orange dream

[bsmp1977]

Newbie in need of some recommendations. Looking for a new orange tractor this spring - BX or B series to use on my property. I have in the past used and worn out several garden tractors. I have 20 acres of land, 15 of which is forested. 5 acres of flat land on the top then 10 acres of rolling hills, 5 acres of flat forest down at the bottom of a 200 ft hill with up to a 15 degree slope. Have made about 1/2 mile of winding trails over the years through the forest. 1/4 mile of a flat gravel road/driveway out front. No real wonder that the garden tractors wore out.

Usage of the new orange tractor would be to maintain the gravel road, trails. Some landscaping, hauling firewood, pulling logs, clearing underbrush, smile and karma creation. Might just use a garden tractor for cutting the 1/2 acre lawn. Implements - dreaming of a FEL, BH, front hydraulic blade

Several questions: Would the BX series be much better for hills with their lower COG? Can a BX2660 go up and down hills well while carrying the weight of FEL , ballast, 230 pound operator? Are the Kubota HST transmissions designed and durable for a lot of hill usage? Seems like the garden tractor Eaton hydraulic transmissions are not really designed for that kind of heavy use. Would a manual transmission last a lot longer than a HST for this type of usage? What kind of life expectancy can you expect on a Kubota HST transmission ? 1000 hrs, 2000 hrs? It seems like the FEL and BH would increase the COG and make the unit more unstable and tippy on any horizontal incline. Can you go sideways on a hill with a 5 or 10 degree slope with a FEL and BH attached and not roll ? And the final question - if I wanted to get the BH down to the bottom of the hill, would I have to take it off, haul it down there on a wagon and then re install it or could I go down a hill safely with it attached?

Any suggestions about which BX or B series Kubota to get or any advice about the above questions would be greatly appreciated

 

[dex3361]

First let me start by welcoming you to TBN. What area of the country are you from? This helps on the advice department

If I were looking at this size and scope of work I would look at the L series but that wasnt you question.

I would go with the larger B series of the 2 for the ground clearance.

The HST transmissions are very durable and reliable, my HST in my cub cadet is 38 years old and works great(they are of similar design).

I bought a HST for the safety factor on the hills. I rarely use my brakes except to park the machine.

I have a BX1500 and it is stable on the hills but it is not as stable as my L4400 with the wheels set all the way apart.

I can go sideways on hills but always keep your FEL and any other attachment low to the ground. I cant speak about a Back Hoe because I don't have one.

Again I would look at the L3400 (value line) and at least compare tractors most guys usually buy to small first time around.
With the exception of John Thomas and John has posted a lot about the BX and B series machines.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Newbie in need of some recommendations. Looking for a new orange tractor this spring - BX or B series to use on my property. I have in the past used and worn out several garden tractors. I have 20 acres of land, 15 of which is forested. 5 acres of flat land on the top then 10 acres of rolling hills, 5 acres of flat forest down at the bottom of a 200 ft hill with up to a 15 degree slope. Have made about 1/2 mile of winding trails over the years through the forest. 1/4 mile of a flat gravel road/driveway out front. No real wonder that the garden tractors wore out.

Usage of the new orange tractor would be to maintain the gravel road, trails. Some landscaping, hauling firewood, pulling logs,(size of logs/) clearing underbrush, smile and karma creation. Might just use a garden tractor for cutting the 1/2 acre lawn. Implements - dreaming of a FEL, BH, front hydraulic blade

Several questions: Would the BX series be much better for hills with their lower COG? (Some better but I'm not sure of your definition of much) Can a BX2660 go up and down hills well while carrying the weight of FEL , ballast, 230 pound operator? (Yes) Are the Kubota HST transmissions designed and durable for a lot of hill usage? (Yes) Seems like the garden tractor Eaton hydraulic transmissions are not really designed for that kind of heavy use. Would a manual transmission last a lot longer than a HST for this type of usage? (No) What kind of life expectancy can you expect on a Kubota HST transmission ? 1000 hrs, 2000 hrs? (As long as any other transmission) It seems like the FEL and BH would increase the COG and make the unit more unstable and tippy on any horizontal incline.( True) Can you go sideways on a hill with a 5 or 10 degree slope with a FEL and BH attached and not roll ?(I do but when in doubt always go straight up and straight down. Keep fel bucket close to the ground at all times) And the final question - if I wanted to get the BH down to the bottom of the hill, would I have to take it off, haul it down there on a wagon and then re install it or could I go down a hill safely with it attached? (Drive straight up and straight down, if in doubt, back up hill and drive down forward)

Any suggestions about which BX or B series Kubota to get(with your jobs and size of property, I would get a B3200 or BX2660......BX25 if you want a BH on the BX model) or any advice about the above questions would be greatly appreciated

Start here for questions between B and BX.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/148830-b3200-bx2660-side-side-not.html
With a FEL, in my opinion the Hydro is the only choice. It is dependable to all other than those who don't have one and want to believe they did right by not paying the extra dollars. If you have doubts about hydro, ask any dealer service manager.
Let me move up to your questions and answer what I can on your post.

Guess Randall was posting at the same time as me. Editing mine after reading his. I don't usually push for the L because mine was to big for my property but what you are describing may be big enough jobs to warrant the L. Bigger tractors save time and have higher ground clearance and also more FEL lift capacity. Kubota is/has come out with a B3300 which I guess is a B3200 with bigger tires and no Mid PTO. I didn't mention L's since you asked for between the B and BX. My L also felt less stable on my hill side property and my B's felt less stable than my BX's. For me the higher off the ground on hillsides ,for me, is not a good feeling. On flatland I'd want a M if that's the biggest size made or an N if they make one.

 

[TripleR]

There are some old threads on here with a lot of very good information, one is something to the effect B, BX, not better, just different. I went with BX2660 over a B2920 due to the amount of mowing I do and what appeared to me too be a too "tippy" configuration on the B2920; didn't look at the B3200 due to size and lawn conditions. I also have other machines for those occasions when I need something bigger.

For your conditions, I would be looking beyond the BX to one of the bigger B's or even L.

 

[bsmp1977]

Been out of town and off the grid for the past few days. Thanks to all who provided advice. Appreciate the link to the other thread about B vs BX Kubotas. Have read most of the other threads about steep hills and did a search for similar ones. Very impressive forum archive for a rookie buyer of this level of tractor. I looked at the Kubota dealer and checked out the B2920 and the BX2660. Will choose the BX2660, seems more like a hill hugger and hill friendly - not sitting so high up off the ground. Now have to build a lean to on the side of the barn for covered Kubota parking.