Taking a look at the BX23

[detredwingsfan]

I've got a BX23 and after 20 hours use, I'm really glad I got the BX23 with the Backhoe.

I've used the backhoe for digging up bushes, small trees, holes for new trees, pulling up a concrete sidewalk (3x3+ sections), etc. It might take 1/2 hour to dig up some of the tougher deep rooted bushes but compared to 3 hours (minimum) to dig it up by hand, I'll take the BX23's backhoe anyday.

On the sidewalk removal, I was able to break up the sidewalk sections with my jackhammer, then use the backhoe to lift each section (about 3' x 3-4' and 3-4 in thick). Then I put a timber underneath, then got the bucket under it and chained it to the bucket. Then moved each section with no problem. The bucket couldn't pickup the sections while they were in the ground, so if I didn't have the backhoe to lift them it would have been a lot more work and time consuming by hand.

The choice was not whether to go bigger but whether to afford the BX23 and I'm really glad I made the choice. I now know that I would have been really disappointed if I had bought a tractor with just a bucket and no backhoe. Couldn't afford anything bigger and even if I could, it would probably tear up my backyard.

 

[aardvark]

I've had my BX23 for about a week now and have just under 10 hours on it. I've dug out two stumps so far, as well as moved a pile of broken trees and debris out to the road which is about 30 feet long, 10 feet deep and 5 feet high. The two stumps were an Avacado tree and a Pine. Both were 30-ish feet tall and about 10"-14" diameter before Hurricane Frances knocked them over. One stump is completely out, the other stump isn't finished yet, because the idiot who planted the Avacado tree planted it directly on top of my well. I've slowed working on that stump because I don't want to damage the well further, and I have lots of other stuff to do.

You may want to look into a B7610 or B7510. I had quotes on the B7610 with the LA32 loader and the 4672 backhoe for $18k even. No mower deck at that price though. I chose the BX23 for vaious reasons, one being price vs capabliity, and it will fit on my trailer and can be hauled by my truck. The larger machine required me to buy a larger truck and trailer, so that to me was alot of additional expense.