Kubota BX for an ATV with pull behind attachments?

Nutso · Jun 8, 2015

Hello,

I have around 3 acres of mowable lawn and trails in the woods. My craftsman riding mower is on its last leg and the big debate is whether to buy a small tractor that has mowing capability or an ATV with a pull behind finish/brush mower. We've been really hard on the existing mower - especially mowing the brush and need something that has a more heavy duty mowing deck. The land is hilly with lots of hidden rocks and small stumps.

Which way to go? I've been looking at the Kubota BX which is appealing since it has other functions that would be nice like a backhoe attachment which would be good for digging holes/trees/stumps, moving rocks (not giant boulders), etc. On the other hand, the idea of an ATV and its convenience (on/off of attachments and storing) is appealing but seems like it might not be as versatile for heavy work.

Money is an object. I'm under the impression that to purchase a BX new it would run around 10K or so - I'm more inclined to want to spend something closer to 3 or 4K for used equipment possible.

We have a Kubota L3400 (4wd) with a fel, box blade, and forks that we use for driveway work, moving trees/sawed lumber, etc. - the truly heavy duty work around here. I'm needing something smaller for everyday type work.

What do you think? As you read this description, does one option just jump out to you as the better option?

Finally, which of these options do you think would hold it's value better over the long haul? I may want to sell sometime.

Many thanks!

Sodo · Jun 8, 2015

BX "used" is around 10K. A new BX with backhoe will be somewhere near $17k.

ATV is good if you mow a few times and want the ATV for getting around the woods. Can ride double on it. Even triple, quadruple, depends what you're doing. Oftgen my wife & 2 kids get on the AVV and we take a nice ride (going slow). With the tractor you can't do that, plus you need hearing protection. How many times a year do you mow?

ATV is much smoother, quieter, comfortable. BX is far better if you have to dig & mess with dirt.

GManBart · Jun 8, 2015

Rocks and hidden stumps calls for a tractor with a flail mower....go right over that stuff without hurting anything. I don't think you're going to be able to manage that for $4K unless you get the deal of the century. Even one of the smallest BX models is going to run double that used (in good condition).

Will_C · Jun 8, 2015

Can you put a rotary cutter on the L3400?

jeff9366 · Jun 8, 2015

Just buy a Rotary Cutter / Bush Hog for your L3400. If you have not had the pleasure of mating PTO powered implements to the PTO splines on a tractor, try the process once or twice at your Kubota dealer before making the Rotary Cutter purchase.

Rotary Cutters are rugged implements.

With money being important you do not need the expense of a second tractor/second engine.

Do you feel you really understand how to adjust your tractor's Three Point Hitch for varying conditions? It is hard for me to imagine anyone who is the master of the Three Point Hitch considering ATV tow behind implements.

You can price Kubota equipment on Kubota's web site. No need to guess.

dusty3030 · Jun 8, 2015

Yeah I'm not getting it. $500 to $750 can buy a heck of a lightly used rotary cutter (bush hog) which it sounds like would be perfect for what you need that you can put on the tractor you already have.

Nice push mower or decent regular riding mower for any finer cut / nicer looking lawn and your are all set.

Nutso · Jun 8, 2015

Hello again,

Well OK. Sounds like I failed to elaborate that the part of our property that needs to be mowed is 'park-like' with trees and clusters of shrubs/trees and varied topography (hills, valleys). We have a bush hog that is too large to cut between the trees and doesn't give a finished cut which is why I need a mower and a smaller machine for that purpose. The grass has to be cut about 2 x a month for about 6 months a year. The bush hog is OK for the open brush areas.

I'm going to check out prices of used BX's and get more educated. Thanks for your comments.

GManBart · Jun 9, 2015

Nutso said:
Hello again,

Well OK. Sounds like I failed to elaborate that the part of our property that needs to be mowed is 'park-like' with trees and clusters of shrubs/trees and varied topography (hills, valleys). We have a bush hog that is too large to cut between the trees and doesn't give a finished cut which is why I need a mower and a smaller machine for that purpose. The grass has to be cut about 2 x a month for about 6 months a year. The bush hog is OK for the open brush areas.

I'm going to check out prices of used BX's and get more educated. Thanks for your comments.

A flail mower will give a finish type cut, and not get beat up on the rocks and stumps....and they don't stick out the back the way a rotary cutter does, so it would go between the trees much better, and handle the variations in terrain much better.

jeff9366 · Jun 9, 2015

Complementing GMANBART'S Post #8, here is a LINK to the longest T-B-N thread on Flail Mowers:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/118882-lets-talk-flail-mowers.html

Gary Fowler · Jun 9, 2015

Unless you get rid of the rocks and stumps, any finish type mower is going to have a rough time mowing. I think if I were doing it, I would first mark every stump/exposed rock, then rent or contract a small backhoe for a couple of days, dig out all the stumps and exposed rocks so I could mow with a regular riding lawnmower or zero turn mower. Backhoe rental would be money well spent. After digging out the stumps etc, use the FEL to level the spoils and you have a nice mowing surface. I for sure wouldn't buy a BX just to pull around a Swisher type mower behind it.
Once you have the heavy brush mowed, it should be easy to keep it down with monthly mowing with a lawn mower. If you have a budget of only $3-4K then a back hoe rental to clean it up, then another Craftsman mower for $2k would keep you within your budget for another 5 years or so. Hopefully by then you can have a larger budget ($20k) for some commercial grade equipment.

The rocks may have to be re-gathered in a few years as mother nature pushes them up during winter's freeze/ thaw cycles but that would be true of any type mower that you propose to use other than a bush hog and even those don't like to hit large rocks.