Looking At BX 2660

[Greg mgm]

Hello, I've posted on this site before, but thought I'd say hi again.
My wife and I live in Pine Cove (near Idyllwild CA) at 6400' in a forest
basically. We love it here!

We're almost ready to buy a new BX2660, and are happy with the price
at our local dealer.

We're planning to use this tractor for snow removal, moving logs and dirt,
and general residential light duty use. I can't imagine needing a bigger tractor, but wanted to run some questions by you guys.

Our driveway is sloped (not too bad though) Is it mandatory to buy snow chains for this tractor? (We get a fair amount of ice) It should be OK for just moving dirt and smaller logs, right? Occasionally we see cars getting stuck on our road, basically spinning their wheels in the ice....Can this tractor pull a regular sized car....at all? (I assume not) We get asked all the time in winter to help pull stuck cars, which is the reason for the question.

And finally, any advice or comments on this model tractor is appreciated. This will be our first tractor, and we have a lot to learn about using it.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[BotaBX24er]

I ended up with a BX24 and wish I had gotten the 26 good choice on your part ...but definitely get the rear tires filled water/antifreeze. That should be capable of most things, but I can't imagine any type of tire capable of handling ice...so I'd say go with tire chains too if you're going to be doing a lot on the ice.

 

[Greg mgm]

Is the water/ antifreeze for traction/ ballast?

Sounds good on the chains...we'll get those. The last thing we want is to
slip and slide and get stuck on our driveway!

I tried clearing snow on our neighbors driveway with my GMC truck/ plow and got stuck in their driveway....embarrassing!! THEN, I put the chains on!

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Filling the tires is more for balast, keeping the center of gravity low and helping to counter the load in a FEL.

You shouldn't have trouble pulling smaller logs. I've pulled a few decent-sized cedar logs uphill without difficulty. Pulling a car in snow and ice is a little trickier. Per the Kubota owner manual, the maximum trailer weight for the 2660 is 1765lbs. Could it pull a car? Probably a small car, under the right circumstances. Should it pull a car? Probably not.

 

[TripleR]

I just came in from using my BX2660 and I absolutely love it.

I went with the rear wheel weights as there was only a few dollars difference in price. On our larger tractors, I have punctured a tire and lost all of my ballast and don't want to go through all of that again, plus you don't have the extra cost/mess of pumping it out when your tires wear out.

A BX2660 will pull a car on flat ground under ideal conditions, but I really wouldn't want to do it very often and not for far. I really don't see it being capable of pulling a car out of a ditch. You might be able to get one out by digging the snow and such out with a FEL.

I was originally going to get a B, but decided for my uses the BX2660 was ideal and I was right. My home farm is 300+ acres and we have two others. I do have larger tractors available, but only bring one up when something really big needs to be done or I really want the AC cab.

I highly recommend the FEL and 60" MMM.

This is my second Kubota and I am sold on them. I also own a John Deere 2305 and prefer the Kubota.

 

[LBrown59]

Hello, I've posted on this site before, but thought I'd say hi again.
My wife and I live in Pine Cove (near Idyllwild CA) at 6400' in a forest
basically. We love it here!----------------------
We're almost ready to buy a new BX2660, and are happy with the price
at our local dealer.
We're planning to use this tractor for snow removal, moving logs and dirt,
and general residential light duty use.
1*Occasionally we see cars getting stuck on our road, basically spinning their wheels in the ice...
2*.Can this tractor pull a regular sized car....at all?
3*We get asked all the time in winter to help pull stuck cars.
Greg

1*See 2*
2*A more important question would be is the tractor insured to do that on a public road.
3*What have you been pilling them with then?

 

[radioman]

The BX can pull a car or light truck with no issues except one. TRACTION. The BX is kinda light so using it to pull a vehicle that went off the road will be battle. No matter what tires you get, if you get alot of ice, a v bar chains is a must at least. You will find you will need to add ballast either via loaded tires or rear weights. You will be able to pull a slipping car up the sloping drive with chains and weights.

 

[Greg mgm]

We won't be insuring the tractor for use on public roads, so pulling stuck cars will only be on occasion, maybe only for a stuck neighbor or friend. And since we're in the sticks, getting a citation for being on the street isn't a factor....liability is though. Mostly I wanted to know if the tractor "could" pull a car. I know it's not really a good idea.

In the past I used my GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 to pull people out. The last time I did that was brutal on my truck, because the stuck vehicle was buried to the axles on a steep dirt/ icy/ snowy road. Between pulling out cars and plowing, my truck took a beating that I don't want to do again!

One last question. At our local dealer, the next step up in tractor model was a B2920. Slightly bigger wheels, slightly more lift capacity, slightly smaller engine, and $1300 more. I'm inclined to stick with the BX2660 though. What do you think?

Thanks a lot for the comments. When we get the tractor, I'll post some pics.

 

[ejnichol]

See if you can operate the two machines and compare ergonomics. If the B offers more powerful digging capacity with BH then for me I'd step up.

The bx backhoe can disappoint. The BX is a good machine but its small that has advantages/disadvantages. Up to some point, bigger is better.

The bx can get a lightly to moderately stuck car out. For short burst in low range it can really pull, to the point it will choke the motor down. To me thats impressive for a hydro. Shows how well the hydros been refined.

I'd use mine to try and pull anything out. You just have to listen to machine and give up if no progress is forthcoming.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148830-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html
For your info. Help you see thru the "I own so it's the best one BX vs B". Each have some different traits that meet different peoples different needs. Will tell you up front 1 or 2 BX1500's are to small. Had only one but still know what they are capable of and can't drive 2 at one time so can't combine wheels to 8 wheel drive or combine hp to make it 30HP.

 

[KU Gator]

We have a B2920. We live on 3 acres which is just the typical grass yard and a tree line down the side which drops a few limbs now and then. If I was buying the tractor for it including maintaining the 150 yard rock drive, scraping the intermitent KS snow, and doing projects as they come up, I would definitely feel the BX2660 would have been an enormous improvement over my garden tractor and plenty for the area.

But we bought the tractor primarily for the 12 acres of recreational property be purchased. We needed to be able to run a bigger rotary mower, have higher ground clearance and I used it to pull a lot of trees that had been pushed down years ago to create a pond. I pulled them with a chain and then used the front end loader to create a pile that was about 7' tall and at least as big as a 3 car garage. I'm not sure the BX could have handled that without a lot of chain saw work. So I think the condition of the property plus what you need to do drives it a lot. At times I would have liked to have had an L series tractor for more weight, but I trailer it, so the B was the trade off.

For mowing at the house, I usually use the garden tractor as it has turf tires and is easier on the grass, but the B does fine at that if it is pretty dry and you watch the tight turns. On the B, you set up higher and I forget and am ducking branches that I am not used to worrying about. The ROPS fold on the B which helps in getting under branches though. I am not sure on the BX.

As for pulling stuck cars out, I don't think either is going to have enough weight to help you much, especially if they can't good traction. I pull our small travel trailer around to park it with our B, but I wouldn't count on it on a slick road to pull a car out of a ditch. If that is a big issue, I think investing in a winch (not to be confused with wench) would go a long way although maybe not as exciting.

 

[Bamacummins]

Well, I'm no expert, heck I don't even have my BX2660 yet. Ordered it yesterday after many hours and reviews on this board. I have about 5.5 acres that will be mostly mowed (4 ac) and some light duty cleanup on the property, trees down, cleanup around the pond, landscaping, maintaining a gravel drive etc. The most use tractor will see is mowing with the other stuff thrown in from time to time. So, even though I originally was planning to get a "B" model, I changed my mind to the BX2360. Then after sitting on the BX2660 the seat fits me so much better. On the BX2360, for some reason I felt like I was stretching out too far to the steering wheel with the seat all the way forward and my back against the backrest of the seat and I'm halfway normal5 ft 9 in. So the BX 2660 with the adjustable seat made enough difference that I was willing to pay an additional $700 in price, plus I get the extra HP. I will also be getting the 60 MMM and FEL.

I'm sure I couldn't have made this much of an informed decision and feel comfortable with it if I hadn't got all the advice and preferences from those on this site. You are wise for checking here, it has made all the difference too me.

 

[TripleR]

We won't be insuring the tractor for use on public roads, so pulling stuck cars will only be on occasion, maybe only for a stuck neighbor or friend. And since we're in the sticks, getting a citation for being on the street isn't a factor....liability is though. Mostly I wanted to know if the tractor "could" pull a car. I know it's not really a good idea.

In the past I used my GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 to pull people out. The last time I did that was brutal on my truck, because the stuck vehicle was buried to the axles on a steep dirt/ icy/ snowy road. Between pulling out cars and plowing, my truck took a beating that I don't want to do again!

One last question. At our local dealer, the next step up in tractor model was a B2920. Slightly bigger wheels, slightly more lift capacity, slightly smaller engine, and $1300 more. I'm inclined to stick with the BX2660 though. What do you think?

Thanks a lot for the comments. When we get the tractor, I'll post some pics.

Like I said earlier, even though the BX2660 has proven to be the "better" machine for me, I really like the B and agree that it is a great tractor. Based on your criteria, either would do a good job, only you can decide which is "best". Given more particulars, various owners can point out pros and cons on each and I believe most of us are impartial enough to provide impartial assessments.

I chose the BX because I needed a lower profile machine for mowing on some fairly steep inclines. About 80% of my use is mowing though I do a lot of rotary cutter and FEL work. I look at the BX as a mower that will do tractor stuff and the B as a tractor that will mow; both are compromises/hybrids in some way. I honestly don't think you will "regret" buying either.

Agree with another poster; drive both as that is what convinced me.

 

[LBrown59]

We won't be insuring the tractor for use on public roads, so pulling stuck cars will only be on occasion, maybe only for a stuck neighbor or friend. And since we're in the sticks, getting a citation for being on the street isn't a factor....liability is though. Mostly I wanted to know if the tractor "could" pull a car. I know it's not really a good idea.

In the past I used my GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 to pull people out. The last time I did that was brutal on my truck, because the stuck vehicle was buried to the axles on a steep dirt/ icy/ snowy road. Between pulling out cars and plowing, my truck took a beating that I don't want to do again!

One last question. At our local dealer, the next step up in tractor model was a B2920. Slightly bigger wheels, slightly more lift capacity, slightly smaller engine, and $1300 more. I'm inclined to stick with the BX2660 though. What do you think?

Thanks a lot for the comments. When we get the tractor, I'll post some pics.

That's why I would not pull a car with an uninsured tractor.

 

[radioman]

That's why I would not pull a car with an uninsured tractor.

Looks like we got have a tractor scrooge here.

 

[radioman]

I agree with ku gator here about pulling. it will pull on dry pavement, but add chains on pavement, the mix doesnt work. Using a B or BX on dirt/frozen ground/ice/some mud works great but pulling cars to replace a full sized truck, the weight isnt there. Sorry to say , but having a BX, I had a few vehicles stuck but needed a running start with a snatch rope to pull my vehicles out from sloping area with turfs on snowy pavement, no chains. Ku gator- the B rops folds all the way down, BX doesnt. It folds down half way and then stick out like a sore wing.

 

[Greg mgm]

My wife and I talked it over, and pulling stuck cars isn't going to happen due to liability. Thanks for humoring me with that question.

We decided to get the BX2660. For our needs it should be great.

We've been using a Honda snowblower to clear our driveway, but it couldn't make a dent on the berm the city Caterpillers pile up in front of our driveway. The Kubota should be perfect for that application. I can't wait to get it and practice using it ! Hopefully next week.... And my old 78 GMC/ plow is going to be sold and replaced with a newer truck.....Oh ya!

BTW, you guys are super helpful...thanks for all the info.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

Ku gator- the B rops folds all the way down, BX doesnt. It folds down half way and then stick out like a sore wing.

Radioman,

On my BX2660, the ROPS is fixed. Won't fold even part way. Don't know if they folded on previous models.

 

[TripleR]

As to the liability issue, I hate to be a jerk, but if you are stuck I will be more than happy to call a tow truck, but I will not use my big tractor or 4WD pickup to pull you out. I have spent too much time in court watching lawyers make money off of good intentioned individuals. A tow truck driver has the equipment and know how to make the correct hook up to get your vehicle out, I don't and as flimsy as vehicles are now I won't touch them.

I believe the reference to the folding ROPS was for the BX24 and such with the backhoe and not for the BX2x00 up to the BX2x60 series.

greg mgm,

Congratulations on your new tractor, I really believe you will like it. You might want to look at getting the grill guard and if you are going to run with your MMM off, look into making some skids or buying some from Bro Tec to protect your HST fan.

 

[dodge man]

Your truck would be much better pulling people out than your tractor. It shouldn't be that hard on a 3/4 ton, just make sure you use low range.