX to lift for cut and haul away with the FEL.

The Home Depot in my area has a small bota, I would say a b21 maybe. Could be a BX but I just haven't looked lately. I plan to rent it in a couple of weeks to do a few chores and get an idea of the fun I can have. Probably tackle the two larger stumps I have (I would say abou a 12-14 sweet gum and a pretty big popler) with the rental so the future BX will not suffer that abuse.

I've ran many different types of equipment, rentals and what not. Add to that the L2800 and I have enough know how to tackle jobs the right way and not just jump in head strong, I think that will help alot. Hopefully I can get a little better with my grading too.....I roughed my shop pad with the L2800 and much to my dismay when I got out the transit I had left a 9" rise from front to back over 22'. I'm sure this will come with some good ole seat time.

Shmudda · Mar 19, 2008

Bucky4 said:
Kub list prices...
BX24 w/R4 tires = $16669
12" hoe bucket = 419
60" MMM = 1805
-------
Total = $18893

17000/18893 = ~90%

10% off is better than here in Western Pa!

Bucky,

Golden Eagle Equipment, Rt 30, North Huntington BX-24 with R4 Tires - $16,800, with a 54" MMM, Tooth Bar, and a 12" hoe bucket....out the door with tax and all....$17,900 and zero % financing for 3 years.

Not a bad deal, but not good either.......

Craig

Bucky4 · Mar 20, 2008

Craig,

You received much better pricing than when I spoke to them.

BX24 + R4s + 12" hoe bucket + 60" MMM = 17,800 + tax (no toothbar)

I immediately crossed them off my list when the salesman quoted me a "Kub list price" of $500 over the true list price. I said I'll think about it and moved on. As I said on another thread, he must think he's the only one in the world who knows how to use the internet. I would never recommend them. Too shady for me!

At least the other dealers I spoke to gave me honest prices and had the balls to tell me up front that they knew they weren't the lowest around.

I'm amazed that the Western PA dealers don't want to deal. Their inventories are extremely large with lots of leftovers!

-jim

Tom_H · Mar 20, 2008

Keith is right about the thumb. Bro-Tek has a better reputation. You may also want to look at their ripper for the end of the backhoe, it works well alone, but also in combination with the thumb as a claw. Also, you may be interested in the American Solutions grapple to go on the front of the FEL bucket. Don't have time at this moment to find and put up the links. Will try to find and put them up later in the day.