Kubota B2910 or BX23???

[gregmhtd]

Trying to decided between the two (before 0% interest runs out in a week), I like the pricing of the BX compared to the 2910 with similar implements, but have concerns about how much the BX loader can lift and its ground clearance. I don't know if I will need to lift more than 460 lbs, but you never know. I believe I read in some other posts that the BH attachment lowers the ground clearance of the 2910 to something similar as the BX, but I'm not for sure. I'm only on 5 acres in North Texas, and have many projects to complete from planting trees, removing brush, mowing, & lastly, clearing debris out of a creek (rotted trees, silt, etc).
Any and all input is welcome, thanks in advanced from a newbie.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Greg, welcome to TBN.
First thing is, these are not apples to apples tractors as I'm sure you know.
The sub compact BX23 is just not on the same line as the B2910, but for your purposes, you may be happy with either.
I, myself, would much prefer the larger of the two as the HP would be much better utilized with the heavier frame tractor putting more weight to the wheels.
I'm not sure either that the BH on the 2910 would reduce the clearance back to what the BX is, but I don't think it's quite that low. You would be way ahead having the higher clearance, even if you lost a little with a BH.
I suspect that you may want to post in the Kubota forum for more input from those who may not read the general forums. Go try them both out, and find out what works for you. There have been many posts from members who have BX tractors and they all seem pretty satisfied except for some who have complained that the 3pt. hitch doesn't always accommodate full size 3pt. implements.
I'm sure Henro and others will be happy to address this with you. John

 

[riptides]

For me it was wieght and ground clearance. I delegated the mowing duties to a mower. The front-end loader did not really factor into my thinking. That was almost a mistake. IMHO better to have more FEL capacity than not enough. And when I am moving stuff around now, I get an ocassional rear end lift!

Anyhow, you mentioned creek beds, I'd worry about moving over and through stuff.

Also try and think about what you want your place to look like in a year. Can you size your tractor for a lush lawn? A clean creek bed? No more debris or piles? That thinking might change your perspective on size.

Good luck.
-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Have you considered splitting the size and going with the B2410 or B7610? Both are 24hp machines, the B2410 is the deluxe full feature version, the B7610 is plain jane and basic, but functionally they are going to do the same work. The 24hp machines will give you the ground clearance similar to the B2910, and will provide greater capacity on the FEL and BH than the BX would give. For 5 acres, 24hp seems about right. The creek bed work would worry me with the BX, I think you may get in trouble down there with lower ground clearance, especially if you have a mower deck on it. Not sure if you intend to have a mid mount mower deck on the B2910, but I don't think you can mount the mower deck and the BH at the same time. Henro should be able to answer that for us? Also don't know if the MMM can used with the 24hp machines if the BH is attached to those?

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Have you considered splitting the size and going with the B2410 or B7610? )</font>

That's what I was thinking too. Seems like a pretty big jump to the B2910 from the BX. The 7610 is a very nice comfortable size with pretty good ground clearence and it's quite a bit cheaper than the 2910 (although if I had more land, that 2910 is a pleasing machine.)

Cliff

 

[fishman]

On your list of things to do, all can be accomplished with a FEL and a post hole digger (tree planting). If I were going to be moving big chunks of trees and scooping up silt and gravel, I'd want a little more capability than the BX FEL. The 2910 with a FEL is about the same cost as the BX23, I think, so the real question is how bad to you need/want the little backhoe? If $ isn't a problem, then the 2910 with backhoe will be a LOT more capable.

I have a 2910 and do everything you mention, and I just have a want for a backhoe, certainly not anywhere near a need.

 

[aardvark]

I am going through the same decision making process right now. I started out looking for a used B series machine, but didn't have any luck finding a good one for a decent price. I then upped my price range about $5k and looked at the new BX23's. Again, I thought through things, and realized I can use the extra loader capacity as a fork lift, to support my ebay sales and freight shipping. I've gotten quotes on the BX23 TLB at $15.0k, the JD 4110 TLB at $18.8k, and the B7610 TLB at $18.0k (price came down since my other post yesterday). My dilemma is, once I'm done with my yard, the only real use for the extra loader capacity is for ebay freight shipping. Also, I've managed to survive the last six years without any forklift at all, so maybe I don't really need the extra forklift capacity, I just think I need it. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I need to decide before tomorrow, because that's when I told the dealers I'd make a decision. I better think quick tonight.

 

[Rick Jay]

gregmhtd,

I have a B2910 with a Woods 7500 backhoe on 2/3 of an acre, so that will give you some idea as to where my experience and preference lies. I'm only averaging about 30 hours/year useage and think the whole package is one of the best home improvement investments I've ever made.

Personally, with your property, I'd be trying to decide between the B2910 and an L3130. I'm sure the BX would do most of what you wanted to do, but it does have some limitations that the larger machines will be better prepared to handle. Plus, the "creature comforts" are more abundant on the B2910 and L3130 tractors.

If you have need for a backhoe, the BX hoe is only 6', as is the hoe on the B series up to the B2410. The B2910 and L3130 can take a 7 1/2' hoe...the L3130, with the proper loader, I believe can handle the 9'. I find myself wishing for more reach with my 7 1/2' on my postage stamp property.

I have never felt that my B2910 is too big for our property, but there have been a few times I'm glad I've got all the tractor I have under me.

I will say that I don't mow our lawn with the B2910. I have a separate lawn tractor for that chore. I bought my tractor to be a digging machine and that's what it does. And it does it very well.

Interest rates are still low. Great if you can get 0%. When I bought mine in 2000 I got 7 1/2% and thought that was great.
Tractors, if well maintained, hold their value very well over the years. However, if you buy a BX and then decide in a year or two that you need more tractor, it will cost you a bit to trade up. What will interest rates be in a few years? Who knows? If you can afford the larger tractor, I'd say go for it.

Good Luck

~Rick

 

[aardvark]

You can get the 7.5' backhoe on the B7610's. I have a quote with that hoe, and my dealer assembled one that way for thier last customer (or so they told me).

 

[Rick Jay]

aardvark,

I don't doubt that the 7 1/2' hoes can be mounted on the other tractors. In fact, there is TBN member whose dealer mounted one on a B7500 (I think).

According to the Kubota website, the only hoe listed for the B2610 is the B4672. IF you can find a Kubota dealer to mount the BL4690 on a B2610 and will stand behind it should the tractor be damaged, then I'd say go for it. To me, it's just a bit "chancey" if Kubota does not approve of it's use on the smaller B's.

~Rick

 

[frank_f15]

re-read Bobs post! there is some very sound thinking there, and i would have to concur.

 

[Henro]

Greg, I usually read a complete thread before responding, but this time I only read your first post...I may regret it... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

But anyway, I have a B2910 and a BX2200. Now the BX2200 is not a BX23, since I don't have a loader, and Kubota does not offer a backhoe for it, but the BX2200 is the same frame and engine (more or less, mostly the same though).

There is no comparison between the two machines. THe smaller one is a great tractor, but it cannot put the power to the ground like the larger one can. The loader of the larger one can do more than twice the work, and the backhoe has more reach and digging capacity. The BX 3PH is limited in what it can lift, and what it can do...major limitation in my mind.

No, the backhoe on the B2910 does not reduce the ground clearance at all. At least it does not if you use the Kubota backhoe.

I love my BX...but my B2910 is my real tractor. It really does WORK. Apples and oranges...just a fact of life.

That being said, it never ends. The B series is to the L series as the BX is to the B...

I have a B2910 and the BX2200 on 3.7 acres. I have been doing a lot of property improvements over the last 2 years. I do see a time when the bx will take over from the B2910, and do the majority of the maintenance work, mainly grass cutting and maybe some rotary cutting if I get a smaller cutter...

Two years ago I was where you are at, and I started out looking at the BX22 and finally settled on the B2910. Last year I added the BX...the B2910 was a little on the large size for the small amount of grass cutting I was doing, and the RFM I bought just made it harder since I had to cut close to and around things...

I have come to realize though, that if I had to only have one tractor for the long run, something between the bx23 and the B2910 would probably be the best fit for me. IN THE LONG RUN.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif In the short run the B2910 is the winner, no questions asked...in my case, naturally...

Glad I have a small one and the bigger one... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I'm not sure if I remember right, but I think I could have gotten one bucket with my backhoe included in the price. I should have got the 24" as it would be great for cleaning out the 400' of ditch I have to maintain. The smaller buckets are cheaper...I elected for a 16 and 10 inch...now I wish I would have bought both the smaller buckets and got a 24 inch as part of the backhoe price...no way I will ever spend over $700 for a 24 incher... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jpr62902]

I'm going to play devil's advocate, here. My BX22 will do everything you described, with the caveat that ground clearance may be an issue clearing the creek (how steep/high are the banks?). Regarding the BX FEL lift capacity, it will lift a full bucket of whatever you put in it (except maybe kryptonite -- isn't that pretty heavy?). I've plowed into piles of wet pea gravel and lifted full buckets (approx. 600+ lbs.) with no problem. The BX FEL will actually lift closer to 650 lbs. Do you plan to mow with this machine? If so, it's 1st class. The backhoe is a strong digger too, but I'd say it's optimally designed for digging footers, drain trenches, etc. It's also the perfect machine for large landscape planting (i.e. trees with large root balls).

You didn't fill out your profile, so I don't know what part of the country you're in, but last year I paid a little over 16K for my BX22 with a 5' MMM and mulch kit. Hard to beat that in terms of price for a jack-of-all-trades, but really a master of none. In my estimation, the BX22/23 is an extremely versatile and capable machine. Are the B series tractors more capable? Sure, but it's hard to find that capability/versatility for the money that you pay for the BX22/23. Ultimately, it's all a matter of fitting your long term needs to your tractor. For me, that was the BX22. Good luck! No matter what you pick, you're gonna love your new machine!

 

[gregmhtd]

There are certainly many and good opinions & I appreciate them all.
Thought I had it figured out until JPR posted. I was leaning towards the 2910, now??? JPR wanted to know where I was located - I'm about 30 miles north of Dallas, in Prosper, a few miles from Dieon Sanders, (he has tractor, I don't know the brand, and someone else gets to use on his 100+ acres). Anyway, the creek width ranges from a tight 48" in a bend (which I will make wider) to 12' in width. Creek side walls slope up to about 12' to 15' at a steep angle. Before anyone inquires, there is an entrance to the creek where it meets a larger, 30' wide creek at the end of the property, and is easily accessible, so the only way in is literally up the creek. I liked the size of the BX23 for getting into and out of tight areas.
I don't plan on a mid mount mower, so not a concern with the ground clearance. The creek bottom is shale, just planning on removing the silt which gets about 12" deep in some spots, and rotted trees that have falling over the years. I don't really see any heavy loads (yet), but as Henro indicated, it doesn't hurt to have the power or capacity, and that's my dilemma.

I'm also a little concerned on some other posts I have read concerning tractors with 2 pumps and backhoes. Something to the effect of having to feather the valves to get good performance. I figured since the BX only had one pump, there's not much to worry about. I have also read post regarding the Hydralic control system, quarter valves seem to be more finiky than the Position type which is in regards to someone who recommended the B7610 as an alternative.
decisions, decisons....I'll consider this as I leave to Vegas, maybe I'll get lucky while I'm there and be able to get one of each.

Greg

 

[Allan_K]

I'm only on 5 acres in North Texas <font color="blue"> </font>

Not sure what your land is like in Texas, but I take care of 5 acres in PA. It's old pasture field, two acres are fairly smooth "lawn" (used loosely) and the remainder is still somewhat rough. I can mow the whole thing in under three hours with the 2910 and 72" MMM. The cut quality is excellent. I have the 60" FEL, and Woods 7500 BH, both of which are worth their weight in gold. I am in the process of cleaning out a 600' drainage ditch, and find myself wishing for another foot or two of BH reach while digging to the side.

I don't know about the creek you mentioned... I'm used to the old Massy T-20, which was sure footed on almost anything. My 2910 has gotten a little light on one side a couple of times, although I mow a deep narrow ditch along the lower property, and have no trouble driving straight down in one side and out the other.

It doesn't matter what you get... both will find you knee deep in projects you never dreamed of before. I am glad I didn't go smaller, especially for the lift height of the loader (just cleared the dumpster during my neighbor's roofing project) and the full size Cat I three point. If price is an issue, consider the 7800, or even the 2410 as a good compromise. GOOD LUCK! this is the hardest part (right after parting with the money!)

 

[Kelvin]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not sure if you intend to have a mid mount mower deck on the B2910, but I don't think you can mount the mower deck and the BH at the same time. )</font>

I have recently finished a lot of shopping for backhoes for my B2910 (prior to finding a tempting deal on a BX23). According to the dealers where I enquired, the Kubota backhoes (B4672 and B4690) as well as the Woods backhoes with sub-frames (6500 and 7500) are compatible with the B2910's mid-mower. The Rhino brand backhoes were not.

STATEMENTS THAT I'M PRETTY SURE ABOUT (BUT NOT 100% SURE): The Kubota backhoes and the B2910 mid-mower can be mounted at the same time since the Kubota backhoes are 3-point hitch models. However, I believe that the 3-point lift arms (which raise & lower the mid-mower) have to come off before the Woods backhoe can be attached to it's sub-frame (at least the L3130 with Woods 6500 sub-frame mounted backhoe sitting on the dealer's lot had the 3-point lift arms removed).

I also notice that later in this thread that finish mowing won't be on the list of tractor tasks, so this discussion is academic.

Kelvin

 

[gregmhtd]

I appreciate all the input, ended up buying the BX-23, take delivery tomorrow. My neighbor has a 7800, so if I ever need more lifting, it's just a walk across the street.

Greg