Price Check Opinions on Price, Model, Dealer for BX Models

[kmanvt]

ATTENTION: This may be long.

I'm looking for opinions on the price, preferred model, and dealership. Like a lot of people on here I've suffered though the cheap riding mowers. It seems like I constantly have to do something to the mower. I currently only have a push mower in working order right now. Last fall I started looking into ZTR mowers. I found out that they may not be the best choice because of the slope I've got on my front yard. My next option was the walk behind type mowers. I don't really like the idea of standing up to cover the ground that needs mowing (2.5-3 acres). I mentioned to my wife about getting a small tractor (SCUT) for mowing and helping on the farm. She said that might be a good idea since we could take it off on taxes. I took that as the good ahead to start looking. I narrowed the search down to either the BX1850(with 54 mmm) or 2350(with 60 mmm). Let me say now that I have a NH TN75 with loader, also my neighbor has a full size backhoe. The only options I want to get are the R4 tires and grill guard. Below is my rounded prices and dealer distances.

1) Closest dealer (30 min)
BX1850 & mmm $9000 has to be ordered, can't get the R4s on the 1850
Total $9150
BX2350 & mmm $9850 R4s added $100, bumper $150 (orange)
Total $10100
This dealer's diesel mechanic(s) stays busy (even non-farm related equipment)

2) Next closest dealer (35 min)
BX1850 & mmm $8900 has to be ordered, can't get the R4s on the 1850
Total $9050
BX2350 & mmm $9900 R4s added $100, bumper $225 (silver)
Total $10225

3) Best price, but furthest away (90 min)
BX1850 & mmm $8550 in stock, can't get the R4s on the 1850
Total $8700
BX2350 & mmm $9750 R4s added $0, bumper $150 (orange?)
Total $9900

I was set to go with the closet dealer, but was a little surprised by the $100 charge for R4s. The MSRP difference is only $38. I thought about going to the first two dealerships and offering $10K. I'm pretty sure all the dealers will deliver the tractor for free to where I live. The sales person at the closest dealer said that they wouldn't do any warranty work unless I bought it from them. He also don't know the product well. I haven't visited the second two dealerships.

The tractor will mostly (95%) be used for mowing. I could see using it for spraying and small towing. SO, after all that is said

1) Any opinions of prices (I think they seem good).
2) Which model should I go with?
3) Which dealer would you go with?

 

[ChuckinNH]

Dealers can order wheels /tires either as parts, or as whole goods, and the difference in shipping costs can be substantial. That perhaps accounts for the $100 charge at dealer 1 for the R-4's. Prices are high in this area, so I can't comment on price. I like the slightly bigger size of the BX2350 and the ride is a little better with the larger tires. If you aren't considering a loader, or a small chipper, tiller, or other hp hungry application, the BX1850 should do fine.

 

[stimpee]

I would also say that if you are not considering a loader, or any heavy ground engaging stuff on the back, why do you want R4's?

Sounds to me like you might be better off with turfs for your application anyway?

 

[kmanvt]

I would also say that if you are not considering a loader, or any heavy ground engaging stuff on the back, why do you want R4's?

Sounds to me like you might be better off with turfs for your application anyway?

Mainly I was interested in the R4s because of the hilling terrain. I知 in SW VA and our farm goes from flat to very steep with a wide variation in between. I was wanting the additional traction, but not enough to tear up the grass. (Like the R1/Ags probably would.)

 

[kmanvt]

If you aren't considering a loader, or a small chipper, tiller, or other hp hungry application, the BX1850 should do fine.

I was initially going to get the BX1850 for that reason, but the first two dealers didn稚 have it in stock and would have to order it. The BX2350 will run about $30/mth extra so I started to consider it also. Another plus to the BX2350 is that you are able to get R4 tires for it.

 

[KeithInSpace]

First, all the prices look pretty good. I would go with your gut on the dealer. To me, it would be worth a couple of bucks to keep the local guy on my side, but that is totally up to you.

Don't want to turn this into a "tire thread", but I'm not sure the R4 tires will have a huge difference in slippage on grass. There have been discussions of the flat lugs on the R4 tires not having as much bite on grass, snow, and ice. They'd certainly be better in heavy dirt, clay, and mud than turfs. And they certainly won't bite into a finished lawn up like R1's, especially in 4WD and sharp turns. But I wouldn't get hung up on getting R4 tires SIMPLY to get better traction on GRASS and hard terrain than turf tires...I think you will find that turf tires work very well in 90% of the applications and work VERY well on finished lawns.

Also, do a search on this site about using a BX on a slope. They do quite well, but beyond 25 or 30 degrees, it is a matter of the user's fortitude in handling the slope cross-ways. The slope handling ability is diminished when the FEL is installed. Perhaps if you indicated what "very steep" is by a picture or something, we could offer some thoughts on if the BX will be comfortable traversing the slopes.

 

[kmanvt]

Also, do a search on this site about using a BX on a slope. They do quite well, but beyond 25 or 30 degrees, it is a matter of the user's fortitude in handling the slope cross-ways. The slope handling ability is diminished when the FEL is installed. Perhaps if you indicated what "very steep" is by a picture or something, we could offer some thoughts on if the BX will be comfortable traversing the slopes.

The steepest part of the front yard is around 25-30%. We have to be careful when using a riding mower. When I said "very steep", I was thinking about a section of our pasture that is probably 45-50 degrees. I use the TN75 to bushhog part of the hill by backing up it.

You discussed tires in your post, do you think the R4s will slip in grass? I thought they would get at least as good of traction in grass and better in other places that the turf.

 

[ChuckinNH]

If you are looking at the BX1850, or BX2350, you can consider bar tires. Their traction is very good, and I had no lasting damage to my yard in 4 years + of running them on my BX22, and those were loaded. They will mark damp ground, and soft areas, but the areas seem to recover pretty well.

 

[KeithInSpace]

...probably 45-50 degrees. I use the TN75 to bushhog part of the hill by backing up it.

...do you think the R4s will slip in grass?

First, you'd be in the same situation on the "very steep" portions of grass...a BX will back into it with the MMM attached, but you can't go sideways on that slope. At least I wouldn't.

As far as the tires, I have no idea what the right answer is. There are exhaustive threads on the issue that have reached no particular conclusion. In a nutshell, I wouldn't let the LACK of R4 tires on a BX1850 be THE reason you don't get that machine. I have done, and continue to do, a VAST array of tasks with turf tires and I have not been left wanting for more traction.

Put another way: I (and you) can get a complete set of tires and rims for ~$300. If I found myself constantly wanting for traction, I promise $300 isn't standing between me and anything...I would have a second set of tires. I've moved/spread 60 CY of dirt, twice that in mulch, done all manner of re-grading in my yard, cleared my parents waterfront acreage, pulled stumps, pulled trailers, and done a huge number of other tasks ALL on my turf tires. Sure they slip a little, but never once have I wanted R1 tires on my machine. And R4 tires don't have even as much traction as R1 tires.

I say again: R4 tires are fine and probably do better in turfs sometimes, better than R1's sometimes, and worse then either other times. My only point was for that to not be the hinge point in all your figuring. Turf tires aren't that bad...

 

[kmanvt]

It's not really the lack of the R4 tires on the BX1850, but the lack of availability. It´s only available at the dealer 90 min from me. I believe that is part of the reason the two local dealers gave me good prices on the BX2350 was to sell what they had in stock.