JD 4' BB

[ADin]

JD 4\' BB

I've been pricing 4' BB this week and am perplexed at the JD pricing. In general I find cheap BB's around $400-450 (TSC/KK, etc), next step around $600-650 (Bush Hog, ...), and then there is JD's Frontier at ~$1100. I see obvious quality differences in general between the $400 and $600 BBs (weight, plate thickness, structural stability/weld, etc), but not much visible stepping to the ~$1100 JD.

Is there anything significant of merit in the Frontier over the BushHog for example (ignoring the $400 BBs from the equation) that I should be considering? I don't mind paying for quality, or making tradeoffs to save cost when I know what I'm giving up, but the price gap seems too large that I'm naively assuming I must be missing something.

Obviously, if I go BushHog, I'll have to do the 'smokedtires' paint job makeover (sans JD logos) /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[ADin]

JD 4\' BB

I've been pricing 4' BB this week and am perplexed at the JD pricing. In general I find cheap BB's around $400-450 (TSC/KK, etc), next step around $600-650 (Bush Hog, ...), and then there is JD's Frontier at ~$1100. I see obvious quality differences in general between the $400 and $600 BBs (weight, plate thickness, structural stability/weld, etc), but not much visible stepping to the ~$1100 JD.

Is there anything significant of merit in the Frontier over the BushHog for example (ignoring the $400 BBs from the equation) that I should be considering? I don't mind paying for quality, or making tradeoffs to save cost when I know what I'm giving up, but the price gap seems too large that I'm naively assuming I must be missing something.

Obviously, if I go BushHog, I'll have to do the 'smokedtires' paint job makeover (sans JD logos) /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[sbt]

Re: JD 4\' BB

$1100? Thats a little steep. I just paid $600 for the Frontier 5' BB

 

[sbt]

Re: JD 4\' BB

$1100? Thats a little steep. I just paid $600 for the Frontier 5' BB

 

[TOL1488]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Go to another dealer, That is way too high for even a Frontier.

I paid $600 for a Frontier BB2060 though that was with a tractor, the starting price was $775.

 

[TOL1488]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Go to another dealer, That is way too high for even a Frontier.

I paid $600 for a Frontier BB2060 though that was with a tractor, the starting price was $775.

 

[ADin]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Actually, I was thinking/hoping that a misquote was indeed the case and someone here could give me better information to challenge the quote. I went so far as to call back to a different salesperson for another quote with the same answer. I'm baffled...all I can figure is I'm saying BB and maybe they're hearing FB??

 

[ADin]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Actually, I was thinking/hoping that a misquote was indeed the case and someone here could give me better information to challenge the quote. I went so far as to call back to a different salesperson for another quote with the same answer. I'm baffled...all I can figure is I'm saying BB and maybe they're hearing FB??

 

[smokedtires]

Re: JD 4\' BB

I looked at the Frontier and the KK before purchasing the Bush Hog. The BH was slightly less money, but seemed over built compared to the KK. I've been very pleased with the way the BH has worked out, it is very sturdy and doesn't require any weight to be added to it for it to work on my land.

Good luck and let us know what you choose. If you need any paint tips let me know /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[smokedtires]

Re: JD 4\' BB

I looked at the Frontier and the KK before purchasing the Bush Hog. The BH was slightly less money, but seemed over built compared to the KK. I've been very pleased with the way the BH has worked out, it is very sturdy and doesn't require any weight to be added to it for it to work on my land.

Good luck and let us know what you choose. If you need any paint tips let me know /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Shawk]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Take a peak a Land Pride if they're available in your area as well. I've very pleased with mine...

 

[Shawk]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Take a peak a Land Pride if they're available in your area as well. I've very pleased with mine...

 

[Waldo]

Re: JD 4\' BB

I got a John Deere 48" BB when I purchased my X595. To be honest with you I’m not sure of the price because it was a part of a package deal with several other implements. The very first time I used it I hit a small submerged stump and bent the Left hand lower connection pin of the 3PH approximately 20 degrees. Important notice: this was the first time I have ever used a box blade and I was an inexperienced tractor operator (for lack of a better term) at the time. I took it to a friend who straitened it out and then reinforced it with a piece of angle (from pin to pin) but have only “played” with it for a few minutes since. I found this bb too light in weight to “dig into” anything but already loose material. Keep in mind this is coming from someone that has very little knowledge of “working” with a bb. My frustration of trying to use this is part of my rational to upgrade to a 790 with a Frontier 2060 bb to get my bumpy yard whipped into shape!

 

[Waldo]

Re: JD 4\' BB

I got a John Deere 48" BB when I purchased my X595. To be honest with you I’m not sure of the price because it was a part of a package deal with several other implements. The very first time I used it I hit a small submerged stump and bent the Left hand lower connection pin of the 3PH approximately 20 degrees. Important notice: this was the first time I have ever used a box blade and I was an inexperienced tractor operator (for lack of a better term) at the time. I took it to a friend who straitened it out and then reinforced it with a piece of angle (from pin to pin) but have only “played” with it for a few minutes since. I found this bb too light in weight to “dig into” anything but already loose material. Keep in mind this is coming from someone that has very little knowledge of “working” with a bb. My frustration of trying to use this is part of my rational to upgrade to a 790 with a Frontier 2060 bb to get my bumpy yard whipped into shape!

 

[ADin]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Thanks all,

I will scout out the LandPride's which I haven't stumbled across yet, but at the moment I'm still leaning toward the BushHog mainly due to it's weight advantage over most the other BB's I've looked at which weighs in at 430lbs. In reality the BB will likely be used as ballast more than blading and I thinking the 430 + 4 42lb suitcase weights should make for good enough ballast and eliminate need to buy (and store) a ballast box.

I did locate another JD dealer quoting the 48" 2048L (275lb lightweight) for $675, but I would have to go up in price to the BB2048 to be comparable to the BushHog.

I noticed a number of companies now have "sub-compact" attachements with the BB's typically being ~12-14" high versus the 17"-22" for standard equipment. With the JD2305's limited clearance, how big of an issue is this? The BushHog is only 18" and I was assuming I could tighten the toplink up when using only at ballast.

 

[ADin]

Re: JD 4\' BB

Thanks all,

I will scout out the LandPride's which I haven't stumbled across yet, but at the moment I'm still leaning toward the BushHog mainly due to it's weight advantage over most the other BB's I've looked at which weighs in at 430lbs. In reality the BB will likely be used as ballast more than blading and I thinking the 430 + 4 42lb suitcase weights should make for good enough ballast and eliminate need to buy (and store) a ballast box.

I did locate another JD dealer quoting the 48" 2048L (275lb lightweight) for $675, but I would have to go up in price to the BB2048 to be comparable to the BushHog.

I noticed a number of companies now have "sub-compact" attachements with the BB's typically being ~12-14" high versus the 17"-22" for standard equipment. With the JD2305's limited clearance, how big of an issue is this? The BushHog is only 18" and I was assuming I could tighten the toplink up when using only at ballast.