Help deciding on model

[kavery]

I recently purchased a 8 acre lot in Middle Tennessee. The lot is almost all wooded except about 1/2 an acre. The lot has a gentle slope to start and gets steeper as you move back. There is also considerable surface rock as you get further back in the lot. I would like to purchase a tractor to thin brush, cut natural prairie grass in open area, eventually use tractor to pull stumps and logs, try to remove most of the trash trees and underbrush, and maybe cut some paths through the trees for walking.
I really think I could get by with a BX but have been a little concerned about ground clearance when bush hogging in the underbrush. The other side of the coin is that on the sloped lot a BX might be less prone to rollover and fit between trees better. I have little experience with tractors, but am sure I want something with hydro transmission. I am not sure how much use I would get from a backhoe but think a FEL would be used regularly. Any advice would be great. Also if anyone wants to recommend a Kubota dealer that would be great I have been to local one and he was ok but not great. He suggested a 7800 which seemed a little too much, but maybe I am wrong. The initial prices he quoted also seemed significantly higher than what I have seen posted here. Thanks for the help.

 

[Will_C]

If you are not going to use a MMM, go with a B tractor. I have and am a huge BX fan, but if you are not going to mow lawn, the B series is the way to go. If the 7800 is too large for your needs, I believe the 7610 and 2630 have a smaller footprint. Hope this helps,
Will

 

[Barnboy]

B7800,B2630,B3030 share the same footprint. The B7800 and B3030 are 30 hp with the B3030 being the delux model. The B7800 is pretty much the same as the B3030 with the exception of some bells and whistles and position control on the 3ph. The B2630 is a 26hp tractor with the same features as the B3030. Aprox $1000 less for the B2630.

 

[proudestmonkey]

You might want to take a look at the review section if you haven't already.

I had the same concern as you about size. I have 5 acres, most on pretty good incline, about 2 acres to mow. I am glad I did not go bigger than the BX2230 because I am already finding the greater ground clearance over the JD riding mower I traded in for it is great in the woods where I am digging and cutting paths, but is almost too much for mowing on the hills (and even when I mow up or down hill, turning for the next swath still requires a nerve-wracking few seconds at a sideways angle). I am not sure it would be feasible with anything higher off the ground, unless it had a lot more weight and wider wheelbase (which would also likely mean it would be harder on the grass).

If you are mostly concerned with brush hogging and working in the woods, you might want to get a bigger Kubota and buy a small riding lawnmower.