Buying Advice Is it good for me?

[Freedom dave]

Hello guys, I have been through alot of forums and you guys are very informative and I thank you but wanted to start this thread to get some direct answers and opinions.

I am a landscaper in Toronto Canada and presently own a Boxer 320 (stand on mini skid steer) 36" with a bucket and a auger. I am getting into more work that involves digging and grading whether sod or interlocking and planting trees and retaining walls.

I am thinking of the BX25 TBL for alot of reasons, its size that its still compact enough to get places and its price and 0% financing. I was thinking full size bobcat because its a machine and a half but way to big for alot of my jobs I do and have done and getting it I know it will sit alot of the time and even a 4' wide one will be nice but limited to its actions.

The tractor with backhoe is a nice alternative. My questions are can it dig using the loader bucket, is it comfortable to ride all day, it says lift capacity is 750lbs so does that mean at highest height to dump into my F550 and is there any other landscapers using this machine as I don't see alot if any landscapers up here using them here and wonder why if its so good in my mind. What would be the cons in me buying one.

Thanks in advance from all of you experienced users.

Dave

 

[PapaPerk]

I would look at the B size machine with loader and hoe. I think the BX will be too small for u.

 

[Freedom dave]

I would look at the B size machine with loader and hoe. I think the BX will be too small for u.

Thanks Papperk, I was thinking the same thing but the B puts me into a whole different price range and size catagory, thats the problem.

 

[treman]

I think it would work well for small areas but i would check to see if it would even get over the sides of your dump and if it does your not going to be able to reach the center of the truck so you will have to load from both sides. I would agree however to look slightly larger. You could likely get a similar tractor in size but with much better specs for your needs.

 

[Freedom dave]

Thanks Treman, yes that is what I'm scared of, it being just a bigger version of my mini skid steer. I love the backhoe aspect of the Kubota and thats what started my interests. I also have a 6 tonne dump trailer but thats what I would use to haul the machines. I just don't know if the reach in front is more than my other machine or same that would make the difference. My Boxer can load the 550 but like you said from the sides and limited to the height so making it smaller loads. Trying to talk myself into getting a new toy but will kill myself if its useless and stops me from getting next size up in the future.

 

[CAgnoli]

My suggestion. Take your F550 and the trailer to a dealer. Get on a BX and see if it will do what you want. Costs ya nothing to mimick what you'd do at work in the dealers parking lot. If the BX won't do it, try a B, maybe the dealer will have some nice used stock....

Personally, I'm not sure a BX would meet the needs of a landscaper, not because the machine isn't capable, but that you'd get the jobs done faster with a larger machine, time being money and all....

 

[Verticaltrx]

I echo the others that say look at the B-series. Even the smallest B2320 is a step above the BX, and priced pretty close. I have a B3200 that I use in my small construction business and it is none too large to load a 1-ton dump. Reach and lift height are the most important things to be able to efficiently load a truck, the larger models will be a lot better in that regard.

IMO and of the B series would serve you well, even the largest B's are very small tractors and maneuverability is excellent.

 

[dodge man]

I agree with what the others have said. What makes the BX so attractive is the price with the backhoe. I think even a smaller B with a backhoe will be more money, but you can price one out. You also have to balance how much a heavier machine will tear up lawns, and be less easy to maneuver around. There is no doubt a larger machine will do it all a lot faster.

You probably have a pretty good idea of the kind of work you do, so its just a matter of figuring out what machine fits your need better. I think even a BX will perform better than your current machine for digging. What the compact tool carriers have over a small tractor is a much more powerful hydraulic system, but if you keep your current machine, you have that covered.

 

[Freedom dave]

Thanx guys, all help is appreciated, I love the toys but very indecisive about this and thats why so on the fence. My wife says go for it but I know what will happen if I complain about it once so thats why I am so up in the air or do I wait and get the next thing and hope for bigger jobs but than I think I should get the skidsteer.

Sorry so confused.

I would keep my smaller machine cause it has not let me down yet and perfect for small areas but looks funny and takes so much time for the bigger areas or jobs. I figure I could use backhoe from kubota and use my mini skid steer to load dirt away all at same time.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Even the smallest B2320 is a step above the BX, and priced pretty close. .

1*Until you figure in a BH then the gap widens.

I agree with what the others have said. What makes the BX so attractive is the price with the backhoe.
2* I think even a smaller B with a backhoe will be more money.

2*My BX24 TLB was $15500 and a B2410 was about the same but with out any BH.
Putting A BH on the B2410 would have cost about 6000 or more dollars than I paid for the BX24.
.