Deere 345/Kubota BX22 Swap Make Sense?

boustany · Feb 11, 2004

So, the other day I went to my Deere dealer to get a new tire for my 345. The thing with the 345 is, it get stuck a lot. So, I started thinking: what about a 4WD? He priced out one (I forget which) and the price was around C $16K (about US $12K) with a 60" deck. Then I made the fatal mistake of asking how much a snowblower was: C $5,500 ( /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif)

This price didn't include the optional 3ph and rear PTO, even though it looked like a sweet machine.

So, out of curiousity I looked at what Kubota has. It seems a BX1830 to BX23 would be comparable. They are 4WD and come with a 3PH and rear PTO. And I wouldn't get stuck as much (the 345 gets stuck even in summer)

In theory, if I traded up, I could use the BX for everything I use the 345 for, plus use some of my attachments for my 3010.

This is potentially an important detail because my wife has developed a keen interest in using my 3010. Lets just say that the idea of her on a high center of gravity machine with lots of destructive potential scares me: I fear for her and the machine.

Does the trade up make sense?

Any idea what a BX22 or 23 would cost with a mower? Any Canadians own one? Whats the loader cost?

Hambone · Feb 11, 2004

What model did they price you at the Deere dealer? My JD 2210 (which compares to the BX & Massey GC) was $12,900 with 62" mower and FEL. It comes with 3ph and rear pto.
If he priced a 4xxx, that really is not a fair compare.

boustany · Feb 11, 2004

Oooo. Good point. I'll have a look at the brochure he gave me when I get home tonight. Something tells me it was a 4xxx

art · Feb 11, 2004

I think you would be very happy with the quality of the Kubota mower deck as well as the nimble feel of the short wheel base used on the BX tractors. To really save depending on your lawn you might look at the BX1500 series!

Hambone · Feb 11, 2004

<font color="red">This price didn't include the optional 3ph and rear PTO </font>
I thought about this somemore, I bet it was an X series. They are high, but still do not compare (in size) to the BX series.
For the price of a high end X series you could have the JD 2210.

boustany · Feb 11, 2004

I guess what I'm wrestling with is is a 4WD little bitty tractor with a PTO and 3 Point a good thing to have compared to the 2 WD 345, especially given I have a 3010?

I believe your 325 is similar to my 345. It your 2210 so much better than your 325, or do they pretty much do mostly the same thing?

Thanks

One thing I noticed about this size of machine is the modest ground clearance. Do you still get stuck a lot?

Will_C · Feb 11, 2004

I think it would make a great companion to a 3010! I was first sold on the BX because it offered much more than the garden tractors I was looking at for roughly (or very close to) the same cost.
I don't think you will get the BX stuck. the ground clearance is an issue, but won't you use the 3010 where that would be a problem?
Will

boustany · Feb 12, 2004

So, I checked the brochure he gave me. He quoted a Deere X595. What I don't get it that, specwise, a BX2230 seems to smoke the X500, except the X500 has a couple more horsepower.

I wonder why they sell the X500 for so much money? Maybe its a 'luxury tractor'. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyway, Will I was thinking of getting stuck in places I don't normally expect. My 345 will lose traction on a wet lawn with a minor slope to it, or in a couple inches of snow.

Its sounds like I'm going to look into this. Might make a great Valentine's day gift for my wife. And save my 3010 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Anyhow

Hambone · Feb 12, 2004

Actually I have a 335. The only noted difference is the 345 has a liquid cooled engine.

<font color="red"> It your 2210 so much better than your 325, or do they pretty much do mostly the same thing?
</font>

Can't even compare the two. The 2210 provides the same manicure cut of the 335 but lots faster, smoother, more stable, and will not get stuck.
I agree, I used to get stuck. I never have had the 2210 stuck, going into the same places.
Night and Day is how I would compare.

The X series is billed an Estate tractor /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

MessickFarmEqu · Feb 18, 2004

The X595 is the tractor that deere instructs its dealers to stack against a BX. I have had several people come in with that because I have a deere dealer about 5 miles from me. It really is not a fair comparision in the slightest. The x595 is on the large end of garden tractor, i would hesitate to call it a compact. It also has MANY accessories that are standard on the BX like rear PTO and 3 point. Once you start to total up the cost of all the accessories and the cost of having them dealer installed and the BX starts to look more and more compriable.

IMO, deere does not have a product below 50HP that stands out from the rest. Thus their dramatic loss in market share over the past few years.