Need a new tractor HELP!

[sarge rmb]

Ive been mowing with a Gravely 812 but its losing its steam. I mow about 2 acres and need to plow about 250' of blacktop. I looked at the Simplicity Prestige 4x4 but for a little more I can get a Kubota bx. Oh and I looked at zero turns but I have some steep hills, the driveway being the most challenging, Im leaning towards the BX. Any help? TY

 

[coveredbridge]

I'm not familiar with the Simplicity although it seems to get many favorable comments around here.

I have a BX1500 that I got about 3 yrs ago, 48" mmm and FEL. I've got about 460 hrs on it, with no problems so far, about half of that time mowing, with the rest on loader work, including snow removal, and leaf collection (I have a cyclone rake also).

I think the bx would certainly do the job. I'm not sure about plowing snow on blacktop with the FEL, but I use it to move snow on my gravel drive and it works ok. Are you thinking about a plow or snowblower, or were you going to use the FEL?

As far as mowing, the cut is adequate, certainly better than the old CC107 that the bx replaced. If you're looking for a finely maincured lawn, however, you may be disappointed with the bx cut.

One thing I don't like about the bx mower is that the deck accumulates a lot of clippings that require frequent scraping of the underside to remove stuck on grass. It seems to accumulate even when the grass is dry and cut frequently. Maybe all these new hi-vacuum decks have this problem, I have no basis for comparison, but it is a nuisance.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

BX's are tractors that will also mow. ZT's are mowers. I had a BX1500, BX2200 and now have a BX2350 plus a L3240HST and a F2880. I have never had any problems with grass sticking to the underside of the deck on any of them. The F is a great mowing machine. The BX's will do good mowing and FEL work and landscape rakes, boxblade, tillers, etc. If you think you will ever need the use of tractor attachments put the mowers out of your mind and go for a BX2350 and move on. Between brands decide by price, durability, resale value, owner loyalty and dealer support.

 

[BizDoc]

I have to agree with JohnThomas. I also was looking at Zeroturn mowers, but they are mowers and with acerage we need more than just a mower. I use my tractor for mowing and plowing snow mostly. The front bucket, while it may seem like something you dont need, comes in very handy. I use mine much of the time as a wheelbarrow on steroids. sometimes I fill the bucket with water and drive to trees and bushes that need water and just scoop out with a bucket, moving dirt, while not constant would be a real bother without the bucket and probably wouldn't get done. The BX would be great for 2 acres. Before I purchased my B3030 I was mowing 7 acres with a New Holland TC21D and a 5 ft mid mount mower. I've only read good posts about the BX machines. Any task that comes before you there is an implement that can be put on the tractor to do the job, a garden tractor or Zeroturn are too job specific.

 

[sarge rmb]

I was going to get a plow with it, and maybe a front bucket later. The dealer price here in Western PA is 9400 with mower and R4 tires. My grass here is mostly broadleaf with lots of clover, so Im not real worried about the quality of cut.

 

[Wombat125]

I grew up on a 16hp JD 316 and a 16hp Wheelhorse C160. They were fine machines and never undersized, but they were always traction limited; especially with my scrawny self driving. We had a little moldboard plow, potato digger, chisel, mower, and snowblower, and we (mostly I) were always spinning, even with ag tires and wheel weights. I didn't stand a chance in the snow.

It sounds like you are already committed to a 4x4 machine, but I want to help affirm that choice.

I suspect that the BX might have an edge when it comes to attachment availability.

Good luck. Have fun. Post pictures.

 

[BizDoc]

I was going to get a plow with it, and maybe a front bucket later. The dealer price here in Western PA is 9400 with mower and R4 tires. My grass here is mostly broadleaf with lots of clover, so Im not real worried about the quality of cut.

I have both a rear plow and a front plow. I actually put both on and use both. I find I like the front plow much better, I bot tired of looking behind all the time. but the rear plow is good for certain areas when I need to pull snow away from the house prior to pushing it. I have used both a 5 and 6 foot mid mount mower. both do a fine job, ofcourse not as good as a push mower, but then I push around the front and sides of the house and use the tractor for everything else, and it looks fine. The 4 wheel drive is a real plus in the winter, and I find it useful when going up the slopes that I mow. Sometimes I spin, even with loaded tires. I would not want to mow my slopes without the 4 wheel drive.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Hey Sarge,

I had a BX2200 for several years. Traded it for the B2620 because I just wanted to.

I had no problems with the BX2000 and it served me well. The mower will never be as good as the floating deck of a Simplicity. Just can't beat their cut.

I still have a 7900 twin simplicity and have a friend that has the newer simplicity that you can put a front end loader on although he only has the MMM and snowblower.

However, keep in mind that whatever you do, think about a diesel engine.

It took me 2/12 gal of gas to mow my yard with the simplicity 7900 which is a 19 hp and I could mow my yard 5 times on 5 gal of diesel with the BX2200.

Now then, the new B2620 will let me mow 4 times but is has a 7 gal tank.

But, you just can't beat the power and the loader is strong and the Kubota zero finance for almost 4 yrs is a great incentive.

Go talk to a dealer and see if they will let you try a few.

Good luck and let us know your decision.

Tom

 

[easygo]

Sarge,

I was in the same boat about 2 years ago when I started looking for tractors. I plowed with an ATV and had a commercial walk-behind mower for my 2 acre yard. I didn't want to get the loader because I wanted to stay low with the price, but most of the members here advised me to get it. I ended up buying a used B7510 (21hp) with a 60" mid-mount mower and a loader. Now I would give you the same advice. Get the loader!!! The price difference between the loader and front plow cant be a whole lot more then $600-800 and it will very quickly seem like money well spent. It will have a lot more uses then the plow and you could pick up a 60" rear blade to help out with snow. We had LOTS and LOTS of snow last year and there was no problem moving it with the FEL and my rusty second hand back blade. I think you will be much happier with that. I'm not the kind of guy who sways easily from his original wants and ideas, but this time I did and very happy about it. The mowing deck on my tractor is the same suspended type as the ones on the BX units and it does a good job. I don't care to make my yard look like a golf course I just want to keep the grass in check.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I have owened a Simplicity about the same size as the Prestige that you are looking at, and now own a Simplicity Legacy with a 48" mowing deck. I also owned a Kubota BX22 for 4 years, but didn't mow with it. On my somewhat hilly, and rough 3+ acre yard the Legacy has much better traction, and stability than the smaller Landlord did. The floating deck does a really good job on my rough land, and both mower decks have held up well. I had 1400+ hours on the Landlord, and just went over 500 hours on the legacy. Though the full length rollers on the mower decks do a good job of following the ground contours they also catch on everything, and sometimes make traction (especially backing up) difficult. I often have to raise the deck a bit if the roller catches on a pine root, or grass hump, etc. to restore traction. The roller will also catch anything loose under the deck, grass clumps, pieces of branch, apples, etc, and drag them for some distance sometimes leaving grooves, and torn up places so life is a balance with them. Tractor wise I would choose the BX in a heartbeat having owend both, and would likewise trade my Legacy for one in a minute if I could. That brings up the point of resale. Very few dealers have been interested in taking my Legacy in on a trade though it is a commercial duty garden tractor. ( It is a pre Legacy XL by the way, a 2000 model) If doing it again, I would look at Deere garden tractors for that reason, or just buy a BX/ JD2305/ Massey GC2400. I have mowed my yard with the suspended deck on an older JD 32x garden tractor, and thought that gave as good a cut as my Landlord did, and I would love to try a BX with suspended deck here because I really like operating those tractos much better than my Legacy.


I have a friend that bought a Simplicity Prestige with a snowblower, and mower deck. He wanted to snowblow his somewhat hilly driveway, and was really disappointed in the set up. He ended up buying an ATV with a plow for that chore. He has been trying to sell the Simplicity since.


Hope this helps, and good luck in your search.